{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00835","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00835-0","petitioner_identifier":"Jason Gaskin, Jr.","is_minor":1,"age_at_vaccination":1.1666666666666667,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2019-02-07","condition_raw":"myocarditis","condition_category":"myocarditis_pericarditis","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"dismissed","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2025-03-11","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T01:29:53.898440+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":2,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":2,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioners alleged that Jason Gaskin, Jr., who received influenza and varicella vaccinations on February 7, 2019, died from myocarditis caused by these vaccinations. The autopsy concluded the cause of death was myocarditis of probable viral etiology, with lymphocytic infiltrates and no identified microorganisms. Petitioners' expert, Dr. Anthony Chang, opined that the vaccinations caused acute myocarditis via a hypersensitivity reaction or immune dysregulation, arguing the autopsy findings were consistent with vaccine causation and the timing was plausible. Respondent's experts, Dr. Richard Ringel and Dr. Stephen Jameson, contended that the lymphocytic infiltrates and absence of eosinophils in the autopsy were more indicative of a viral etiology, and that Jason's symptoms were consistent with a viral illness. Special Master Daniel T. Horner found that petitioners failed to establish causation-in-fact under the Althen standard. He concluded that the autopsy findings, particularly the lymphocytic infiltrate and lack of eosinophils, supported a viral etiology over a vaccine-induced hypersensitivity reaction. The Special Master also found the temporal relationship insufficient and the evidence of a vaccine-induced varicella infection speculative and not supported by the timeframe. The petition was dismissed. The theory of causation was off-Table, requiring proof of causation-in-fact. Petitioner counsel: Lisa A. Roquemore. Respondent counsel: Zoe Wade. Special Master: Daniel T. Horner. Decision Date: March 11, 2025.","is_death":1,"date_of_death":"2019-02-13","petition_filed_date":"2021-02-01","case_summary":"On February 1, 2021, Jason and Tabitha Gaskin filed a petition on behalf of their deceased son, Jason Gaskin, Jr., alleging that influenza and/or varicella vaccinations administered on February 7, 2019, caused his death from myocarditis. Jason Gaskin, Jr., born September 14, 2017, received an influenza and a varicella vaccination at his 15-month wellness checkup. Two days later, on February 9, 2019, he presented to the emergency department with fever and tachycardia, diagnosed with teething syndrome, postvaccination fever, and tachycardia. Tragically, on February 13, 2019, EMS responded to a cardiac arrest at the Gaskin home. Despite resuscitation efforts, Jason was pronounced dead. An autopsy concluded the cause of death was myocarditis of probable viral etiology, with early pericarditis and left pleural effusion. Microscopic examination of the myocardium revealed extensive multifocal interstitial mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate, largely comprised of lymphocytes, with associated myocyte necrosis, early interstitial edema, and early pericardial involvement; no microorganisms were identified. The medical examiner attributed the death to likely fatal irregularity of the heart beat in the setting of significant inflammation involving the heart muscle in association with probable recent viral infection. Petitioners presented expert testimony from pediatric cardiologist Anthony Chang, M.D., who opined that Jason's myocarditis was caused by the vaccinations, suggesting a hypersensitivity reaction or a dysregulated immune response to the viral antigens. Dr. Chang argued that the autopsy findings were consistent with vaccine causation and that the timing was plausible. Respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, presented expert testimony from pediatric cardiologist Richard Ringel, M.D., and immunologist Stephen Jameson, Ph.D. Respondent's experts argued that Jason's myocarditis was more likely caused by a viral infection, citing the autopsy findings of lymphocytic infiltrates and the absence of eosinophils, which they contended are typically present in vaccine-induced hypersensitivity myocarditis. They also noted that the symptoms Jason experienced prior to death were consistent with a viral illness and that postmortem testing to confirm a viral etiology was not performed. Special Master Daniel T. Horner reviewed the evidence and expert opinions. He noted that myocarditis is not a \"Table Injury\" and thus petitioners bore the burden of proving causation-in-fact under the Althen standard. The Special Master assumed, but did not decide, that vaccines could cause hypersensitivity responses leading to eosinophilic myocarditis. He found that petitioners had preponderantly established that the varicella vaccine could cause disseminated varicella infection, which in immunocompromised individuals might lead to myocarditis, but found no evidence that Jason was immunocompromised. He also found that the timeframe between vaccination and death was too short for such an infection to develop. The Special Master concluded that the autopsy findings, particularly the predominance of lymphocytes and absence of eosinophils, along with the symptoms observed, supported a viral etiology for the myocarditis. He found that petitioners failed to establish a preponderant evidence of a causal link between the vaccinations and Jason's myocarditis and death. The petition was dismissed. Petitioner counsel was Lisa A. Roquemore. Respondent counsel was Zoe Wade. Special Master was Daniel T. Horner.","is_minor_inferred":1,"is_pediatric_broad":1,"special_master":"Daniel T. Horner","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Lisa A. Roquemore","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Law Office of Lisa A. Roquemore","petitioner_attorney_location":"Rancho Santa Margarita, CA","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|lisa-roquemore|","firm_canonical_key":"law-office-of-lisa-a-roquemore","package_title":"GASKIN et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00835","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00835.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00835.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00835-0","title":"GASKIN et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 2/11/2025) regarding 41 DECISION of Special Master. Signed by Special Master Daniel T. Horner. (ksb) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2025-03-11","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00835/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00835-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":409942,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'decision of special master'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00835/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00835-0"}]}