{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00740","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00740-0","petitioner_identifier":"S.B.","is_minor":1,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":"years (minor - age not in source, verified)","vaccine_type":"MMR","vaccination_date":"2019-07-19","condition_raw":"nephrotic syndrome","condition_category":"other","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"dismissed","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2025-03-06","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T01:41:18.168963+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":null,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Kristin Burger alleged that the MMR vaccine administered on July 19, 2019, caused S.B. to develop nephrotic syndrome by August 5, 2019. The theory of causation was \"Off-Table.\" Petitioner submitted expert reports from Dr. Jan Kielstein and Dr. S. Sohail Ahmed. Dr. Kielstein opined that the MMR vaccine led to nephrotic syndrome through mechanisms including systemic T cell dysfunction and production of a glomerular permeability factor, citing numerous articles. Dr. Ahmed opined that molecular mimicry was the most likely mechanism, triggering an autoimmune disease. Respondent submitted expert reports from Dr. Lawrence Copelovitch and Dr. Thomas Forsthuber. The Special Master, Christian J. Moran, issued tentative findings denying entitlement, noting the petitioner had not presented a sufficient medical theory connecting the vaccine to the injury, nor a logical sequence of cause and effect, nor a proximate temporal relationship as required by Althen v. Sec'y of Health & Hum. Servs. On March 6, 2025, the petitioner moved for dismissal, which was granted, resulting in a dismissal with prejudice for insufficient proof. Attorneys for the petitioner were Edward Kraus and for the respondent was Kimberly Shubert Davey.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2022-07-05","case_summary":"Kristin Burger, parent of S.B., a minor, filed a petition on July 5, 2022, alleging that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine administered to S.B. on July 19, 2019, caused him to develop nephrotic syndrome by August 5, 2019. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, contested entitlement, arguing that the petitioner had not provided sufficient evidence to establish a causal link between the vaccine and the alleged injury under the Althen prongs. The petitioner initially submitted medical records and affidavits. On July 20, 2023, the petitioner filed an expert report from Dr. Jan Kielstein, a German board-certified nephrologist, who opined that the MMR vaccine caused S.B.'s nephrotic syndrome, suggesting mechanisms including systemic T cell dysfunction leading to a glomerular permeability factor. Dr. Kielstein cited over 15 articles regarding MMR vaccines. The respondent filed an expert report from Dr. Lawrence Copelovitch on November 2, 2023. The petitioner filed a rebuttal expert report from Dr. Kielstein on January 4, 2024. On June 6, 2024, the Special Master issued a tentative finding denying entitlement, noting the lack of a proposed theory on how the MMR vaccine might have triggered de novo nephrotic syndrome and the unknown underlying cause of minimal change nephrotic syndrome. On October 23, 2024, the petitioner submitted an expert report from Dr. S. Sohail Ahmed, a rheumatologist, who opined that molecular mimicry was the most likely mechanism, triggering an autoimmune disease of nephrotic syndrome. The respondent submitted an expert report from Dr. Thomas Forsthuber on January 27, 2025. On January 30, 2025, the Special Master issued a second tentative finding denying entitlement. On March 6, 2025, the petitioner moved for a dismissal of her petition. The Special Master granted the motion, dismissing the case with prejudice due to insufficient proof. The decision was issued by Special Master Christian J. Moran on March 6, 2025. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, diagnostic tests performed, or treatments received by S.B. The attorneys involved were Edward Kraus for the petitioner and Kimberly Shubert Davey for the respondent.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":1,"special_master":"Christian J. Moran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Edward Kraus","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Kraus Law Group, LLC","petitioner_attorney_location":"Chicago, IL","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|edward-kraus|","firm_canonical_key":"kraus-law-group","package_title":"BURGER v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00740","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00740.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00740.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00740-0","title":"BURGER v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 03/07/2025) regarding 64 DECISION of Special Master. Signed by Special Master Christian J. Moran. (jjb) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2025-03-31","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00740/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00740-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":242495,"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_22-vv-00740/USCOURTS-cofc-1_22-vv-00740-0"}]}