{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-00537","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-00537-0","petitioner_identifier":"B.M.","is_minor":1,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":"years (minor - age not in source, verified)","vaccine_type":"DTaP","vaccination_date":"2021-08-19","condition_raw":"infantile spasms and developmental delays","condition_category":"developmental_delay_regression","autism_spectrum_adjacent":1,"outcome":"dismissed","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2025-09-15","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T01:48:50.704964+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":4,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":0,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Christine Maupin alleged that the DTaP, Hepatitis B, IPV, and rotavirus vaccines administered to her minor child, B.M., on August 19, 2021, caused infantile spasms and developmental delays. Petitioner's expert, Dr. Huq, opined that vaccine-induced brain inflammation played a significant role in B.M.'s condition, in addition to pre-existing brain abnormalities. Respondent's experts, Dr. Kruer and Dr. McCusker, argued that B.M.'s infantile spasms were solely caused by a pre-existing brain malformation and that there was no evidence of vaccine-induced brain inflammation or a causal link. Dr. Kruer stated that B.M.'s brain malformation alone accounted for her infantile spasms and disputed the timing compatibility with vaccine-induced immune responses. Dr. McCusker concluded that data did not support a link between vaccination and epilepsy, noting that IESS occurs independently of vaccination and that neuroinflammation follows seizures, not vaccination. The petitioner ultimately moved to dismiss her claim. Special Master Christian J. Moran dismissed the case with prejudice, finding that the petitioner failed to meet the second Althen prong by not adequately supporting the opinion that pre-vaccination seizure-like eye movements were unrelated to a seizure condition. The decision was issued on September 15, 2025. Attorneys for petitioner were Jessica Wallace and for respondent was Camille Jordan Webster. The theory of causation was off-Table.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2023-04-18","case_summary":"Christine Maupin filed a petition on April 18, 2023, on behalf of her minor child, B.M., alleging that the DTaP, Hepatitis B, IPV, and rotavirus vaccines administered on August 19, 2021, caused B.M. to suffer from infantile spasms and developmental delays. The respondent is the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Petitioner's counsel was Jessica Wallace of Siri & Glimstad, LLP, and respondent's counsel was Camille Jordan Webster of the United States Department of Justice. Special Master Christian J. Moran presided over the case. Initially, the petitioner pursued the claim, submitting an expert report from pediatric neurologist and geneticist Dr. Huq. Dr. Huq opined that B.M.'s brain abnormalities made her susceptible to seizures, but that vaccine-induced brain inflammation also played a significant role in her condition. He stated that if brain abnormalities alone were responsible, the spasms would have been more severe and tractable. Dr. Huq acknowledged pre-vaccination seizure-like eye movements but considered them not concerning enough to be discussed with a medical provider and likely normal. The respondent's experts, pediatric neurologist Dr. Kruer and pediatric immunologist Dr. McCusker, countered these opinions. Dr. Kruer questioned Dr. Huq's assessment of pre-vaccination symptoms and argued that B.M.'s brain malformation, a frequent cause of infantile spasms, alone accounted for her condition. He stated there was no evidence of brain inflammation and that the timing of the spasms was not compatible with vaccine-induced immune responses. Dr. McCusker concluded that data did not support epilepsy-causing potential from peripherally released cytokines following vaccination and that evidence suggests endogenous IL1β production following seizures, not vaccination, leads to neuroinflammation. He also noted B.M. was diagnosed with infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS), not autoimmune encephalopathy, and found no evidence of autoimmune epilepsy secondary to molecular mimicry. Dr. McCusker stated that large studies do not support an etiological link between vaccination and epilepsy onset, with events like IESS occurring independently of vaccination. Petitioner filed a supplemental report from Dr. Huq, who maintained his opinion, addressing the respondent's experts. However, on April 14, 2025, Ms. Maupin filed a status report indicating a rupture in the attorney-client relationship due to differing opinions on how to proceed. After seeking new counsel and additional time, Ms. Maupin filed a motion to dismiss her petition on July 30, 2025. The Special Master construed this as a motion for involuntary dismissal. The Special Master noted that to prove causation under the Althen prongs, a petitioner must show a medical theory connecting vaccination and injury, a logical sequence of cause and effect, and a proximate temporal relationship. The Special Master found that Ms. Maupin had not met her burden under the second Althen prong, specifically regarding the pre-vaccination eye movements, as Dr. Huq did not adequately support his opinion that they were unrelated to a seizure condition. Consequently, the case was dismissed with prejudice for insufficient proof, and no compensation was awarded.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":1,"special_master":"Christian J. Moran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Jessica Wallace","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Siri & Glimstad, LLP","petitioner_attorney_location":"Aventura, FL","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|jessica-wallace|","firm_canonical_key":"siri-and-glimstad","package_title":"MAUPIN v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-00537","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-00537.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-00537.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-00537-0","title":"MAUPIN v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 08/20/2025) regarding 74 DECISION of Special Master Signed by Special Master Christian J. Moran. (ceo) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2025-09-15","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-00537/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-00537-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":217892,"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_23-vv-00537/USCOURTS-cofc-1_23-vv-00537-0"}]}