On June 11 2007 Cedillo v. Secretary of Health and Human Services became the first US test case of 4,800 current petitions. Additional petitions continue to be filed.
Theory one - that MMR vaccines and thimerosal containing vaccines can combine to cause autism
Theory two - that thimerosal - containing vaccines alone can cause autism
Theory three - MMR vaccines alone can cause autism

A shortened version of the story so far....

DAY 1 - The Hearing begins.

Opening statements by Mr. Thomas Powers, Petitioners' Steering Committee and Ms. Chin-Caplan, Attorney for the Cedillo family:

Petitioners' First Witness, Dr. Vasken Aposhian: scientific background as an environmental toxicologist and expert on heavy metals.
Petitioners' Second Witness, Theresa Cedillo, Michelle Cedillo's Mother.

DAY 2 - Michelle's condition.

Direct examination of Michelle's mother.
Petitioners' Third Witness, Dr. Arthur Krigsman, Gastroenterologist:

DAY 3 - Science

Dr Karin Hepner - Molecular Biologist
Dr. Ronald Kennedy - Immunologist:

DAY 4 - More Science

Petitioners' Fifth Witness, Dr. Vera Byers
Dr. Byers said that for the last 15 years she has worked largely as a medical consultant, including to attorneys looking at whether large populations have been exposed to toxic chemicals.

DAY 5 - Conclusion of petitioner's case.

Petitioners' Sixth and Final Witness,
Dr. Marcel Kinsbourne, M.D., Pediatric Neurologist:

DAY 6 - The Start of Respondent's Case

Special Master George Hastings: Special Master Hastings noted that there had been a change in the Respondent's schedule and that Dr. Zimmerman, Dr. Fujinami and Dr. Gershon would not be testifying for the government as previously planned.

Direct Examination

Mr. Vincent Matanoski, Attorney for the U.S. Respondent.

DAY 7 - Respondent's Case Continues.

Respondent's Third Witness,
Dr. Max Wiznitzer, Pediatric Neurologist

DAY 8 - Respondent's Case Continues.
Measles and Lab Tests

Day 9: Respondent's Case Continues:

Michelle's Gut and Immune System.

Respondent's Sixth Witness,
Dr. Hanauer, Gastroenterologist:

DAY 10 - Respondent's Case Continues:

Dr. Wakefield and Thimerosal

Day 11 – Respondent's Case Continued:

Epidemiology and the Measles Virus

Dr. Fombonne, Epidemiologist:
Direct Examination.


Respondent's Tenth Witness,
Dr. Griffen, Virologist.

Day 12: THE LAST DAY OF THE CEDILLO HEARING

Petitioners' Rebuttal and Closing Statements:

The Expert and Decorum by F. Edward Yazbak, MD It is not clear why the attorneys for the Department of Justice waited so long to call Stephen A. Bustin PhD as an expert witness in Cedillo v. Secretary of HHS and why his reports were filed so late. It was certainly well known that Michelle Cedillo had evidence of measles virus genomic RNA in the gut and that her PCR test had been performed at Dr. John O'Leary's laboratory. Read more: http://www.jabs.org.uk/pages/The_Expert_and_Decorum.htm

If Parents Win in Vaccine Court, What Do We Tell the World?
by David Kirby
Huffington Post 13 June 2007
Will parents win their case against the government in Vaccine Court by convincing three federal judges that there's enough evidence to support a link between the MMR vaccine, thimerosal and autism spectrum disorders?

28 January 2008
Cedillo Post Hearing Brief
The post-hearing brief in Cedillo v. Sec'y of HHS, the first autism test case, is 264 pages long. In it, Michelle argues that vaccines caused her many injuries, including autism. The brief summarizes Michelle's medical history, the opinions of 17 expert witnesses, and much of the scientific literature upon which they rely. It also describes the purposes of the Vaccine Program, prior decisions in the Vaccine Program, and the relaxed standards of proof for a petitioner. The respondent's response is due on January 11, 2008. Michelle will have an opportunity to reply to the responent's response. Her reply is due February 11, 2008.

Click here to view the brief http://www.ccandh.com/