Mass. Court Dismisses Autism Claim After Barring Experts

DEDHAM, Mass. - A Massachusetts judge on Aug. 17 dismissed autism claims from a personal injury mold lawsuit after barring testimony by two of plaintiffs' medical experts. MacGregor v. Born, No. 03-1439 (Mass. Super. Ct., Norfolk Cty.).

Norfolk County (Mass.) Superior Court Judge Judith Fabricant said that Dr. Eckhardt Johanning's testimony offered a 'working hypothesis,' rather than an opinion, that a child's autism was linked to mold and that the methodology relied on by pediatric neurologist Martha Herbert, M.D., to reach a similar conclusion is not generally accepted.

Sarah MacGregor, the mother of Emilia Ward, sued the trustees of …