Facts in the case

Plaintiff's complaint

Information for specific participants

• Prosecution team
• Defense team
• Jury team
• Analytical team
• Medical team

  Excerpts from depositions:

  • Mr. Cerrito
  • Ms. Mount

  Chronology:

  • May 1996: John and Maria Cerrito (along with 8-month old John, Jr) lease a single family dwelling at 857 Forest Avenue, South Bend, IN from Ms. Joanna Mount. Along with all the other paperwork, Mr. Cerrito is given a copy of the EPA's pamphlet on lead poisoning. He also signs a waiver which states that, due to the age of the home, there may be leaded paint inside or outside the house.
  • Jan 1999: John, Jr., now three years old, goes to a routine doctor's appointment. Mrs. Cerrito tells the family doctor, Dr. C. Hadley, that little John has frequent stomach aches, that he likes to swallow pebbles, and that he alternates between periods of hyperactivity and lethargy. Dr. Hadley discounts this partially since it is normal operating procedure for many three-year-olds, but she is concerned that John Jr.'s language development is behind schedule and in his routine tone hearing test she notices a hearing deficit for high frequency sounds. Since several other children from the same neighborhood have been treated for lead poisoning, she discusses the blood test results with the worried parents, orders a blood test and gives Mr. and Mrs. Cerrito another copy of the EPA pamphlet on lead poisoning.
  • Feb. 1999: John Jr. is retested. In her case notes, Dr. Hadley writes that neither Mr. nor Mrs. Cerrito appears to have understood the EPA pamphlet. She recommends chelation therapy, which the Cerritos agree to.
  • 12 March 1999: John, Jr. is hospitalized for chelation therapy. Click here to view a summary of the hospital records.
  • 14 March 1999: Renal complications develop; chelation therapy is stopped.
  • 16 March 1999: John, Jr. is discharged from the hospital and returns home.
  • 28 March 1999: John, Jr. is retested on a return doctor's visit.
  • 18 April 1999: Mr. and Mrs. Cerrito bring suit against Ms. Mount in Indiana State Court, ND special district. Trial date is set for Friday, October 29.
  • Attorneys for the plaintiff and for the defense file a motion of continuance so they may better prepare for the trial. The continuance is granted, the trial will commence on Monday, Nov. 1
  Back to Chem 191 homepage