J.O.C. v. HHS - DTaP, tic disorder, abnormal EEG and other injuries (2014)

On March 1, 2013, J.O.C., a minor, by his parents Chris and Sarah Cooper, filed a petition under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The petition alleged that J.O.C. suffered adverse effects from the diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) and pneumococcal conjugate (Prevnar) vaccines administered on September 22, 2010, and March 9, 2011.

Petitioners claimed that J.O.C. developed a tic disorder, abnormal EEG, and other injuries, and that these conditions were caused-in-fact by the vaccinations, with residual effects lasting more than six months. The respondent denied that the vaccines caused J.O.C.'s conditions.

On October 2, 2014, the parties filed a joint stipulation on damages. The stipulation stated that the parties agreed to a total compensation of $1,970.29 for past unreimbursed expenses and $13,029.71 for J.O.C.'s estate, totaling $14,999.00.

Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the court. On January 5, 2015, a subsequent decision approved an additional award for attorneys' fees and costs.

The parties stipulated to a total award of $22,840.21 for attorneys' fees and costs, jointly payable to petitioners and their attorney, William E. Cochran, Jr., of Black McLaren Jones Ryland & Griffee, PC.

Petitioners also incurred $847.00 in out-of-pocket costs, payable to petitioners only. The case was resolved via stipulation and awarded compensation.

The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific clinical details of the injuries, diagnostic tests performed, treatments received, or the specific mechanism of causation.