VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_13-vv-00489 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_13-vv-00489 Petitioner: W.T.M. Filed: 2013-07-18 Decided: 2015-12-11 Vaccine: MMR Vaccination date: 2012-06-14 Condition: cerebrovascular incident Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 460135 AI-assisted case summary: Michael and Catherine McNulty filed a petition on July 18, 2013, on behalf of their minor child, W.T.M. They alleged that the child received inactivated polio (IPV), diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (Dtap), varicella, and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines on or about June 14, 2012. The petition alleged that these vaccines caused a cerebrovascular incident, and that the child experienced residual effects for more than six months. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccines caused the alleged injury or any other condition. Despite this denial, the parties filed a joint stipulation for damages and attorneys' fees and costs. Special Master Thomas L. Gowen reviewed the stipulation and found it reasonable, adopting it as the decision of the court. The parties waived their right to seek review of the decision. Compensation was awarded as follows: a lump sum of $425,000.00 for all damages, payable to petitioners as guardians of W.T.M.'s estate, and a lump sum of $35,135.53 for attorneys' fees and costs, jointly payable to petitioners and their attorney, Mark L. Krueger of Krueger & Hernandez, S.C. The total award was $460,135.53. The public decision does not describe the specific onset of symptoms, medical tests performed, treatments received, or the specific mechanism of injury. The decision does not name any expert witnesses. Theory of causation field: Petitioners alleged that the IPV, Dtap, varicella, and MMR vaccines administered on or about June 14, 2012, caused a cerebrovascular incident in the minor child W.T.M., resulting in residual effects for over six months. The respondent denied causation. The parties reached a joint stipulation for damages and attorneys' fees and costs, which was adopted by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen. The stipulation resulted in an award of $425,000.00 for damages and $35,135.53 for attorneys' fees and costs, totaling $460,135.53. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism of injury, and it is unclear if this case was based on a specific Table injury or general causation theory. Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_13-vv-00489-0 Date issued/filed: 2015-12-11 Pages: 10 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 11/20/2015) regarding 50 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer (Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen.)(mpj) Copy to parties. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:13-vv-00489-UNJ Document 54 Filed 12/11/15 Page 1 of 10 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 13-489V Filed: November 20, 2015 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * UNPUBLISHED MICHAEL MCNULTY and CATHERINE * MCNULTY, as parents of W.T.M., * * Special Master Gowen Petitioners, * * Joint Stipulation on Damages and v. * Attorneys’ Fees and Costs; * Varicella Vaccine; Inactivated Polio SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Vaccine; Measles-Mumps-Rubella AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Vaccine; Cerebrovascular Event; * Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Respondent. * Pertussis Vaccine. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Mark L. Krueger, Krueger & Hernandez, S.C., Baraboo, WI, for petitioner. Lara A. Englund, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION ON JOINT STIPULATION1 On July 18, 2013, Michael McNulty and Catherine McNulty (“petitioners”) filed a petition on behalf of their minor child, W.T.M., pursuant to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.2 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012). Petitioners alleged that as a result of receiving inactivated polio (“IPV”), diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (“Dtap”), varicella, and measles- mumps-rubella (“MMR”) vaccines on or about June 14, 2012, the minor child suffered a cerebrovascular incident and that he experienced residual effects of this injury for more than six 1 Because this decision contains a reasoned explanation for the undersigned’s action in this case, the undersigned intends to post this ruling on the website of the United States Court of Federal Claims, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, § 205, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (codified as amended at 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012)). As provided by Vaccine Rule 18(b), each party has 14 days within which to request redaction “of any information furnished by that party: (1) that is a trade secret or commercial or financial in substance and is privileged or confidential; or (2) that includes medical files or similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.” Vaccine Rule 18(b). 2 The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is set forth in Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755, codified as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (2012) (Vaccine Act or the Act). All citations in this decision to individual sections of the Vaccine Act are to 42 U.S.C.A. § 300aa. 1 Case 1:13-vv-00489-UNJ Document 54 Filed 12/11/15 Page 2 of 10 months. Stipulation for Award at ¶ 2, 4, docket no. 48, filed Nov. 19, 2015. On November 19, 2015, the parties filed a stipulation in which they state that a decision should be entered awarding compensation. Respondent denies that the vaccines caused W.T.M.’s alleged cerebrovascular incident, or any other injury or condition. Id. at ¶ 6. Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto as Appendix A. The undersigned finds the stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court in awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein. The parties also stipulate to an award of attorneys’ fees and costs in a joint stipulation for fees and costs filed on November 19, 2015. The parties agree to a total award of attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of $35,135.53. Stipulation for Fees at ¶ 2, docket no. 49, filed Nov. 19, 2015. In accordance with General Order #9, petitioners represent that they did not personally incur costs related to this proceeding. Id. The undersigned finds the stipulation for fees and costs reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court. The parties stipulate that petitioner shall receive the following compensation: A lump sum of $425,000.00, in the form of a check payable to petitioners as guardians of W.T.M.’s estate. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). A lump sum of $35,135.53, in the form of a check jointly payable to petitioners and to petitioners’ attorney, Mark L. Krueger of Krueger & Hernandez, S.C., pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300 aa-15(e), for attorneys’ fees and costs. Id. at ¶ 8. The undersigned approves the requested amount for petitioners’ compensation and attorneys’ fees and costs. Accordingly, the clerk of the court SHALL ENTER JUDGMENT in accordance with the terms of the parties’ stipulation.3 IT IS SO ORDERED. s/ Thomas L. Gowen Thomas L. Gowen Special Master 3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment is expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice renouncing the right to seek review. 2 Case 1:13-vv-00489-UNJ Document 54 Filed 12/11/15 Page 3 of 10 Case 1:13-vv-00489-UNJ Document 54 Filed 12/11/15 Page 4 of 10 Case 1:13-vv-00489-UNJ Document 54 Filed 12/11/15 Page 5 of 10 Case 1:13-vv-00489-UNJ Document 54 Filed 12/11/15 Page 6 of 10 Case 1:13-vv-00489-UNJ Document 54 Filed 12/11/15 Page 7 of 10 Case 1:13-vv-00489-UNJ Document 54 Filed 12/11/15 Page 8 of 10 Case 1:13-vv-00489-UNJ Document 54 Filed 12/11/15 Page 9 of 10 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * MICHAEL AND CATHERINE MCNULTY, * AS PARENTS OF W.T.M. * Petitioner, * * v. * No. 13-489 * Special Master Thomas Gowen SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND * HUMAN SERVICES, * * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * STIPULATION OF FACTS CONCERNING FINAL ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS It is hereby stipulated by and between the parties, the following factual matter: 1. Mark L. Krueger, Esq., is the attorney of record for petitioners. 2. On or about October 7, 2015, petitioner informally provided a Final Application for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs (“Application”) to respondent, in which petitioner requested final attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of $35,135.53. Respondent does not object to the total amount requested. All costs have been paid by Petitioner’s attorney. 3. The parties now agree that a decision should be entered awarding final attorneys’ fees and costs payable to petitioner’s attorney and petitioner in the amount of $35,135.53. 4. Nothing in this Stipulation, including the amount set forth in paragraphs 2 and/or 3, should be construed as an admission, concession, or waiver of either party as to any of the matters raised by petitioner’s Application, including but not limited to the hourly rates requested and other litigation-related costs. Case 1:13-vv-00489-UNJ Document 54 Filed 12/11/15 Page 10 of 10 ATTORNEY OF RECORD FOR ATTORNEY OF RECORD FORD PETITIONERS: RESPONDENT: s/Mark L. Krueger s/Lara A. Englund Mark L. Krueger Lara A. Englund 123 2nd Street Trial Attorney P.O. Box 41 Civil Division, Torts Branch Baraboo, WI 53913 P.O. Box 146 (608)356-3961 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington DC 20044-0146 Date: November 19, 2015