B.M. v. HHS - Hepatitis A, death (2015)

On March 6, 2014, Itza and Samuel Mejia, as the mother and father and natural guardians of B.M., filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on behalf of their minor child. They alleged that B.M.'s death resulted from a hepatitis A vaccine administered on March 5, 2012.

The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccine caused B.M.'s death or any other injury. On January 9, 2015, the parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing to an award of compensation.

Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey found the stipulation reasonable and adopted it as the decision of the Court. The stipulation provided for a lump sum of $200,000.00, payable to petitioners as the legal representatives of B.M.'s estate, as compensation for all damages available under the program.

A separate decision on February 19, 2015, addressed attorneys' fees and costs. The parties stipulated to a total award of $32,500.00 for attorneys' fees and costs, jointly payable to petitioners and their attorney, Jeffrey S.

Pop. Special Master Dorsey granted this request.

Judgment was entered in accordance with the terms of the parties' stipulations.