B.T. v. HHS - MMR, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) (2019)

On January 29, 2019, Beth Cook, on behalf of her minor child B.T., filed a petition alleging that B.T. suffered from chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) caused by vaccines received on October 24, 2013. The vaccines administered were diphtheria tetanus acellular pertussis/polio (DTaP/IPV), influenza (flu), measles mumps rubella (MMR), and varicella.

The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the vaccines caused B.T.'s alleged injury. The parties reached a settlement through a stipulation, which was adopted by the court.

Special Master Laura D. Millman issued a decision awarding compensation.

The award consisted of a lump sum of $154,000.00 payable to Beth Cook as guardian/conservator of B.T.'s estate and a lump sum of $11,000.00 payable to Beth Cook for past unreimbursed medical expenses, totaling $165,000.00. The decision was filed on January 29, 2019.

Petitioner's counsel was Danielle A. Strait, and respondent's counsel was Althea Walker Davis.