VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01275
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01275
Petitioner: B.T.
Filed: 2019-01-29
Decided: 2019-01-29
Vaccine: DTaP/IPV, influenza, MMR, varicella
Vaccination date: 2013-10-24
Condition: chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
Outcome: compensated
Award amount USD: 165000

AI-assisted case summary:
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.

Theory of causation field:
Petitioner alleged that B.T. suffered from chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) caused by his October 24, 2013 receipt of diphtheria tetanus acellular pertussis/polio (DTaP/IPV), influenza (flu), measles mumps rubella (MMR), and varicella vaccines. Respondent denied causation. The parties resolved the matter through a stipulation. The public decision does not describe the specific theory of causation, medical experts, clinical details of the injury, or the mechanism by which the vaccines allegedly caused CIDP. The Special Master adopted the stipulation and awarded a total of $165,000.00, comprising $154,000.00 for B.T.'s estate and $11,000.00 for past unreimbursed medical expenses. Special Master Laura D. Millman issued the decision on January 29, 2019. Petitioner's counsel was Danielle A. Strait, and respondent's counsel was Althea Walker Davis.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_16-vv-01275-0
Date issued/filed: 2019-02-22
Pages: 8
Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 1/29/2019) regarding 47 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer. Signed by Special Master Laura D. Millman. (et) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:16-vv-01275-UNJ Document 51 Filed 02/22/19 Page 1 of 8
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 16-1275V
Filed: January 29, 2019
Not to be Published
*************************************
BETH COOK on behalf of B.T., a *
Minor Child, *
*
Petitioner, * Damages decision based on
* stipulation; diphtheria tetanus
v. * acellular pertussis/polio
* (“DTaP/IPV”); influenza (“flu”)
SECRETARY OF HEALTH * vaccine; chronic inflammatory
AND HUMAN SERVICES, * demyelinating polyneuropathy
* (“CIDP”)
Respondent. *
*
*************************************
Danielle A. Strait, Seattle, WA, for petitioner.
Althea Walker Davis, Washington, DC, for respondent.
MILLMAN, Special Master
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On January 29, 2019, the parties filed the attached stipulation in which they agreed to
settle this case and described the settlement terms. Petitioner alleges that her child, B.T.,
suffered from an inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy or chronic inflammatory
demyelinating polyneuropathy (“CIDP”) that was caused by his October 24, 2013 receipt of
diphtheria tetanus acellular pertussis/polio (“DTaP/IPV”), influenza (“flu”), measles mumps
rubella (“MMR”), and varicella vaccines. Respondent denies that these vaccines caused
petitioner’s child’s CIDP or any other injury. Nonetheless, the parties agreed to resolve this
1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the special master’s action in this
case, the special master intends to post this unpublished decision on the United States Court of Federal
Claims’ website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899,
2913 (Dec. 17, 2002). This means the decision will be available to anyone with access to the
Internet. Vaccine Rule 18(b) states that all decisions of the special masters will be made available to the
public unless they contain trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged and
confidential, or medical or similar information whose disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted
invasion of privacy. When such a decision is filed, petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to delete
such information prior to the document’s disclosure. If the special master, upon review, agrees that the
identified material fits within the banned categories listed above, the special master shall delete such
material from public access.

Case 1:16-vv-01275-UNJ Document 51 Filed 02/22/19 Page 2 of 8
matter informally.
The undersigned finds the terms of the stipulation to be reasonable. The court hereby
adopts the parties’ said stipulation, attached hereto, and awards compensation in the amount and
on the terms set forth therein. Pursuant to the stipulation, the court awards:
a. A lump sum of $154,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Beth Cook, as
guardian/conservator of B.T.’s estate; and
b. A lump sum of $11,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Beth Cook,
which amount represents compensation for past unreimbursed medical expenses.
In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC Appendix B, the clerk of
the court is directed to enter judgment herewith.2
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: January 29, 2019 /s/ Laura D. Millman
Laura D. Millman
Special Master
2 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by each party, either separately or
jointly, filing a notice renouncing the right to seek review.
2

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