{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01613","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01613-0","petitioner_identifier":"Morgan Smith","is_minor":null,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":"years (no age in source - verified)","vaccine_type":"Tdap","vaccination_date":"2019-05-20","condition_raw":"neuromyelitis optica","condition_category":"other","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"compensated","award_amount_usd":175000,"decision_date":"2025-06-09","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T01:33:45.064331+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":null,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Morgan Smith alleged that the Tdap vaccine received on May 20, 2019, caused her to suffer neuromyelitis optica (NMO). The respondent denied causation. The parties reached a stipulation for settlement, and Special Master Thomas L. Gowen adopted the stipulation, awarding compensation. The award consists of a $150,000 lump sum for pain and suffering and $25,000 to purchase an annuity, totaling $175,000. The public decision does not detail the specific theory of causation, medical experts, or the mechanism linking the Tdap vaccine to NMO. The decision was filed on June 9, 2025, with petitioner represented by Elizabeth K. Abramson and respondent by Parisa Tabassian.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2021-07-26","case_summary":"On July 26, 2021, Morgan Smith filed a claim in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging that the tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine administered on May 20, 2019, caused her to develop neuromyelitis optica (NMO). The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, denied that the Tdap vaccine caused petitioner's alleged NMO or any other injury. Despite maintaining their respective positions, the parties reached a stipulation for settlement. Special Master Thomas L. Gowen adopted the stipulation, awarding compensation to Morgan Smith. The award includes a lump sum of $150,000.00 for pain and suffering, to be paid via ACH deposit to petitioner's counsel's IOLTA account for prompt disbursement. Additionally, $25,000.00 is allocated to purchase an annuity contract. The total compensation awarded is $175,000.00, covering all damages available under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The decision was filed on June 9, 2025. Petitioner was represented by Elizabeth K. Abramson of Mctlaw, and respondent was represented by Parisa Tabassian of the Department of Justice. The public decision does not describe the onset of symptoms, specific clinical details, diagnostic tests, treatments, or the specific mechanism by which the vaccine allegedly caused the NMO. The public decision also does not name any medical experts.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Thomas L. Gowen","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Elizabeth K. Abramson","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Mctlaw","petitioner_attorney_location":"Washington, DC","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|elizabeth-abramson|","firm_canonical_key":"maglio-christopher-and-toale","package_title":"SMITH v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01613","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01613.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01613.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01613-0","title":"SMITH v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 06/09/2025) regarding 50 DECISION on Stipulation. Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen. (hs) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2025-08-11","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01613/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01613-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":1369492,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'stipulation'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01613/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01613-0"}]}