McNulty v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

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Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 13-489V Filed: November 20, 2015 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * UNPUBLISHED MICHAEL MCNULTY and CATHERINE * MCNULTY, as parents of W.T.M., * * Special Master Gowen Petitioners, * * Joint Stipulation on Damages and v. * Attorneys’ Fees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 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 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. 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