Court Opinion

ID: 4310905
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-09-10 12:01:23.144105+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:44:24.938354
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                             OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

********************     *
MARIE LOUISE and STEPHEN H.
                         *
MORIARTY as Conservators of
                         *
EILISE MORIARTY,         *
                         *                         No. 03-2876V
             Petitioner, *                         Special Master Christian J. Moran
                         *
v.                       *                         Filed: August 9, 2018
                         *
SECRETARY OF HEALTH      *                         Damages; decision based on proffer;
AND HUMAN SERVICES,      *                         MMR vaccine; autoimmune epileptic
                         *                         encephalopathy.
             Respondent. *
******************** *

Clifford J. Shoemaker, Shoemaker, Gentry & Knickelbein, Vienna, VA, for
Petitioner;
Alexis B. Babcock, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

             UNPUBLISHED DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

        On December 31, 2003, the Moriartys filed a petition seeking compensation
under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1
et seq., alleging that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination their
daughter, Eilise, received on January 1, 2001, caused her to suffer epileptic
encephalopathy. On February 10, 2017, Judge Wheeler of the Court of Federal
Claims ruled that the Moriartys were entitled to compensation under the Vaccine
Act. Judge Wheeler remanded the case to the undersigned to determine damages.
130 Fed. Cl. 573.

       1
         The E-Government Act, 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and
Promotion of Electronic Government Services), requires that the Court post this decision on its
website. Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 18(b), the parties have 14 days to file a motion proposing
redaction of medical information or other information described in 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-12(d)(4).
Any redactions ordered by the special master will appear in the document posted on the website.
       Calculating damages for this case presented a number of atypical challenges
due to the complexity and age of the case. However, the parties and counsel
dutifully worked towards a Proffer on Award of Compensation, which was filed on
August 6, 2018. Based upon the record as a whole, the undersigned finds the
Proffer reasonable and that the petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in the
Proffer. Pursuant to the attached Proffer, attached as Appendix B, the court awards
petitioner:

1.    A lump sum payment of $1,367,111.31, representing compensation for
      lost earnings ($1,032,153.27), pain and suffering ($250,000.00), and life
      care expenses for Year One ($84,958.04), in the form of a check payable
      to petitioners as court-appointed guardian(s)/ conservator(s) of Eilise
      Moriarty, for the benefit of Eilise Moriarty. No payments shall be made
      until petitioners provide respondent with documentation establishing
      that they have been appointed as the guardian(s)/conservator(s) of Eilise
      Moriarty's estate. If petitioners are not authorized by a court of
      competent jurisdiction to serve as guardian(s)/conservator(s) of the
      estate of Eilise Moriarty, any such payment shall be made to the party
      or parties appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction to serve as
      guardian(s)/conservator(s) of the estate of Eilise Moriarty upon
      submission of written documentation of such appointment to the
      Secretary; and

2.    A lump sum payment of $200,000.00, representing compensation for
      past unreimbursable expenses, in the form of a check payable to
      petitioners.

3.    An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract, subject to the
      conditions described in the attached Proffer (Appendix B), that will
      provide payments for the life care items contained in the life care plan,
      as illustrated by the chart (Appendix A), paid to the life insurance
      company from which the annuity will be purchased. Compensation for
      Year Two (beginning on the first anniversary of the date of judgment)
      and all subsequent years shall be provided through respondent's
      purchase of an annuity, which annuity shall make payments directly to
      petitioners as guardian(s)/conservator(s) of the estate of Eilise Moriarty,
      only so long as Eilise Moriarty is alive at the time a particular payment
      is due. At the Secretary's sole discretion, the periodic payments may be
      provided to petitioners in monthly, quarterly, annual or other
      installments. The "annual amounts" set forth in the chart in Appendix
      A describe only the total yearly sum to be paid to petitioners and do not
      require that the payment be made in one annual installment.

     These amounts reflect all elements of compensation to which petitioner
would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. §300aa-15(a). The Clerk’s Office is instructed:

      (1) To enter judgment in case 03-2876V according to this decision and the
      attached Proffer;

      (2) To provide this decision to the presiding judge pursuant to Vaccine Rule
      28.1(a).

     Any questions may be directed to my law clerk, Matthew Ginther, at (202)
357-6360.

      IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                            s/Christian J. Moran
                                            Christian J. Moran
                                            Special Master
                                                                   Appendix A: Items of Compensation for Eilise Moriarty                                                           Page 1 of 2
                                                 Lump Sum
                                                Compensation Compensation Compensation Compensation Compensation Compensation Compensation Compensation
 ITEMS OF COMPENSATION            G.R. *   M       Year 1      Year 2       Year 3       Year 4       Year 5       Year 6      Years 7-10    Year 11
                                                    2018        2019         2020         2021         2022         2023       2024-2027      2028
Care First MOP                    5%                 1,500.00    1,500.00     1,500.00     1,500.00
Medicare Part B Premium           5%       M                                                            1,608.00     1,608.00     1,608.00     1,608.00
Medicare Part B Deductible        5%
Medicare Advantage                5%       M                                                                                   360.00           360.00            360.00           360.00
Medicare Supp                     5%       M
Rx                                5%                                                                                           100.00           100.00            100.00           100.00
PCP                               5%   *                                                                                        80.00            80.00             80.00            80.00
Mileage: PCP                      4%                      18.72             18.72            18.72             18.72            18.72
Vision Therapy                    5%                   3,360.00
Mileage: Vision Therapy           4%                      86.40
Vison Therapy Eval                5%                     420.00
Neuropsych Testing                4%                   2,850.00
Mileage: Neuropsych Testing       4%                      14.40
Counseling                        4%   *                                                                                       540.00           540.00                             540.00
Mileage: Counseling               4%                      43.20             43.20            43.20            43.20             24.92
Care Mngt                         4%       M           3,000.00          1,500.00         1,500.00         1,500.00          1,500.00         1,500.00          1,500.00         1,500.00
OT Eval                           4%                     190.00            190.00
OT                                4%   *               2,160.00          2,160.00
Mileage: OT                       4%                     158.76            158.76
ST                                4%   *              10,830.00          1,710.00
Mileage: ST                       4%                     466.56            155.52
Voc Rehab & Supp Employ           4%       M                                             15,978.69         2,427.48          2,427.48         2,427.48         2,427.48          2,427.48
Voc Rehab & Supp Employ           4%                                                                                                          2,022.90           674.20            674.20
Attendant Care/Residential Care   4%       M          59,860.00        59,860.00         54,325.00        54,325.00        54,325.00         92,564.00        92,564.00         92,564.00
Lost Earnings                                      1,032,153.27
Pain and Suffering                                   250,000.00
Past Unreimbursable Expenses                         200,000.00
Annual Totals                                      1,567,111.31        67,296.20         73,365.61        59,814.40        60,984.12        101,202.38        99,313.68         99,853.68
                                               Note: Compensation Year 1 consists of the 12 month period following the date of judgment.
                                               Compensation Year 2 consists of the 12 month period commencing on the first anniversary of the date of judgment.
                                               As soon as practicable after entry of judgment, respondent shall make the following payment to the court appointed guardian(s)
                                               of the estate of Eilise Moriarty for the benefit of Eilise Moriarty, for Yr 1 life care expenses ($84,958.04), lost earnings ($1,032,153.27),
                                               and pain and suffering ($250,000.00): $1,367,111.31.
                                               As soon as practicable after entry of judgment, respondent shall make the following payment to petitioners for past unreimbursable
                                               expenses: $200,000.00.
                                               Annual amounts payable through an annuity for future Compensation Years follow the anniversary of the date of judgment.
                                               Annual amounts shall increase at the rates indicated above in column G.R., compounded annually from the date of judgment.
                                               Items denoted with an asterisk (*) covered by health insurance and/or Medicare.
                                               Items denoted with an "M" payable in twelve monthly installments totaling the annual amount indicated.
                                                                   Appendix A: Items of Compensation for Eilise Moriarty                                                           Page 2 of 2

                                               Compensation Compensation Compensation
 ITEMS OF COMPENSATION            G.R. *   M    Years 12-41  Years 42-43 Years 44-Life
                                                2029-2058    2059-2060     2061-Life
Care First MOP                    5%
Medicare Part B Premium           5%       M         1,608.00         1,608.00
Medicare Part B Deductible        5%                                                      183.00
Medicare Advantage                5%       M           360.00           360.00
Medicare Supp                     5%       M                                            1,080.00
Rx                                5%                   100.00           100.00            200.00
PCP                               5%   *                80.00            80.00
Mileage: PCP                      4%
Vision Therapy                    5%
Mileage: Vision Therapy           4%
Vison Therapy Eval                5%
Neuropsych Testing                4%
Mileage: Neuropsych Testing       4%
Counseling                        4%   *               108.00
Mileage: Counseling               4%
Care Mngt                         4%       M         1,500.00         1,500.00          1,500.00
OT Eval                           4%
OT                                4%   *
Mileage: OT                       4%
ST                                4%   *
Mileage: ST                       4%
Voc Rehab & Supp Employ           4%       M         2,427.48         2,427.48          2,427.48
Voc Rehab & Supp Employ           4%                   674.20           674.20            674.20
Attendant Care/Residential Care   4%       M        92,564.00        92,564.00         92,564.00
Lost Earnings
Pain and Suffering
Past Unreimbursable Expenses
Annual Totals                                       99,421.68        99,313.68         98,628.68
                                               Note: Compensation Year 1 consists of the 12 month period following the date of judgment.
                                               Compensation Year 2 consists of the 12 month period commencing on the first anniversary of the date of judgment.
                                               As soon as practicable after entry of judgment, respondent shall make the following payment to the court appointed guardian(s)
                                               of the estate of Eilise Moriarty for the benefit of Eilise Moriarty, for Yr 1 life care expenses ($84,958.04), lost earnings ($1,032,153.27),
                                               and pain and suffering ($250,000.00): $1,367,111.31.
                                               As soon as practicable after entry of judgment, respondent shall make the following payment to petitioners for past unreimbursable
                                               expenses: $200,000.00.
                                               Annual amounts payable through an annuity for future Compensation Years follow the anniversary of the date of judgment.
                                               Annual amounts shall increase at the rates indicated above in column G.R., compounded annually from the date of judgment.
                                               Items denoted with an asterisk (*) covered by health insurance and/or Medicare.
                                               Items denoted with an "M" payable in twelve monthly installments totaling the annual amount indicated.
               IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                              OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
__________________________________________
                                              )
MARIE LOUISE and STEPHEN H. MORIARTY )
as Conservators of EILISE MORIARTY,           )
                                              )
                      Petitioners,            )
                                              )
       v.                                     )   No. 03-2876V
                                              )   Special Master Moran
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                           )   ECF
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                           )
                                              )
                      Respondent.             )
__________________________________________)

             RESPONDENT'S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

I.     Items of Compensation

       A.      Life Care Items

       Respondent engaged life care planner, Laura E. Fox, MSN, RN, CDDN, CNLCP, and

petitioners engaged Nancy J. Bond, M.Ed., CCM, CLCP, to provide an estimation of Eilise

Moriarty’s future vaccine-injury related needs. For the purposes of this proffer, the term

“vaccine related” is as described in Judge Wheeler’s Review of Special Master’s remand

Decision Denying Relief, filed under seal February 10, 2017, and reissued February 27, 2017.

All items of compensation identified in the life care plan are supported by the evidence, and are

illustrated by the chart entitled Appendix A: Items of Compensation for Eilise Moriarty, attached

hereto as Tab A. 1 Respondent proffers that Eilise Moriarty should be awarded all items of

1
  The chart at Tab A illustrates the annual benefits provided by the life care plan. The annual
benefit years run from the date of judgment up to the first anniversary of the date of judgment,
and every year thereafter up to the anniversary of the date of judgment.

                                                -1-
compensation set forth in the life care plan and illustrated by the chart attached at Tab A.

Petitioners agree.

         B.     Lost Earnings

         The parties agree that based upon the evidence of record, Eilise Moriarty has suffered a

loss of earnings in the past and will not be gainfully employed in the future. Therefore,

respondent proffers that Eilise Moriarty should be awarded lost earnings as provided under the

Vaccine Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(3)(B). Respondent proffers that the appropriate award for

Eilise Moriarty's lost earnings is $1,032,153.27. Petitioners agree.

         C.     Pain and Suffering

         Respondent proffers that Eilise Moriarty should be awarded $250,000.00 in actual pain

and suffering. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioners agree.

         D.     Past Unreimbursable Expenses

         Evidence supplied by petitioners documents their expenditure of past unreimbursable

expenses related to Eilise Moriarty's vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioners

should be awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $200,000.00. Petitioners

agree.

II.      Form of the Award

         The parties recommend that the compensation provided to Eilise Moriarty should be

made through a combination of lump sum payments and future annuity payments as described

                                                 -2-
below, and request that the Special Master's decision and the Court's judgment award the

following: 2

       A. A lump sum payment of $1,367,111.31, representing compensation for lost earnings

($1,032,153.27), pain and suffering ($250,000.00), and life care expenses for Year One

($84,958.04), in the form of a check payable to petitioners as court-appointed guardian(s)/

conservator(s) of Eilise Moriarty, for the benefit of Eilise Moriarty. No payments shall be made

until petitioners provide respondent with documentation establishing that they have been

appointed as the guardian(s)/conservator(s) of Eilise Moriarty's estate. If petitioners are not

authorized by a court of competent jurisdiction to serve as guardian(s)/conservator(s) of the

estate of Eilise Moriarty, any such payment shall be made to the party or parties appointed by a

court of competent jurisdiction to serve as guardian(s)/conservator(s) of the estate of Eilise

Moriarty upon submission of written documentation of such appointment to the Secretary.

       B. A lump sum payment of $200,000.00, representing compensation for past

unreimbursable expenses, in the form of a check payable to petitioners.

       C. An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract, 3 subject to the conditions

described below, that will provide payments for the life care items contained in the life care plan,

2 Should Eilise Moriarty die prior to entry of judgment, the parties reserve the right to move the
Court for appropriate relief. In particular, respondent would oppose any award for future
medical expenses, lost future earnings, and future pain and suffering.
3
   In respondent’s discretion, respondent may purchase one or more annuity contracts from one
or more life insurance companies.

                                                -3-
as illustrated by the chart at Tab A attached hereto, paid to the life insurance company 4 from

which the annuity will be purchased. 5 Compensation for Year Two (beginning on the first

anniversary of the date of judgment) and all subsequent years shall be provided through

respondent's purchase of an annuity, which annuity shall make payments directly to petitioners

as guardian(s)/conservator(s) of the estate of Eilise Moriarty, only so long as Eilise Moriarty is

alive at the time a particular payment is due. At the Secretary's sole discretion, the periodic

payments may be provided to petitioners in monthly, quarterly, annual or other installments. The

"annual amounts" set forth in the chart at Tab A describe only the total yearly sum to be paid to

petitioners and do not require that the payment be made in one annual installment.

               1.      Growth Rate

       Respondent proffers that a four percent (4%) growth rate should be applied to all non-

medical life care items, and a five percent (5%) growth rate should be applied to all medical life

4
  The Life Insurance Company must have a minimum of $250,000,000 capital and surplus,
exclusive of any mandatory security valuation reserve. The Life Insurance Company must have
one of the following ratings from two of the following rating organizations:

               a. A.M. Best Company: A++, A+, A+g, A+p, A+r, or A+s;

               b. Moody's Investor Service Claims Paying Rating: Aa3, Aa2, Aa1, or Aaa;

               c. Standard and Poor's Corporation Insurer Claims-Paying Ability Rating: AA-,
               AA, AA+, or AAA;

               d. Fitch Credit Rating Company, Insurance Company Claims Paying Ability
               Rating: AA-, AA, AA+, or AAA.
5
  Petitioners authorize the disclosure of certain documents filed by the petitioners in this case
consistent with the Privacy Act and the routine uses described in the National Vaccine Injury
Compensation Program System of Records, No. 09-15-0056.

                                                 -4-
care items. Thus, the benefits illustrated in the chart at Tab A that are to be paid through annuity

payments should grow as follows: four percent (4%) compounded annually from the date of

judgment for non-medical items, and five percent (5%) compounded annually from the date of

judgment for medical items. Petitioners agree.

               2.      Life-Contingent Annuity

         Petitioners will continue to receive the annuity payments from the Life Insurance

Company only so long as Eilise Moriarty is alive at the time that a particular payment is due.

Written notice shall be provided to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Life

Insurance Company within twenty (20) days of Eilise Moriarty’s death.

               3.      Guardianship/Conservatorship

       No payments shall be made until petitioners provide respondent with documentation

establishing that they have been appointed as the guardian(s)/conservator(s) of Eilise Moriarty’s

estate. If petitioners are not authorized by a court of competent jurisdiction to serve as

guardian(s)/conservator(s) of the estate of Eilise Moriarty, any such payment shall be made to

the party or parties appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction to serve as

guardian(s)/conservator(s) of the estate of Eilise Moriarty upon submission of written

documentation of such appointment to the Secretary.

III.   Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment

       A.      Lump sum paid to petitioners as court-appointed guardian(s)/
               conservator(s) of Eilise Moriarty’s estate:                           $1,367,111.31

       B.      Paid to petitioners:                                                  $ 200,000.00

       C.      An amount sufficient to purchase the annuity contract described
               above in section II. C.

                                                 -5-
                        Respectfully submitted,

                        CHAD A. READLER
                        Acting Assistant Attorney General

                        C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
                        Acting Director
                        Torts Branch, Civil Division

                        CATHARINE E. REEVES
                        Deputy Director
                        Torts Branch, Civil Division

                        HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
                        Assistant Director
                        Torts Branch, Civil Division

                        /S/Alexis B. Babcock
                        ALEXIS B. BABCOCK
                        Assistant Director
                        Torts Branch, Civil Division
                        U.S. Department of Justice
                        P.O. Box 146
                        Benjamin Franklin Station
                        Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
                        Telephone: (202) 616-7678

Dated: August 6, 2018

                          -6-