Court Opinion

ID: 857936
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-04-12 19:46:13.056023+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:40:38.156906
License: Public Domain

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

*************************
SHANNON M. McGRATH,                      *
as Administratrix of the estate of S.M., *            No. 11-521V
an infant, deceased,                     *            Special Master Christian J. Moran
                                         *
                       Petitioner,       *            Filed: March 21, 2013
                                         *
v.                                       *            Stipulation; diphtheria-tetanus-acellular
                                         *            pertussis, inactivated poliovirus,
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                      *            haemophilus influenza type b,
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                      *            pneumococcal conjugate, rotavirus vaccines;
                                         *            death
                       Respondent.       *
*************************

                                  UNPUBLISHED DECISION1

Rudolph L. Mass, Massa Law Group, Pittsburgh, PA, for Petitioner;
Ann D. Martin, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Respondent.

        On March 19, 2013, respondent filed a joint stipulation concerning the petition for
compensation filed on August 17, 2011 by Shannon McGrath as Administratrix of the estate of
S.M., an infant, deceased. In her petition, petitioner alleged that the diphtheria-tetanus-acellular
pertussis, inactivated poliovirus, haemophilus influenza type b, pneumococcal conjugate and/or
rotavirus vaccines, which are contained in the Vaccine Injury Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R.
§100.3(a), and which S.M. received on September 16, 2009, caused her death on September 18,
2009. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action for
damages on behalf of S.M. as a result of S.M.’s death.

        Respondent denies that the vaccines S.M. received on September 16, 2009 caused her to
suffer any injury or her death.

       Nevertheless, the parties agree to the joint stipulation, attached hereto as Appendix A.
The undersigned finds said stipulation reasonable and adopts it as the decision of the Court in
awarding damages, on the terms set forth therein.

1
  The E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899, 2913 (Dec. 17, 2002),
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.
       Damages awarded in that stipulation include:

       A lump sum payment of $140,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner as
       Administratrix of the Estate of S.M. This amount represents compensation for all
       damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

        In the absence of a motion for review filed pursuant to RCFC, Appendix B, the clerk is
directed to enter judgment in case 11-521V according to this decision and the attached
stipulation.2

       Any questions may be directed to my law clerk, Jay All, at (202) 357-6353.

       IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                                    s/Christian J. Moran
                                                    Christian J. Moran
                                                    Special Master

2
  Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), the parties can expedite entry of judgment by each party filing
a notice renouncing the right to seek review by a United States Court of Federal Claims judge.
                IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
                               OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
____________________________________
                                          )
SHANNON M. MCGRATH, as                    )
Administratrix of the estate of S.M,      )
an infant, deceased,                      )
                                          )
               Petitioner,                )
                                          )    No. 11-521V
        v.                                )    Special Master Moran
                                          )    ECF
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND                   )
HUMAN SERVICES,                           )
                                          )
               Respondent.                )
____________________________________)

                                         STIPULATION

       The parties hereby stipulate to the following matters:

       1. Shannon M. McGrath, petitioner, filed a petition for vaccine compensation under the

National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10 to 34 (the “Vaccine

Program”), on behalf of the estate of her daughter, S.M. The petition seeks compensation for

S.M’s death, alleging that her death resulted from receipt of diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis

(“DTaP”), inactivated poliovirus (“IPV”), haemophilus influenza type b (“Hib”), pneumococcal

conjugate (“PCV”) and/or rotavirus vaccines, which vaccines are contained in the Vaccine Injury

Table (the “Table”), 42 C.F.R. § 100.3 (a).

       2. S.M. received the vaccines on September 16, 2009.

       3. The vaccines were administered within the United States.

       4. Petitioner alleges that S.M. died on September 18, 2009, as a result of the vaccinations

she received on September 16, 2009.
        5. Petitioner represents that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action

for damages on behalf of S.M. as a result of S.M.’s death.

        6. Respondent denies that the vaccines received by S.M. caused her to suffer any injury;

and denies that S.M.’s death occurred as the result of the vaccines.

        7. Maintaining their above-stated positions, the parties nevertheless now agree that the

issues between them shall be settled and that a decision should be entered awarding the

compensation described in paragraph 8 of this Stipulation.

        8. As soon as practicable after an entry of judgment reflecting a decision consistent with

the terms of this Stipulation, and after petitioner has filed an election to receive compensation

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-21(a)(1), the Secretary of Health and Human Services will issue

the following vaccine compensation payment:

        A lump sum of $140,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner as
        Administratrix of the Estate of S.M. This amount represents compensation for all
        damages that would be available under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a).

        9. As soon as practicable after the entry of judgment on entitlement in this case, and after

petitioner has filed both a proper and timely election to receive compensation pursuant to 42

U.S.C. § 300aa-21(a)(1), and an application, the parties will submit to further proceedings before

the special master to award reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in proceeding upon this

petition.

        10. Payment made pursuant to paragraph 8 and any amounts awarded pursuant to

paragraph 9 of this Stipulation will be made in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(i), subject

to the availability of sufficient statutory funds.

        11. Petitioner represents that she presently is, or within 90 days of the date of judgment

will become, duly authorized to serve as legal representative of the Estate of S.M. under the laws

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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. No payments pursuant to this Stipulation shall be made

until petitioner provides the Secretary with documentation establishing her appointment as

conservator of S.M.’s estate. If petitioner is not authorized by a court of competent jurisdiction

to serve as conservator of the estate of S.M. at the time a payment pursuant to this Stipulation is

to be made, any such payment shall be paid to the party or parties appointed by a court of

competent jurisdiction to serve as conservator of the estate of S.M. upon submission of written

documentation of such appointment to the Secretary.

       12. In return for the payments described in paragraphs 8 and 9, petitioner, in her

individual capacity and as legal representative of the Estate of S.M., on her own behalf, and on

behalf of S.M.’s heirs, executors, administrators, successors or assigns, does forever irrevocably

and unconditionally release, acquit and discharge the United States and the Secretary of Health

and Human Services from any and all actions or causes of action (including agreements,

judgments, claims, damages, loss of services, expenses and all demands of whatever kind or

nature) that have been brought, could have been brought, or could be timely brought in the Court

of Federal Claims, under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §

300aa-10 et seq., on account of, or in any way growing out of, any and all known or unknown,

suspected or unsuspected personal injuries to or death of S.M. resulting from, or alleged to have

resulted from, the vaccinations administered on or about September 16, 2009, as alleged by

petitioner in a petition for vaccine compensation filed on or about August 17, 2011, in the United

States Court of Federal Claims as petition No. 11-521V, in the United States Court of Federal

Claims.

       13. If the special master fails to issue a decision in complete conformity with the terms

of this Stipulation or if the Court of Federal Claims fails to enter judgment in conformity with a

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decision that is in complete conformity with the terms of this Stipulation, then the parties’

settlement and this Stipulation shall be voidable at the sole discretion of either party.

       14. This Stipulation expresses a full and complete negotiated settlement of liability and

damages claimed under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, except

as otherwise noted in paragraph 9 above. There is absolutely no agreement on the part of the

parties hereto to make any payment or to do any act or thing other than is herein expressly stated

and clearly agreed to. The parties further agree and understand that the award described in this

Stipulation may reflect a compromise of the parties’ respective positions as to liability and/or

amount of damages.

       15. This Stipulation shall not be construed as an admission by the United States or the

Secretary of Health and Human Services that the vaccines received by S.M. caused her to suffer

any injury or death; or that S.M.’s death occurred as the result of a vaccine-related injury.

       16. All rights and obligations of petitioner hereunder shall apply equally to petitioner’s

heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and/or assigns as legal representative of the Estate of

S.M.

                                     END OF STIPULATION
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