HALLIBURTON v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 23-1777V
TRAVIS HALLIBURTON,
Petitioner,
v.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Chief Special Master Corcoran
Filed: November 26, 2025
David John Carney, Green & Schafle LLC, Philadelphia, PA, for Petitioner.
Elizabeth Andary, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1
On October 10, 2023, Travis Halliburton filed a petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.2 (the
“Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that he suffered from Guillain-Barre Syndrome (“GBS”)
following the receipt of an influenza vaccine administered on October 14, 2020. Petition
at 1-2. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special
Masters.
On June 18, 2025, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to
compensation for GBS. On November 24, 2025, Respondent filed a proffer on award of
compensation (“Proffer”) indicating Petitioner should be awarded $200,000.00 for pain
and suffering. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees
with the proffered award. Id. Based on the record as a whole, I find that Petitioner is
entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer.
1 Because this Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made
publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or
at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government
Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government
Services). This means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to the internet. In
accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), Petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact medical or other
information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, I
agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such material from public access.
2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease
of citation, all section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2018).
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2
Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award Petitioner a lump
sum payment of $200,000.00 for pain and suffering to be paid through an ACH
deposit to Petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to
Petitioner. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available
under Section 15(a).
The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision. 3
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Brian H. Corcoran
Brian H. Corcoran
Chief Special Master
3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice
renouncing the right to seek review.
Case 1:23-vv-01777-UNJ Document 31 Filed 12/30/25 Page 2 of 4

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
TRAVIS HALLIBURTON,
Petitioner,
v.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
No. 23-1777V
Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran
ECF
RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION
On October 10, 2023, Travis Halliburton (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation
under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34
(“Vaccine Act” or “Act”), as amended, alleging that that he suffered Guillain-Barré syndrome
(“GBS”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine administered on October 14, 2020. Petition at
1-2.
On June 16, 2025, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule
4(c) Report concluding that petitioner suffered an injury that is compensable under the Vaccine
Act, that is, GBS, as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table. ECF No. 18. On June 18, 2025, the
Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation.
ECF No. 18.
I. 	Compensation
Based upon the evidence of record, respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded
a lump sum of $200,000.00 for pain and suffering. This amount represents all elements of
compensation to which petitioner is entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.
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II. 	Form of the Award
Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.
Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a
lump sum payment as described and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision and the
Court’s judgment award the following 1: a lump sum payment of $200,000.00, to be paid through
an ACH deposit to petitioner’s counsel’s IOLTA account for prompt disbursement to petitioner,
Travis Halliburton.
Respectfully submitted,
BRETT A. SHUMATE
Assistant Attorney General
C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO
Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
HEATHER L. PEARLMAN
Deputy Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
TRACI R. PATTON
Assistant Director
Torts Branch, Civil Division
/s/ ELIZABETH A. ANDARY
ELIZABETH A. ANDARY
Trial Attorney
Torts Branch, Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 146, Benjamin Franklin Station
Washington, D.C. 20044-0146
Tel: (202) 616-9824
E-mail: Elizabeth.A.Andary@usdoj.gov
Dated: November 24, 2025
1 Should petitioner 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,
unreimbursed expenses, future lost earnings and future pain and suffering.
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