In the United States Court of Federal Claims 

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS 

No. 18-1593V 

 Filed: October 15, 2019 

UNPUBLISHED 

TRAVIS REITTER, 

 Petitioner, 

v. 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES, 

 Respondent. 

Special Processing Unit (SPU); 

Damages Decision Based on Proffer; 

Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; GuillainBarre Syndrome (GBS) 

 

Brenton Aaron Elswick, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Seattle, WA, for petitioner. 

Lara Ann Englund, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. 

DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1

Corcoran, Chief Special Master: 

 On October 15, 2018, Travis Reitter (“petitioner”) 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 Guillain-Barré syndrome 

(“GBS”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine he received on October 8, 2016. 

Petition at 1-2. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of 

Special Masters. 

On October 9, 2019, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled 

to compensation. On October 15, 2019, respondent filed a proffer on award of 

compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $177,389.35, 

consisting of pain and suffering and past unreimbursed expenses. Proffer at 1. In the 

 

1 I intend to post this decision on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. 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. Because this unpublished 

decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the United 

States Court of Federal Claims' website in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 

3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). 

2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for 

ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 

300aa (2012). 
2

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. 

 Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, I award petitioner a lump 

sum payment of $177,389.35 (representing compensation for pain and suffering 

and past unreimbursed expenses) in the form of a check payable to petitioner, 

Travis Reitter. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be 

available under § 15(a). 

The clerk of the 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.
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

TRAVIS REITTER, )

)

Petitioner, )

)

v. ) No. 18-1593V

) Chief Special Master Brian Corcoran

SECRETARY OF )

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, )

)

Respondent. )

 )

RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION

On October 8, 2019, respondent filed a Vaccine Rule 4(c) report concluding that 

petitioner suffered Guillain-Barre Syndrome within the Table timeframe following an influenza 

vaccination, and conceding petitioner’s entitlement to compensation under the National 

Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§300aa-10 to -34. Accordingly, 

on October 9, 2019, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement. 

I. Items of Compensation 

Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $177,389.35, consisting of pain 

and suffering and past unreimbursed expenses, which represents all elements of compensation to 

which petitioner is entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.

II. Form of the Award

Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made 

through a lump sum payment of $177,389.35 in the form of a check payable to petitioner.

1

 This 

 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 medical 

expenses, future pain and suffering, and future lost wages.
2

lump sum payment represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under 

42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees. 

Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case.

Respectfully submitted,

JOSEPH H. HUNT

Assistant Attorney General

C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO

Acting Director

Torts Branch, Civil Division

CATHARINE E. REEVES

Deputy Director

Torts Branch, Civil Division

ALEXIS B. BABCOCK

Assistant Director

Torts Branch, Civil Division

s/ LARA A. ENGLUND

LARA A. ENGLUND

Senior 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) 307-3013

E-mail: lara.a.englund@usdoj.gov

Dated: October 15, 2019