{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00227","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00227-2","petitioner_identifier":"BERNARD HALVERSON, EXECUTOR of the ESTATE of SUSAN HALVERSON, deceased","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":65.0,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2014-01-09","condition_raw":"cardiac arrest and death, significantly aggravated ischemic heart disease","condition_category":"death","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"compensated","award_amount_usd":325000,"decision_date":"2020-06-29","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T04:46:05.306913+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":4,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Bernard Halverson, as executor for the estate of Susan Halverson, alleged that a high-dose influenza vaccine (Fluzone) administered on January 9, 2014, caused or significantly aggravated the decedent's ischemic heart disease, leading to cardiac arrest and death on January 13, 2014. Petitioner's experts, Dr. Robert Stark and Dr. Gourang Patel, posited a medical theory that Fluzone can induce a systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) due to its enhanced antigen load, which can lead to increased platelet aggregation, blood clotting, myocardial infarction, and cardiac arrest, especially in individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions and concurrent infections. They argued that Mrs. Halverson's upper respiratory infection (URI) at the time of vaccination synergistically amplified this response. Petitioner's experts presented medical literature, including the Lanza study, and VAERS data (though acknowledged as passive reporting) to support the link between influenza vaccination, inflammation, platelet activation, and cardiac events. Respondent's experts, Dr. Joseph Murphy and Dr. Noel Rose, contended that Mrs. Halverson's death was the natural progression of her severe, long-standing cardiac disease and comorbidities, and that no credible medical literature supported a causal link between Fluzone and adverse cardiac events, with some literature suggesting protective cardiovascular benefits from influenza vaccination. Special Master Mindy Michaels Roth found that petitioner met the Althen criteria for an off-Table injury, establishing a reputable medical theory (SIRS from Fluzone exacerbating cardiac conditions), a logical sequence of cause and effect (Fluzone + URI + comorbidities leading to cardiac arrest), and a proximate temporal relationship (symptoms beginning shortly after vaccination and culminating in death four days later). The Special Master concluded that Fluzone was a substantial factor in Mrs. Halverson's death, rejecting the argument that it was solely the natural progression of her disease. The parties stipulated to an award of $325,000.00 ($75,000 for pain and suffering, $250,000 for death benefit), paid as a lump sum to the estate, on June 29, 2020.","is_death":1,"date_of_death":"2014-01-13","petition_filed_date":"2015-03-04","case_summary":"On March 4, 2015, Bernard Halverson, as executor of the estate of his late wife, Susan Halverson, filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. He alleged that Susan Halverson received a high-dose influenza vaccine (Fluzone) on January 9, 2014, which caused her cardiac arrest and subsequent death on January 13, 2014. Alternatively, the petition claimed the vaccine significantly aggravated her pre-existing ischemic heart disease. Mrs. Halverson, aged 65, had a complex medical history including congestive heart failure, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hypothyroidism, anemia, left bundle branch block, ventricular tachycardia, and an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD) placed in September 2013. Following vaccination, she experienced vomiting, cough, weakness, and shortness of breath. She collapsed and went into cardiac arrest on January 13, 2014, and was pronounced deceased shortly thereafter. The respondent, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, initially stated the case was not appropriate for compensation, citing Mrs. Halverson's pre-existing heart disease and AICD placement. Petitioner's experts, Dr. Robert Stark and Dr. Gourang Patel, opined that Fluzone could cause a systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) leading to increased platelet aggregation, blood clotting, myocardial infarction, and cardiac arrest, particularly in susceptible individuals with pre-existing conditions. Respondent's experts, Dr. Joseph Murphy and Dr. Noel Rose, argued that Mrs. Halverson's death was due to the natural progression of her severe cardiac disease and comorbidities, and that medical literature did not support a causal link between Fluzone and adverse cardiovascular events. Special Master Mindy Michaels Roth, in a ruling dated February 4, 2020, found that petitioner established by a preponderance of the evidence that the Fluzone vaccine was a substantial factor in Mrs. Halverson's cardiac arrest and death, satisfying the Althen criteria for an off-Table injury. The Special Master determined that the vaccine, in combination with Mrs. Halverson's upper respiratory infection and pre-existing conditions, significantly aggravated her cardiac disease. The parties subsequently stipulated to damages. On June 29, 2020, Special Master Roth issued a decision awarding $325,000.00, consisting of $75,000.00 for pain and suffering and $250,000.00 for the statutory death benefit, to be paid as a lump sum to the estate.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Mindy Michaels Roth","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Jerry Lindheim","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Locks Law Firm","petitioner_attorney_location":"Philadelphia, PA","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|jerry-lindheim|","firm_canonical_key":"locks","package_title":"HALVERSON v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00227","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00227.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00227.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00227-0","title":"HALVERSON v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC ORDER (Originally filed: 10/29/15) regarding 24 Order on Motion to Issue Subpoena. Signed by Special Master Mindy Michaels Roth. (jb) Copy to parties.","date_issued":"2016-05-13","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"docketText matches skip keyword 'motion'","download_status":"skipped"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00227-1","title":"HALVERSON v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 2/4/2020) regarding 70 Ruling on Entitlement. Signed by Special Master Mindy Michaels Roth. (mw) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2020-03-02","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00227/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00227-1/pdf","pdf_bytes":561274,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'ruling on entitlement'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00227/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00227-1"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00227-2","title":"HALVERSON v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 6/4/2020) regarding 79 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer. Signed by Special Master Mindy Michaels Roth. (mw) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2020-06-29","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00227/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00227-2/pdf","pdf_bytes":219651,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'stipulation'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00227/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00227-2"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-00227-3","title":"HALVERSON v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 05/25/2021) regarding 90 DECISION of Special Master - Fees Signed by Special Master Mindy Michaels Roth. (kp) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2021-07-01","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}