Thursday, October 29, 2009

U.S. Concedes Surviving Spouse Claim, Sharp v. U.S.

Full Article at: U.S. Concedes Retroactive Payment of Benefits for Military Surviving Spouses
WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
In another significant pro bonovictory for Weil Gotshal, the Department of
Defense has announced that there will be no more appeals in the case of Sharp v.
United States, allowing the plaintiffs - three military widows - and all
similarly situated surviving spouses to receive the death and insurance benefits
to which they were entitled
.

The concession by the U.S. comes on the heels of the August 27, 2009 ruling in
the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in favor of Weil Gotshal clients Patricia
Sharp, Margaret Haverkamp and Iva Rogers, widows of distinguished servicemen.
With the help of Weil`s team, the women challenged the Department of Defense`s
long-standing interpretation of the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) and the
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation program, arguing that the government had
refused hundreds of families their entitled benefits. The August victory secured
the continuation of full SBP annuity payments, repayment of any previously
refunded SBP premiums, and restoration of full SBP annuity payments for all
similarly situated surviving spouses, an amount projected to be over $35
million.

"It is an honor to work on behalf of the families who have dedicated their lives
to serve our country," said Edward Reines, lead attorney in this case. "This is
an important victory for not only our clients, but other widows of fallen
soldiers who will now receive the benefits that they deserve."

The Weil Gotshal team was led by partner Edward Reines (Silicon Valley), with
associates Michael Franzinger and Azra Hadzimehmedovic, assisted by paralegal
Anupama Chettri (all from the firm`s Washington, DC office). Associates Rip
Finst and Paul Ehrlich and summer associate Nicola Carah (Silicon Valley) made
valuable contributions to the effort as well."

VA Awards Disability Due to Exposure to Toxic Water

Former Camp Lejeune Marine John Hartung of Waukesha, Wis., "doctor signed a letter stating his medical belief that Hartung's ailments were likely caused by exposure to toxic water".

Full Article at: Ex-NC Marine's disability from tainted water OK'd

The Associated Press

Thursday, October 29, 2009

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — Advocates for those exposed to contaminated water at a North Carolina Marine Corps base are helping people win disability claims.

They also hope Congress will open Veterans Affairs health care services to everyone affected.

The Jacksonville Daily News reported Thursday that some former Marines have won disability benefits for illnesses blamed on the base water supply that was tainted with dry cleaning solvents for decades.

Former Camp Lejeune Marine John Hartung of Waukesha, Wis., urged veterans to ask their doctors to back their claims.

Hartung was awarded a 30-percent disability from the Veterans Benefits Administration last month. His doctor signed a letter stating his medical belief that Hartung's ailments were likely caused by exposure to toxic water.

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Information from: The Daily News, http://www.jdnews.com

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Oct 29, 2009 - 08:43 a.m. EDT