Burn Pit Claims: US Supreme Court Allows Veteran to Sue a State Agency for Employment Discrimination

In a 5-4 decision authored by Justice Breyer, the US Supreme Court reversed a lower court and remanded the case allowing a veteran to sue the state of Texas. It held under the US Constitution that the States agreed it would yield their sovereignty to the Federal Government to raise and support the Armed Forces.

US Burn Pit Legislation: Bipartisan Bill to Evaluate US Troops Exposure to Toxic Burn Pits

Reps. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) and Brian Mast (FL-18), along with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), hosted a press conference today urging their colleagues to support and pass the Burn Pits Accountability Act (H.R. 5671). The bipartisan legislation would evaluate the exposure of U.S. servicemembers to open burn pits and toxic airborne chemicals.

Defense Employer Ordered to Pay Medical for Lung Disease Caused by Burn Pit Exposure

In a decision that will have significant impact on potentially thousands of injured workers, a Court has ruled that a private military contractor for the US Defense Department during the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts is responsible for the payment of employee’s medical treatment required after manifesting lung disease (bronchiolitis) from exposure to burn pits maintained during the war.