LEGAL CASES & LEGISLATION

    Legal Cases & Legislation

    This section pertains to legal cases and legislation, that we are aware of, that involve the
    issues of Gulf War chemical exposure.  If you know of others, please let us know.
    Recently Rep. Timothy Bishop [D-NY1]
    introduced a Bill, H.R. 2419: Military
    Personnel War Zone Toxic Exposure
    Prevention Act.

    H.R. 2419 is a comprehensive Bill. It includes a system to establish and administer a system
    to identify members of the Armed Forces who were potentially exposed to a hazardous
    disposal site and any negative health effects that may be related to such exposure.  It is the
    editor’s opinion that this Bill is extremely important to our cause and perhaps would be of
    greater significance and help to our chemically exposed veterans than the Gulf War Exam,
    (which, from our research, appears to be not well used).  We encourage you to look at this
    bill and contact your local Representative with support. The bill can be tracked at: govtrack.
    us/congress/bill/2419

    Class Action Law Suit Against KBR

    Excerpt from a letter to the Editor of GWC from Elizabeth Burke, Esq:
    "As you know, we are bringing class action lawsuits across the country on behalf
    of soldiers injured by the burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan.  We believe the
    evidence shows that KBR negligently burned all manner of hazardous materials
    which caused injury to the soldiers exposed to toxic smoke, fumes, and ash.  It is
    shameful that soldiers return home from war more injured by the actions of an
    American corporation than by actual combat.  The evidence suggests that KBR
    took the cheapest route in disposing of waste and in doing so, showed an utter
    disregard for the health of our troops.  We are representing about 60 soldiers who
    have been injured by this outrageous conduct.  Injuries range from pulmonary
    problems such as pneumonias, asthma and sleep apnea, to tumors and growths,
    to aggressive deadly leukemia.  Of course, you already know this sad fact all too
    well.  I felt such sorrow when I heard the numbers of soldiers who were lost to
    AML after serving their country in Iraq."
    -Elizabeth M. Burke, Esq., Burke O'Neil LLC, 105 4th Street, S.E, Charlottesville,
    Virginia 22902, 434-249-1275, eburke@burkeoneil.com