Bipartisan bill would let service members sue military over sexual assault
The Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act, introduced by Senators Shaheen and Kennedy, would allow active-duty troops and veterans to file civil negligence claims against the Department of Defense for sexual assault or harassment. The bill creates an exception to the Feres doctrine, modeled on a 2019 medical malpractice law. With 6,973 reports in fiscal 2024, it is backed by major veterans groups, and the CBO estimates 120,000 successful claims in its first decade.
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Bipartisan Bill Would Allow Service Members to Sue US Military for Sexual Assault
A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate, the Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act, would allow active-duty service members and veterans to file civil claims against the Defense Department for negligence related to sexual assault or harassment. Modeled after the 2019 exception to the Feres doctrine for medical malpractice, the bill seeks to overturn the long-standing legal barrier that prevents military personnel from suing the government for injuries incurred during service. Sponsors Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and John Kennedy (R-LA) argue it is unjust that civilians can sue the government while service members cannot. The legislation is backed by groups including the VFW, American Legion, and Protect Our Defenders. In fiscal 2024, service members filed 6,973 sexual assault reports. The Congressional Budget Office estimates 120,000 successful claims in the bill's first decade. The article also notes that since the 2020 medical malpractice exception, 351 claims have been filed, with 45 settled or pending.
Air Force TimesBipartisan bill would allow service members to sue US military for sexual assault
A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate, the Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act, would allow active-duty service members and veterans to file civil claims against the Defense Department for negligence related to sexual assault or harassment. Sponsored by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and John Kennedy (R-La.), the legislation would create an exception to the Feres doctrine, which currently bars service members from suing the federal government for injuries incurred during military duties. The bill is modeled after a 2019 law that permitted medical malpractice claims against military hospitals. Supporters, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Protect Our Defenders, argue it is unjust that civilians can sue the government while service members cannot. In fiscal 2024, there were 6,973 reports of military sexual assault. The Congressional Budget Office estimates 120,000 successful claims in the first decade if the bill passes. The article notes that similar medical malpractice claims have resulted in 45 settlements or pending settlements out of 351 filed since 2020.
Army TimesBipartisan bill would allow service members to sue US military for sexual assault
A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate, the Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act, would allow active-duty service members and veterans to file civil claims against the Department of Defense for negligence related to sexual assault or harassment. Sponsored by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and John Kennedy (R-LA), the legislation creates an exception to the Feres doctrine, which currently bars most lawsuits against the military for injuries incurred during service. It is modeled after a 2019 law that allows service members to sue for military medical malpractice. The bill is supported by major veterans advocacy groups including the VFW and American Legion. In fiscal 2024, there were 6,973 reports of sexual assault during military service. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 120,000 service members would file successful claims under the bill in its first decade. The legislation aims to extend a recent Ninth Circuit ruling that sexual assault is not 'incidental' to military service to all federal courts.
Marine Corps TimesBipartisan Bill Would Allow Service Members to Sue US Military for Sexual Assault
A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate, the Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act, would allow active-duty service members and veterans to file civil claims against the Department of Defense for negligence in cases of sexual assault or harassment. Sponsored by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and John Kennedy (R-La.), the legislation creates an exception to the Feres doctrine, which currently bars service members from suing the military for injuries incurred during duty. The bill is modeled after a 2019 law that permitted medical malpractice claims against military hospitals. Supporters include the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. The Congressional Budget Office estimates 120,000 successful claims in the first decade. In fiscal 2024, 6,973 sexual assault reports were filed by service members.
Army TimesBipartisan bill would allow service members to sue U.S. military for sexual assault
A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate, the Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act, would allow active-duty service members and veterans to file civil negligence claims against the Department of Defense for sexual assault or harassment occurring during service. The bill creates a new exception to the Feres doctrine, which currently bars most lawsuits against the military for injuries incurred during duty. It is modeled after a 2019 law that allowed medical malpractice claims against military health facilities. Sponsors Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and John Kennedy argue service members should not have to surrender their right to hold the government accountable. The legislation is backed by groups including the VFW and American Legion. In fiscal 2024, 6,973 sexual assault reports were filed. The Congressional Budget Office estimates 120,000 successful claims in the first decade. The bill follows a Ninth Circuit ruling that sexual assault is not 'incidental' to military service.
Navy TimesBipartisan bill would let service members sue US military for sexual assault
A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate, the Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act, would allow active-duty service members and veterans to file civil negligence claims against the Department of Defense for sexual assault or harassment occurring during service. The legislation creates an exception to the Feres doctrine, which currently bars service members from suing the military for injuries incurred during duty. It is modeled after a 2019 law that permitted medical malpractice claims against military health facilities. Sponsors Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and John Kennedy (R-La.) argue that service members should not forfeit their right to hold the government accountable. The bill is supported by groups including the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. In fiscal 2024, 6,973 sexual assault reports were filed. The Congressional Budget Office estimates 120,000 successful claims in the first decade. The bill follows a Ninth Circuit ruling that sexual assault is not 'incidental' to military service, and would extend that principle nationwide.
Marine Corps TimesBipartisan bill would allow service members to sue US military for sexual assault
A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate, the Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act, would allow active-duty service members and veterans to file civil negligence claims against the Department of Defense for sexual assault or harassment occurring during service. Modeled after a 2019 law permitting medical malpractice claims against military hospitals, the bill aims to create another exception to the Feres doctrine, which currently bars most lawsuits against the military for service-related injuries. Sponsors Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and John Kennedy (R-La.) argue it is unjust that civilians can sue the government while service members cannot. The legislation is backed by veterans advocacy groups including the VFW and American Legion. In fiscal 2024, service members filed 6,973 sexual assault reports. The Congressional Budget Office estimates 120,000 service members would file successful claims under the bill in its first decade.
Marine Corps TimesBipartisan bill would allow service members to sue US military for sexual assault
A bipartisan bill, the Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act, introduced in the Senate by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and John Kennedy (R-La.), would allow active-duty service members and veterans to file civil negligence claims against the Department of Defense for sexual assault or harassment occurring during service. Modeled after a 2019 law creating a medical malpractice exception to the Feres doctrine (which bars most suits against the military), the bill would create another exception for sexual misconduct. Supporters, including Protect Our Defenders, the VFW, and the American Legion, argue service members should not have to surrender their legal rights. In fiscal year 2024, there were 6,973 reported sexual assaults. The Congressional Budget Office estimates around 120,000 successful claims over the bill's first decade. The bill draws on a Ninth Circuit ruling that sexual assault is not 'incidental' to military service.
Military TimesBipartisan bill would allow service members to sue US military for sexual assault
A bipartisan bill introduced in the Senate, the Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act, would allow U.S. service members and veterans to file civil claims against the Defense Department for sexual assault or harassment occurring during active duty. Modeled after a 2019 law that carved out an exception to the Feres doctrine for medical malpractice, the bill seeks to hold the DoD accountable for negligence in preventing, investigating, or responding to sexual misconduct. Sponsors Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and John Kennedy (R-La.) argue that service members should not lose their right to sue the government when its negligence contributes to such trauma. The legislation is supported by veterans groups including the VFW and American Legion. In fiscal 2024, there were 6,973 reports of military sexual assault. The Congressional Budget Office estimates 120,000 successful claims could be filed in the first decade.
Air Force TimesBipartisan Bill Would Allow Service Members to Sue U.S. Military for Sexual Assault
A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate, the Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act, would allow active-duty service members and veterans to file civil negligence claims against the Defense Department for sexual assault or harassment occurring during military service. The bill, sponsored by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and John Kennedy (R-La.), creates an exception to the Feres doctrine, which currently bars service members from suing the federal government for injuries related to military duties. The legislation is modeled after a 2019 law that allowed medical malpractice lawsuits against military health facilities. Supporters include the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Protect Our Defenders. In fiscal 2024, 6,973 sexual assault reports were filed. The Congressional Budget Office estimates 120,000 successful claims in the first decade. The bill aims to extend a Ninth Circuit ruling that sexual assault is not 'incidental' to military service nationwide.
Air Force Times