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| Lucas Trent Vinson KBR Employee shot in Iraq by US Soldier "Let me be clear, there's a new sheriff in town" "Hilda Solis will demand to be heard," Joe Biden said. "Ladies and gentlemen, why do I repeat that? We have not heard much from this department Dropping the DBA Ball Labor Department does little to help contractors The Labor Department, which runs the system, required by a law known as the Defense Base Act, has exercised little oversight over the treatment provided to foreign workers. Despite promises to better enforce labor laws and widespread agreement that the contractor health care system is costly and ineffective Labor Secretary Hilda Solis has largely avoided interviews and meetings with contractor groups seeking to reform the system. Labor Dept Slow to Help War Zone Contractors by T. Christian Miller But there is plenty of time to sponsor and attend Conferences heavily weighed against them Loyola Annual Longshore Conference 2010- Overwhelmingly for the Defense again Eight US Civilians Killed in Afghanistan Blast likely CIA employees and or contractors Dane Clark Paresi, Former SF, Killed in CIA bombing Khost Jeremy Wise, Former Seal from VA Beach Killed in Khost Harold Brown, Fairfax Va, State Contractor?, Killed in Khost Scott Michael Roberson Killed in CIA Suicide Bombing Pentagon Study Proposes Overhaul of Defense Base Act to Cover Care for Injured Contractors Congressman Elijah Cummings Announces Plan to Reform US System to Care for Injured Contractors by T. Christian Miller Propublica Sometimes It's Not Your War, But You Sacrifice Anyway Tangiers International and the Department of Labor Congratulations Merlin Clark Blown up in Iraq six years ago today July 7, 2003 and still getting screwed over by CNA AIG and CNA Face Hearing on Denial of Medical Claims by Contractors Injured in Iraq and Afghanistan by T Christian Miller at Propublica CNA's Claim Adjusters and DoL District Directors The DBA X Files Unravelling the mysteries of the abducted PTSD Cases The MOST BIZARRE decisions by ALJ's and more REMEMBER THEM TOO Don't Contractor Casualties count when we calculate the costs of war Arlington National Cemetery caisson carries the body of retired Air Force Col. Michael W. Butler, who was killed while working as a private contractor in Iraq. (2007 Photo By Charles Dharapak -- Associated Press) Pentagon’s IG to Examine AIG Insurance Provided to Private Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan by T. Christian Miller, ProPublica - May 21, 2009 The Defense Department's inspector general [1] is preparing a possible audit to examine allegations that inadequate oversight by federal officials allowed AIG and other major carriers to deny medical benefits due civilian contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. Kucinich to probe AIG denial of DBA workmans compensation claims Military Fails to Collect From AIG for Care to Injured Contractors by T Christian Miller Propublica Dropping the DBA Ball No wonder AIG and CNA are able to get away with murder! KBR has blocked MS Sparky from their servers AIG, Their IME, PTSD, the saga never ends Could it be true CNA is worse than AIG? How CNA treats Foreign Claimants Injured War Zone Contractors fight for benefits on Democracy Now Fuller killed in Afghanistan Cummings Requests Congressional Hearing on AIG Denying Claims for Civilians Injured in Iraq, Afghanistan Washington, DC—Today, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), a senior member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter (text below) to Domestic Policy Subcommittee Chairman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio) requesting a hearing to examine a recent investigation by the Los Angeles Times, ABC News, and ProPublica. According to the investigation, AIG and other insurance companies have been unnecessarily denying and prolonging serious health insurance claims of civilian contractors who were injured or killed while participating in U.S. combat activities in Iraq and Afghanistan. Text of letter here Injured war zone contractors fight to get care Reporting from Los Angeles and Washington — Civilian workers who suffered devastating injuries while supporting the U.S. war effort in Iraq and Afghanistan have come home to a grinding battle for basic medical care, artificial limbs, psychological counseling and other services. The insurance companies responsible for their treatment under taxpayer- funded policies have routinely denied the most serious medical claims. Those insurers -- primarily American International Group (AIG) -- recorded hundreds of millions of dollars in profits on this business. Contractors Wounded in War Return Home to Fight AIG , CNA, and ACE/ESIS Blind Amputee Has to Fight AIG for New Plastic Leg, Wheelchair While Executives Get Bonuses, John Woodson Gets "Cheapest They Could Get Away With" "I am under a lot of pressure to not diagnose PTSD" A secret recording reveals the Army may be pushing its medical staff not to diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder. The Army and Senate have ignored the implications. "He also received pressure not to properly diagnose traumatic brain injury" Read this story at Salon Tale of the secret Army tape After a soldier taped a psychologist saying he'd been pressured not to diagnose PTSD, the Army launched an investigation. Read the details of how the Army declared itself innocent. Iraq: Key Figures since the war began Is the DBA going to pay for the CANCER contractors are getting now and will continue to get for many years to come due to toxic exposures in Iraq and Afghanistan? Pentagon Curbs use of Hexavalant Chromium Escalating health concerns prompt virtual ban of chemical, often called sodium dichromate. The Department of Labor and the AOLJ's and their benefits review boards cannot bury their heads in the sand when it comes to TBI and PTSD Here in the real world they are fact Better brain trauma testing called for in Iraq Traumatic Brain Injury for the contractor "CNA denies TBI Screening to Bomb Blast Survivor He needs to provide medical evidence that he has TBI in order to be screened for TBI This bomb blast survivor was put back together at Walter Reed where they admittedly were avoiding screening for TBI DoD delays brain trauma screening In another case "Thompson says his claim for treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder was denied by American International Group Inc., or AIG, the insurance company for KBR, on the grounds that there was not enough medical evidence of his trauma. In another case AOLJ Kennington, the benefits review board, the appeals judge all agree that it was not dangerous enough in Iraq in 2003 and 2004 for someone to get PTSD Maybe their asses should have been over there check out the security reports at the X Files Meltdown 101: AIG, five months into its bailout Judicial systems not exempt from corruption read story here Administrative Law Judge William Dorsey Deals Blow to Blackwater Families Injured contractors and the families of those killed have to follow the law and pay taxes but not the contract companies The ruling speaks for itself," said Blackwater general counsel Andy Howell in a statement. "It is reassuring to see the purpose and intent of the Defense Base Act upheld." story here So the purpose and intent of the Defense Base Act is to allow the contract company to lie and put their employees in harms way without the most minimal required protection going against their own SOP's, their own rules The DBA is a license to be negligent Only the dead, injured, and other taxpayers will pay for it. The taxpayer might feel more adamantly about this if they knew how much they were paying for Blackwaters negligence Check out this link below Contractor Taxes We are collecting your tax questions and having them answered by professionals Check out our taxes page We will be updating rapidly Houston lawsuit blames Halliburton, KBR in Iraq Death KBR denies responsibility in trucker's 2007 death at Camp Anaconda Memorandum May 18, 2008 To: Members of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Fr: Majority Staff, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Insurance companies (AIG) have made underwriting profits of nearly $600 million in Iraq and Afghanistan. The DBA program is significantly more lucrative for the insurance companies than other workers' compensation insurance. The high costs of workers' compensation insurance under the DBA program inflates the fees paid to private contractors in Iraq. Other features of the DBA program increase costs to taxpayers. The DBA insurers (AIG, CNA) frequently delay or deny payment on claims from injured employees. In disputed cases, the insurers also receive reimbursement for their costs (LAWYERS FEES) in contesting claims Since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began, insurance companies participating in the Defense Base Act program have made record profits, receiving premium payments from the federal government in much larger amounts than the claims they are paying out. Former AIG Vice President Sentenced to 4 Years Tangiers International LLC or Tangiers International Ltd? Has AIG hired out your DBA medical services to an OFFSHORE COMPANY? Does the Department of Labor care about this ? DBA Insurance carriers file LS207's on 70% of DBA claims. Notice of Controversion of Right to Compensation delaying compensation. LS-207 lets both the DOL and employee know no benefits will be paid until an investigation into the reported incident is completed and any unknown factors resolved. ' Defense Department Establishes Civilian Expeditionary Workforce WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2009 – The Defense Department is forming a civilian expeditionary workforce that will be trained and equipped to deploy overseas in support of military missions worldwide, according to department officials. Paula Loyd Dies from burns at Brooke Army Medical Center (Acinetobacter baumannii headquarters) Check out our new Frequently Asked Questions Page Send us your questions Frequently Asked Questions Happy New Year! Workman Comp Insider Greatest Hits of 2008 Bullshit as Science/ A test for malingerers The Fake Bad Scale AIG: Farewell, My (Not-So) Lovely? AIG allowed to raid money set aside for your claims before the bail out Contractors vs employees: KBR and Blackwater shell games Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Not in This Army! Independent Contractor or Employee? These and more at WCI Answer to our most frequently asked question GET A DBA LAWYER, DBA ATTORNEY Defense Base Act Lawyer, Defense Base Act Attorney The insurance company must pay for your lawyer, attorney. Choose carefully but do it immediately. Your future, your families future, will be in their hands. The Department of Labor is NOT on your side. Tangiers has a deal with the Department of Labor? From Tangiers Website "Our medical mission in Iraq is to provide the best care possible to our patients and the most up-to-date complete information as possible to our clients." Remember that as the injured contractor you are not the client. It is Tangiers job to handle you and your injuries as cheaply as possible for the client, the insurance company. The information they are providing the insurance company may be used AGAINST you when you try to get the compensation the DBA was meant to provide you. "The U.S. Department of Labor using Tangiers International as the primary DBA provider and Third Party Administrator (TPA), where we handle dozens of claims each month." Claim, that's you, the injured contractor. You are a claim to them, not a person. From Tangiers site So you thought you made an agreement, possibly a stipulation agreement or have been offered a settlement? Despite what the lawyers say you haven't seen a dime or even the paperwork The excuses are many and would be amusing if lives weren't in the balance This is standard procedure and the Department of Labor is allowing it to happen Who is determining policy at the DoL? Is it Miranda Chiu, U.S. Dept. of Labor, Chief, Branch of Policy, Regulations and Procedures, DOL/ESA/OWCP/DLHWC who used to work for Roger Levy? No one is getting paid unless they want to shut you and your case up How about some of that CHANGE Defense Attorneys allowed to burn up taxpayers dollars by denying and delaying cases In fact one DBA case from early July of 2003 (you know back when it wasn't a war yet or the war was over, whichever) is still being stalled, denied, and delayed..... It will be well into 2009 before it's even looked at again email me and I'll tell you about it junglem@yahoo.com Anyone know of an older case from Iraq? U.S. aid worker killed in tribal area The slaying of American aid worker Stephen Vance in the northwest city of Peshawar on Wednesday was thought to be the first targeted killing... Vance, a contractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development, was shot dead along with his Pakistani driver on his way from his home to his office. He was overseeing a high- profile U.S. development program for Pakistan's tribal area and lived in Peshawar with his wife and five children. Read story here Vance's assailants blocked his vehicle in a narrow lane with their own car, then opened fire at close range with automatic weapons, an official said. Vance did not travel in an armored car because he was a contractor to the government's development agency, not an employee read more here AIG's NEW DEAL The U.S. government’s tough-love approach to troubled American International Group is at an end. On Monday, American International Group (nyse: AIG - news - people ) was up 27.5%, to $2.69, just after the market opened Monday, after it announced that it had renegotiated the onerous terms of its $85.0 billion taxpayer-funded credit facility and secured an extra $27.0 billion in government money, bringing total borrowings to a whopping $150.0 billion. News of extra help from Uncle Sam followed the insurer posting a stunning $24.5 billion loss in the third quarter as losing bets related to credit default swaps and other financial products continue to mount. Read Full Story here Detailed new book offers deep drama of Cote saga Low rescue priority, details of death cited Loews to Inject $1.25 Billion Into CNA Insurance Unit AIG Borrows 90.3 Billion from Federal Reserve Briton, South African shot dead in Afghan capital "What happens when Titan Corporation goes to war, and its Insurance Company, AIG, doesn't want to pay for injured translators?" From Problem Lawyers He tries to prove that being hit in the helmet with a bullet from friendly- fire, and being knocked unconscious immediately after with the butt of a friendly rifle, then being pulled unconcious out of a burning Humvee, and left in a tent without medical treatment, HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SUBSEQUENT BLINDNESS AND HEARING LOSS. He claims that neither L-3 Titan Corporation nor AIG has any obligation to continue disability benefits or medical benefits for the wounded man. This is exactly what is happening in the case of Mazin Al-Nashi of San Diego, who was injured in August 2003 while working as a translator in Iraq. Mr. Tony Walker, AIG WorldSource's attorney (San Francisco, CA) is also helping these enormous corporations avoid the obligations to employees. Where, then, do all the billions of dollars that taxpayers gave to TITAN (now known as L-3 Communications Titan Group), and, indirectly, to AIG, end up? Apparently, Levy and Walker think they should end up in the pockets of stockholders and CEOs who have risked nothing for America. The questioning of Mazin Al-Nashi by these lawyers during a hearing on October 23 and 24, 2006 before Administrative Judge Gee was so brutal that Mazin ended up in intensive care shortly afterward. Mazin had no legal representation." Why did neither of these knowledgable attorneys tell Mazin that he is provided legal representation under the Defense Base Act??? His wife is asking for financial help so she can pay a lawyer. Click on the Casualty of War blog at Problem Lawyers Titan worker claims he was abandoned in Iraq Treasury to Extend Bailout Funds to Insurance Companies CNA's financial report is due out on October 27 Do you think they are looking for a piece of the pie? The Treasury Department is working on ways to broaden its $700 billion bank rescue program to help insurance companies that are a critical backstop to a wide range of deals, bond issues and leasing arrangements, sources familiar with the matter said. Treasury is worried that insurance companies, many of which report earnings next week, could face similar fates as American International Group as the credit crisis worsens, triggering a new wave of problems for the financial markets. AIG nearly collapsed last month when it was overwhelmed by losses from real estate investments and derivatives, requiring massive government loans of more than $123 billion. It has already burned three-quarters of that. A wide range of deals like keeping contractors in the War Zones Full Story here Defense Base Act Conference - Part I by Susie Dow In 70% of overseas cases, an insurance carrier or self-insured employer often file an LS-207, Notice of Controversion of Right to Compensation delaying compensation. FS-207 lets both the DOL and employee know no benefits will be paid until an investigation into the reported incident is completed and any unknown factors resolved. An overseas employee should subsequently expect the delay as a matter of routine. Go to Susie's story at ePluribus Media US commandos rescue American hostage near Kabul By JASON STRAZIUSO KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — U.S. Special Forces soldiers freed a kidnapped American working for the Army Corps of Engineers during a nighttime mission last week — a rare hostage rescue in a country where ransom abductions have become increasingly common. The American, who had been working on U.S. government-funded infrastructure projects, was abducted in mid-August and had been held just 30 miles west of Kabul with no public notice of his abduction. The dangerous mission to free the U.S. contractor killed several insurgents, U.S. officials told The Associated Press. Taliban militants have kidnapped several international aid workers and journalists in recent years and have been paid large ransoms or negotiated the release of imprisoned Taliban fighters in exchange. Department of Labor Sponsors DBA seminar for your employers and their lawyers Speakers are AIG's and CNA's Attorneys Will they be teaching "client control" ? As in " have you no client control !! " The NEW DBA Guidebook, wait till you see who wrote this, is free with your $450 registration fee OK, they keep removing his name from the links Roger A Levy (representing CNA and AIG) is Editor in Chief of the NEW DBA Guidebook Co Authors David C. Barnett Roger D. Ellickson Keith L. Flicker Richard L. Garelick David M. Linker William B. Newton Mark L. Schaffer Michael Thomas Special Note Joshua T. Gillelan II One of the best DBA Plaintiff's Attorneys wrote a chapter in this book which is accurate. Sign up here Unless you can't afford it because your a Modern Day DBA Casualty "Who Should Attend This Program? This program is designed to benefit defense contractors and contracting officers, human resources professionals, insurance brokers, risk managers, claims adjusters, and attorneys." If you are working a State Department or Army Corps of Engineers overseas contract CNA is your DBA insurance carrier You may hear little about them but they are denying and delaying claims as ruthlessly as AIG AIG gets additional 38 Billion bailout while Contractor casualties continue to get the shaft Henry Waxman, who chairs the House committee on oversight and government reform, said: "The money that's gone into waste, fraud and abuse under these contracts is just so outrageous, it's egregious. "It may well turn out to be the largest war profiteering in history." AIG and Tangiers International Now you won't have to go any farther than Baghdad to be denied medical treatment !! Or at least your first choice of doctor SLIEMA, Malta, Sept 21, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Tangiers International Ltd., a global provider of Insurance Support Services, announces the opening of Medical Support Services and facilities in Baghdad, Iraq for contractors covered under the Defense Base Act. AIG and the Defense Base Act Insurance AIG carries the DBA Insurance for 90% of the Iraq and Afghanistan US contracts No company deserves to go under more than AIG They've greedily collected untold amounts of money from the US Government via cost reimbursable coverage required under the Defense Base Act and paid out only miserly amounts to the injured contract employees if they pay them at all. Congressional Budget Office Contractors' support of US Operations in Iraq Report: Iraq Contracts have cost billions AP The use of contractors "restricts accountability and oversight; opens the door to corruption and abuse; and, in some instances, may significantly increase the cost to American taxpayers," Conrad said in a statement. Military contracts in the Iraq theater have cost taxpayers at least $85 billion, and when it comes to providing security, they might not be any cheaper than using military personnel, according to a report released Tuesday. Use of Iraq Contractors Costs Billions, Report Says by James Risen the NY Times WASHINGTON — The United States this year will have spent $100 billion on contractors in Iraq since the invasion in 2003, a milestone that reflects the Bush administration’s unprecedented level of dependence on private firms for help in the war, according to a government report to be released Tuesday. The report, by the Congressional Budget Office, according to people with knowledge of its contents, will say that one out of every five dollars spent on the war in Iraq has gone to contractors for the United States military and other government agencies, in a war zone where employees of private contractors now outnumber American troops Related stories by James Risen click here Contractors, 202,000, outnumber troops,186,000, in Iraq and Afghanistan (WSJ) Contractor Injured After IED Explosion In Iraq Justin D. English, 25 A former Springdale firefighter and emergency medical technician died Monday, a week after arriving in Iraq to work as an independent contractor providing fire and emergency services."They were in an armored car when the IED went off," said Janet English, Justin's aunt, as she fought back sobs in a telephone interview. "He had just been there over a week. He didn't even have time to send us an e-mail address so we could keep in touch with him." read story here Contractor's mysterious death leaves his widow wondering "why" TUMWATER — The telephone connection from Iraq was startlingly clear. But Michelle Cook barely recognized her husband's voice. High-pitched and squeaky, as if he had inhaled helium. "Michelle, Michelle, Michelle," Gordon Cook said, over and over again. "Where are the kids? I love you, Michelle, Michelle." Then the line went silent. A day later, on July 2, 2006, Michelle Cook learned that her husband, an American contractor stationed at a remote post along the Syrian border, had been killed. The circumstances of Gordon Cook's death remain unclear two years later. Full Story here US Embassy Staff Killed In Iraq Four Americans -- two soldiers and two civilians from the Defense (and State departments (Steve Farley) -- were killed Tuesday in a blast that rocked a municipal building in Baghdad's Sadr City read here "He told us just last week he was informed that he had a million dollar price tag on his head and that obviously didn't sit well with us," Brett Farley said. "The same day, he had three sniper shots hit his truck." Nicole Suveges, a graduate student in political science who was working in Iraq as a civilian, was among four Americans killed an explosion Tuesday in the offices of the district council in the critical Sadr City section of Baghdad The United States US Department of Labor DOL Just whose best interest are they working in? Why was the author of this website blocked from the DoL DBA public webpages for two days? USDOL_OALJ_DEFENSE_BASE_ACT_POLICY_ (JUNE_16_2008) Modification of Hearing Policy on Defense Base Act Cases Originating in a War Zone read here American Contractors in Iraq 4th Annual Contractors Conference 2008 Coming to Orlando Florida Dates to be announced Join us to learn more about: PTSD and TBI Leishmaniasis Other diseases endemic to Iraq and Afghanistan DBA Resources and Trends Legal Resources How do you know if your lawyer is working on your case ? Talk with DBA Attorneys Supplemental Insurance Taxes Medical Care Employment Contracts Please contact us if your interested in attending conference2008@dbacomp.com 321 779 6799 Iraq deal with US to end immunity for foreign contractors Washington, 18 June 2008 (The Independent) The US has accepted that foreign contractors in Iraq will no longer have immunity from Iraqi law under a new security agreement now under negotiation, says the Iraqi Foreign Minister, Hoshyar Zebari. Blackwater and the US Military's Middle East Crusade for Christ read story here KBR tells new employees during orientation in Houston that they gave Tommy Hamill one million dollars for his claim. Maybe they forgot to send him the check? KBR Workers caught up in quagmire Good Friday Massacre At issue is whether by questioning KBR's decision to send drivers into harm's way, the former workers are actually challenging military decisions or second-guessing their employer's judgment. Military decisions can't be reviewed by a court of law. Workplace issues can. Read story here Iraq Contractor Tax Loophole Closed Congress acts to close one of the more ridiculous tax loopholes being exploited by some of the biggest war profiteers: "once the bill is signed into law, some companies will try to classify the employees as independent contractors, a move that would place the sole responsibility for paying those taxes on the worker." This is, of course, those that haven't already done it. read this at American Nonsense Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Not in this Army! Norma Perez is a psychologist who leads the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) program at a medical facility for veterans in Temple, Texas. As we read in the Washington Post, she is pretty busy with claims. Given that veterans with a PTSD diagnosis are eligible for up to $2,527 a month in disability benefits, she came up with a great way to reduce caseloads and save money: stop making the diagnosis. DBA defense lawyer's paid for doctors are doing the same thing. read here Pentagon workers' comp plan blasted Waxman said the Pentagon won't revise its approach, even though other audits have shown that the "Defense Department model doesn't work." "What makes the situation even worse is the people this program is supposed to benefit -- the injured employees working for contractors -- have to fight the insurance companies to get their benefits. Delays and denials in paying claims are the rule," he said. read here Defense Base Act Insurance: Are Taxpayers Paying Too Much? Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Thursday, May 15, 2008, 10:00 AM at 2154 Rayburn House Office Building Update: Much of the data provided to the committee was "estimated" and provided by the insurance companies themselves and none of the numbers were fact checked. The American public deserves much more after months and months of investigations. Data provided to the committee states: This data indicates that of 108 disputed claims that have appeared before this Department of Labor office, there were only five cases where the injured contractors claim was denied. 80% of PTSD cases are denied Civilian Contractor killed in Afghanistan Wed May 7 2008 Michael Vinay Bhatia, a native of Medway, died in a bomb blast in Afghanistan. read here The two civilian contractors died Friday (May 9,2008) when rockets slammed into the US-led coalition's base near Basra's international airport, wounding eight others read here Soldier Suicides could trump war tolls read here What if we added the contractor suicides? Combat Support Associates, CSA Ltd dodges taxes for a decade read here MPRI dodges taxes offshore but how many of their casualties have been covered by the DBA? taxes As an American contract employee working for one of these companies not paying SS and Medicare you are still responsible for paying these taxes along with the equal amount that your employer would have paid PLUS Fines and Interest if you don't file voluntarily and on time. Louisville Contractor killed in Iraq Maria Lockard says 46-year-old Jim Lockard was in Iraq working for a contractor overseeing the rebuilding of Iraqi schools and hospitals. She told The Courier-Journal he had been working there for about three years and planned to come home in July for good. She says her husband seldom left his office but apparently had gone out to see one of his completed projects. story here Bullshit as Science: The Fake Bad Scale A test for Malingerers Read here and here Criticism of Defense Malingering Test Gaining National Traction readhere SEII Employees sue for exposure to toxic materials in Iraq read here Is DBA Law being interpreted to the detriment of the contract employee to help cover up the true cost of the war? Are you an independent contractor or an employee? Click here to find out what it means to you LEISHMANIASIS and the DBA contact us |
| Were you injured prior to 2006 and lost your expat status for US taxes? Under prevision IRC, 662 (a) You are exempt from the Time Requirements. IRS Form 2555 was revised 2006 Acinetobacter baumannii Completely drug resistant infections Wounded Times Internal Revenue Service Independent contractor or employee The Good, and Bad, news on contractors Britain's private army in Iraq (your paying for it) Outsourcing the War Lawmaker wants contractor details Contracts in Iraq are Taxpayers Nightmare DBA-WHA Deaths and Injuries Summary by Employer Nearly 800 Contractors Killed in Iraq Contractor Deaths Near 800 PTSD Behind The Walls of Ward 54 Nearly as Many Contractors in Iraq as Soldiers Iraq Wounded Fight for Insurance Coverage Military Conflict Becoming a Private Dogs of War May 2, 2008 by David Isenburg Insurance? What Insurance? Dogs of War May 9, 2008 Inherently Governmental? Dogs of War: May 16, 2008 Blackwater, Najaf -- Take Two |
| The Dark Side of the Defense Base Act DBA Insurance When you sign on to go to Iraq or Afghanistan or any other foreign country as a US Government contract employee your employer is required by law to purchase DBA Worker's Compensation Insurance coverage for you. It does not matter how many subcontractor's down the line or what your nationality is. This insurance is extremely inadequate if you are even able to pry the benefits out of the insurance company and some companies are now providing supplemental policies. If the company you are thinking of going to work for does not offer this as an option then go to work for another company. If you already work for a company that has not provided you with supplemental insurance !!!!!! QUIT NOW !!!!!!! You will have no choice but to use this insurance if you are injured. Keep in mind that DBA insurance is cost reimbursable to your employer. That means they are reimbursed the cost of this insurance. Don't let them tell you they cannot afford to pay for both. DBA is not health, medical, or life insurance and your family will not be covered at all. If your health fails and you must leave you will not be covered. You will not be entitled to Cobra because you weren't covered under a group policy with your company. You are entitled to private medical evacuation though you may not get it. Your medical care may be covered, or it may not be. You may receive partial compensation for your lost income up to $1,047.16 per week, or you may not. Your family may be compensated in the event that you are killed, or they may not. Your death or lost wage benefits may be based on the 52 weeks prior to your injury or death. If you are injured or killed a few months into a higher wage the insurance company will try to base your benefits on your previous earnings. There will be a myriad of expenses you and your family WILL incur that will NOT be covered. If you bring home an infectious disease endemic to Iraq, Afghanistan or the military evacuation system and pass it on to your family they are not covered by anyone. If you suffer from PTSD you may have to take legal action before they will pay for treatment. If you die due to PTSD before being diagnosed your family will receive nothing. The "Exclusive Remedy" clause in this insurance relieves the company you work for of ALL liability for your death, injury, disease, or capture and from litigation by you or your dependents. There are no OSHA standards to abide by, no Standard Operating or Safety Procedures that need to be followed. There is no compensation for pain and suffering due to negligence on anyone's part. You will have signed away many of what you might normally consider to be your rights. You may be left with permanent disabilities and a much lower earning capacity than before you went. Your family may be left in a much worse financial position than you think you are in now. You may have large medical bills left unpaid for years as there is nothing that says the insurance company has to pay them in a timely manner. If you die for any reason once your case is stipulated the payments will stop and your family will get NOTHING. The insurance company may be reimbursed for all or part of the claim under the War Hazards Act. One of the requirements for reimbursement is that they do their best to prove that you are not entitled to benefits. Your life, your medical care, your finances, will be out of your control. Unless you are already financially secure for the rest of your and your families lives, going to Iraq or Afghanistan is risky for more reasons than you might be considering. You too could be a DBA Casualty We hope that the links on our site will help you and your family make an informed decision. Marcie Hascall Clark 321 779 6799 junglem@yahoo.com The Dark Side of the War Hazards Act Why has this link been removed? Department of Labor Defense Base Act The dark side of having the cases reimbursed under the War Hazards Act, is that once a determination is made that the claim will fall under the WHA the claim is transferred over to a government bureaucracy, and is no longer handled by the OWCP. This is a tremendous problem with regards to non-death claims. It is very difficult for an injured worker to deal with this large bureaucracy, if compensation payments are late or terminated, or necessary medical treatment is not being authorized, there is very little that can be done. There is no Department of Labor claims examiner to assist him, and it is doubtful that any attorney would take the case, because there is no mechanism for the attorneys to be paid for their time and effort. |
| Deniable Disposable Casualties by Rosa Brooks When they’re injured or killed, contractors or their families often find it difficult to obtain healthcare or compensation. The industry is poorly monitored and regulated, and some contractors have alleged that their employers actively misrepresented employment conditions and benefits read this story Judge Kennington's Cases Judge Romero's Cases |
Contact dbacomp Marcie Hascall Clark junglem@yahoo.com DBA Defense Base Act Attorneys, Lawyers Scott J Bloch and his staff are ready to handle your DBA claims 1050 17th St., NW Suite 600 Washington, DC 20036 P: (202) 496-1290 F: (202) 478-0479 visit his website here Douglas Grauel Grauel Law Offices Telephone: 603.369.5010 15 North Main St | Concord, NH here Doug writes for us at the Defense Base Act Compensation Blog Who Pays Your Defense Base Act Attorneys Fees? Never use a DBA Attorney who wants to take money from you rather than the insurance company Is your lawyer working in your best interest? DME Doctors Doctors Who Work for Insurance Companies Injustice Prevails |
| Dorothy Sims is available to depose your DME Doc's have your attorney contact her here Exposing Deceptive Defense Doctors By Dorothy Clay Simms When DMEs Selectively Report Test Results Defense doctors often pick and choose which test results to include in their reports, slanting the report in favor of the defense... Read more |
| The Wars Come Home Our Country's Failure to care for it's War Casualties Is DBA Law being interpreted to the detriment of the contract employee to help cover up the true cost of the war? Eyesslinck vs Ronco Consulting/CNA Injustice Prevails Texas District Court Rules Iraq War not Life Threatening Casualties Not Counted In Memory of Tim Eysslinck Wade Dill Casualty Not Counted |
The Defense Base Act
The Fine Print
The Fine Print
License to Kill The DBA's Exclusive Remedy KBR win's Appeal of Fisher vs Halliburton on the Defense Base Act's Exclusive Remedy |
The Defense Base Act Compensation Blog News, discussion, updates of ongoing DBA issues important to Injured Contractors and their families Civilian Contractors News and Views at Overseas Civilian Contractors |
| Connections you should know about |
| The War Inside Your Head Two Dead, One Injured, One life forever ruined even if he's not hung Could this have been prevented? Danny Fitzsimons was diagnosed with PTSD yet still allowed to work in war zone and carry a weapon |
| OIA Bomb Suspect Held Without Bail She also said prosecutors presented evidence that Brown, while a defense contractor last year in Iraq, grabbed an ax and threatened a female co-worker. Iraq Afghanistan Blood Fears An HPA spokeswoman added: "[The six civilian contractors] will be contacted by their GPs and offered screening and counselling." Are you an independent contractor or an employee? Click here to find out what it means to you AIG moves Investigations to Iraq Now they can determine you aren't qualified for benefits before you even leave Iraq Think your working for KBR? check this out Blackwater Dodged Millions in Taxes Blackwater Hired Guns Above the Law by Jeremy Scahill Transcript and Video of testimony before Senate committee Iraq Needs Contractors Civilian employees -- many of them foreigners -- now fill crucial support roles once held by soldiers, says a person on the ground. U.S. troops outnumbered in Iraq — by contractors by T. Christian Miller LA Times More than 180,000 civilians — including Americans, foreigners and Iraqis — are working in Iraq under U.S. contracts, according to State and Defense department figures obtained by the Los Angeles Times In outsourced US wars, contractor deaths top 1,000 More than 13,000 wounded read more After Iraq, Contractors Face Mental Health Issues Contractors who have worked in Iraq are returning home with the same kinds of combat-related mental health problems Iraq Contractors Face Growing Parallel War As Security Work Increases, So Do Casualties War, Red Tape Haunt Civilian Workers An analysis finds a pattern of blocked claims for psychological injuries sustained by contract employees in Iraq and Afghanistan. Blackwater Heavies Sue Families of Slain Employees for $10 million in attempt to Suppress their stories Where is Your Outrage? Blackwater Mom's Outsourced war lawsuit moved out of court “This means that the shadow army (of contractors) will slip even further into the shadows.” Deniable, Disposable, Casualties Thousands of civilian contractors serve and die alongside U.S. forces, with little accountability for the companies that employ them. Outsourcing the War Pull the Plug on the Mercenary War by Jeremy Scahill |
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Defense Base Act
Workers' Compensation
Injured War Zone Contractors Exclusive Remedy
A License to Kill
Before you risk life and limb
working for a contractor in Iraq or Afghanistan
you'll want to know how much, or more importantly
just how little,
your life and limb are worth under the Defense Base Act
UPDATED for 2013 Overseas Contractor Tax Information ExPat Taxes |
| Another Episode of the DBA X Files Mystery Solved ALJ Paul C Johnson and Dr John Dorland Griffith Decision Overturned by the Benefits Review Board “Rather, the administrative law judge was to assess the weight to be accorded to the medical evidence of record, without substituting his judgment for that of the physicians” TW v SEI BRB Decision 09-0573 The Benefit Review Board has overturned the ALJ’s denial of benefits in a noteworthy decision that mirrored many of the arguments made in an earlier analysis on the DBA X-files. The decision also reflects a deeper understanding of war-related trauma absent in the Board’s earlier decisions. Better late than never, although this is of little consolation to those who had to pave the way. Special Thanks to the X Files Crew at American Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan |
| Linda Norgrove, USAID DAI Worker Killed by her Captors in Afghanistan, changed to friendly fire Story and updates here |
| This Year, Contractor Deaths Exceed Military Ones in Iraq and Afghanistan by T Christian Miller at Propublica Marcie Hascall Clark an advocate for contract workers, said that contractor deaths and injuries reflected contractors’ importance in fighting the wars. “I don’t think most contractors expect to be treated as nobly as our soldiers, but they don’t expect to be forgotten, either,” said Hascall Clark, who runs a group called American Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. “I think there should definitely be some recognition of what they do.” |
| Officer Failed to Warn CIA of Khost Bombing Attack that killed current and prior Civilian Contractors Jeremy Wise, Dane Clark Paresi, Harold Brown Jr, Scott Michael Roberson |
| AIG's Fab Four Defense Medical Doctors take another hit Dr Bryan Drazner sanctioned and denied renewal of medical license |
| Kevin Davis, DynCorp, Killed Christmas Day in Kandahar Attack Rufford "Hobby" Hobson, EOD Contractor, remains found |
| CNA Defense Base Act Insurance Company's Latest Representative |
| CNA hires Kevin Woods Double Agent and Convicted Murderer to spy on Injured South African War Zone Contractors read more here |
| Two New PTSD Suicides This Week Two contractors with severe PTSD took their lives within five days. Both were former DynCorp Employees covered under the Defense Base Act by CNA Insurance These were two very preventable deaths read more here |
| CNA Finally recommended for Criminal Investigation Read here |
| Class Action Tax Misclassification Filed Against Xe/Blackwater Years of misrepresenting employees as independent contractors for tax purposes but as employees for purchasing DBA Insurance |
| CNA may owe US Gov as much as $58.5 Billion SIGAR AUDIT SHOWS |
| US Engineer, James W “Will” Coker remains found in Afghanistan initial reports claim beheading read here |
| Let's refresh ourselves on the status of the Defense Base Act Insurance plunder and the Department of Labor's culture of compliance with them This hearing is over two years old and nothing has changed for the better |
| Injured War Zone Contractors File Class Action Lawsuit Against Defense Base Act Insurance Companies and Employers Brink vs CNA et al “This abusive and illegal scheme by the defendants has been allowed to go on for too long. We are talking about loss of life, suicide, loss of homes, marriages, families split up, “ Bloch said, “and the culprits are the large government contractors who should have treated their employees better, and the mega-insurance companies who were paid a hefty sum to make sure the employees were taken care of with uninterrupted benefits in the event of injuries in these war zones.” Join in our Defense Base Act Class Action here |
| Wars Risks Shift to Contractors by Rod Nordland at the New York Times Marcie Hascall Clark began the Defense Base Act Compensation Blog after her husband, Merlin, a former Navy explosives ordnance disposal expert, was injured in 2003 while working for an American contractor. She and her husband have spent the past seven years fighting for hundreds of thousands of dollars in disability payments and medical compensation. “It was quite a shock to learn how little my husband’s body, mind and future were worth,” she said. |
| Elijah Cummings, Ranking Member House Oversight Committee Introduces Legislation to reform the Defense Base Act Insurance Program |
| CNA's Deadly Paper Games It is certainly going to have the desired result. They are going to kill him and it is going to be soon..... and he'll be just another CNA DBA Suicide |
| CNA DBA Insurance Company Caught Lying to DoL here DoL District Office in Jacksonville Presumes Claimants Doctors are Lying email junglem@yahoo.com for documents Did the DoL and Supreme Group Conspire to Cover Up the Untimely Claim Filing of nearly 200 Defense Base Act Claims? Over 100 DBA Claims filed to an uninsured employer during the same quarter? who can it be now..... here |
| Nine Years Ago Today Still Getting Screwed Over by CNA |
| Dan Hoaglands Death Sentence at the hands of AIG's Overly Zealous Defense |
Photos Courtesy of Terry Steward
Defense Base Act
Compensation Blog Archives
Compensation Blog Archives
| American Civilian Contractor Killed in Green on Blue Christmas Eve in Kabul Afghanistan Read more here |
| The problem is not the DBA law with its generous presumptions in favor of injured civilians but rather the fact that the law is disregarded and rampant fraud in defending these claims is encouraged, not punished as the Act demands DBA Widow |
