NVLSP

NVLSP Files Class Action Lawsuit Accusing VA of Disseminating False Information To Veterans

NVLSP Asks Federal Court to Order VA to Send Corrections to All Veterans Wrongly Informed About the Reimbursement Entitlement Criteria and to Reinstate Their Claims

On New Year’s Day, the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP) filed a class action lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) accusing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of sending false information throughout 2018 to tens of thousands of veterans who had applied for VA reimbursement of emergency medical expenses they incurred at non-VA facilities. The lawsuit, filed with the pro bono assistance of Sidley Austin LLP, asserts that the VA has a practice and policy of informing these veterans – falsely – that they cannot qualify for any reimbursement if they have partial coverage for their emergency medical expenses under a health plan contract. This VA representation is inaccurate, according to NVLSP, because it directly violates the binding decision issued by the CAVC in 2016 in Staab v. Shulkin, which invalidated a VA regulation because it prohibited reimbursement if the veteran had partial coverage under a health care plan. [more]

Released 1/2/19 | Tags: Class Actions, Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Veteran's Benefits

The 8-Year Battle Continues: NVLSP Again Sues VA Over Continued Refusal To Comply With 2010 Statute

Latest salvo is a class action, in ongoing 8-year battle to get VA to comply with the law

The National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP) filed a class action lawsuit today in the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) against the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Robert Wilkie. The suit, filed with the pro-bono assistance of Sidley Austin LLP, is the latest chapter in an 8-year saga to get the VA to honor its obligations to reimburse veterans for emergency medical expenses incurred at non-VA facilities. [more]

Released 10/30/18 | Tags: Class Actions, Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Supporters, Veteran's Benefits

House lawmakers roll out bill to make court records free

Released 2/13/19 at The Hill | Tags: Class Actions, Congressional Legislation

House lawmakers are planning to introduce a bipartisan bill Wednesday that would make court records free to the public. [more]

Attacking a Pay Wall That Hides Public Court Filings

Released 2/4/19 at The New York Times | Tags: Class Actions

The federal judiciary has built an imposing pay wall around its court filings, charging a preposterous 10 cents a page for electronic access to what are meant to be public records. A pending lawsuit could help tear that wall down. [more]

Questions about the lawsuit over emergency medical cost reimbursement at non-VA facilities?

Released 1/31/19 at ConnectingVets.com | Tags: Agent Orange, Board of Veterans Appeals, Class Actions, Congressional Legislation, Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Veteran's Benefits

Do you have questions about the lawsuit against the VA over the reimbursement of emergency medical costs at non-VA facilities? We talked to Bart Stichman, executive director at the National Veterans Legal Services Program to get some answers. [more]