Officials are remaining mum about the capture of a top Islamic State of Iraq and Syria leader during a special operations raid in Iraq; the Pentagon refused to release the leader’s name, the precise location of the raid, and his prior leadership role in the militant group. Top brass fear that the release of information would jeopardize a stepped-up effort …
Developments in Overseas Contractor Pay
Some private civilian employees in Afghanistan, Iraq, and certain other MENA (Middle East and North Africa) countries will see larger paychecks in the coming months. Overseas workers who are in-country responding to a national emergency or supporting an existing military operation for any 42 consecutive days can earn up to $237,000 per year through the end of 2016, under a …
New Developments in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons approved new guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition that causes extreme pain for millions of workers. Contractors in Iraq, especially women, are highly at-risk for developing CTS. Previously, many doctors primarily relied on MRI images to diagnose CTS. Others used thenar atrophy, which is reduced muscle mass around …
Private Contractors Still at Work in MENA
American contractors who carry guns and operate armored vehicles are now returning to Iraq in large numbers to support Operation Inherent Resolve. Many American contractors who carry s and operate construction vehicles never left this country in the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) region in the first place. Ongoing construction projects in the war-torn country currently total over $358 billion, making …
A Law Firm with a Spotlight on Community Outreach
The law firm of Barnett, Lerner, Karsen & Frankel, P.A. has a time-honored dedication to the local community, and the attorneys take this responsibility seriously. They believe this commitment to civic activities are both a privilege and an obligation, and consequently, the partners avidly serve in various outreach efforts, and they encourage their staff to do so as well. Giving …
A New Look at Long Term Burn Pit Injuries
Thousands of returning veterans struggle with respiratory problems, especially those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and doctors increasingly believe that burn pits may be the culprit. Just as researchers began to understand the issue, Congress abruptly cut off the funding in this area. For a number of years, burn pits were common not only in Afghanistan and Iraq, but …
The Neurobiology Of PTSD Treatment
Researchers theorize that the “flashbacks” commonly associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder occur at an accelerated rate inside a victim’s brain, thus trapping the person in a near-continual loop that graphically re-presents the traumatic event. Canadian doctors used magnetoencephalography (MEP) to compare the brain activity in four groups – traumatized soldiers, non-traumatized soldiers, brain-injured civilians, and healthy civilians – when …
March 2016 Newsletter
A Brief Defense Base Act Benefits Summary As we look forward to another year, we wanted to provide our clients a quick summary of the Defense Base Act and the benefits available under the Act if they are injured. Like many of our other newsletters, we use examples in this summary that are only meant to show how claims and …
The Need for Honest Assessment of PTSD in Military Contractors
Private military contractors returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder at up to twice the rate of regular military personnel, according to a RAND Corporation study. Moreover, many of these individuals are not getting the treatment they need and deserve. The study, which was conducted in 2012, also found that the number of deployed military contractors often …
Continuing Dangers: Overseas Contractors Kidnapped in Iraq
Four foreign contractors – three Americans and an Iraqi translator – were kidnapped on the south side of Baghdad, according to Iraqi security sources. The U.S. State Department confirmed the abduction of “several” contractors and insisted that in-country officials were “working with the full co-operation of the Iraqi authorities to locate and recover the individuals.” Until recently, the Iraqi capital …
Burn Pit Dangers Continue in Iraq
Even though such operations often expose workers to toxic smoke and fumes and cause serious illness, the DoD still uses burn pits for most waste disposal. In the early 2000s, when operations began in Afghanistan and Iraq, unregulated burn pits dotted the area and worker complaints about health conditions were summarily dismissed. The landscape changed in 2009, when in response …
February 2016 Newsletter
Welcome to the DBA Newsletter, prepared by Barnett, Lerner, Karsen & Frankel, P.A. We hope this will help you learn more about the Defense Base Act and your legal rights. Community Involvement The firm continues to invest in the local and legal community. Liza E. Lima, Esq. recently joined the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (“WISTA”). WISTA is an …