Source: https://mcgradylawfirm.com/veterans-affairs-wrongful-death-lawyer/
Timestamp: 2018-06-21 19:24:55
Document Index: 796345452

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2401', '§ 2401', '§ 2401', '§ 2401', '§ 2401', '§ 27', '§ 2401', '§ 1346']

VA Wrongful Death Lawyer - McGrady Law Firm
Veterans Affairs Medical Malpractice and Wrongful Death Lawyer
Philip McGrady has experience filing claims against the Veterans Affairs (“VA”) for the negligence of its professionals which leads to wrongful death. If your loved one was a veteran being treated by VA doctors or other health care professionals, you should contact a lawyer with experience in this field. You need a VA wrongful death lawyer, like Philip McGrady.
Pursuing a case under the Federal Tort Claims Act
Suits against the federal government for negligence requires following strict procedures.
The Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”) bars a tort claim against the United States unless first presented to the appropriate federal agency “within two years after such claim accrues.” United States v. Kubrick, 444 U.S. 111, 113 (1979) (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 2401(b)). The federal statute, 28 U.S.C. § 2401(b) provides as follows:
“A tort claim against the United States shall be forever barred unless it is presented in writing to the appropriate Federal agency within two years after such claim accrues or unless action is begun within six months after the date of mailing, by certified or registered mail, of notice of final denial of the claim by the agency to which it was presented.”
28 U.S.C.A. § 2401(b).
Veterans Affairs Paid More Than $200 Million in Last Decade
According to one of the more thorough and informative articles available on the web, the VA has paid out roughly $200 million dollars to nearly 1,000 families since 9/11. Aaron Glantz, a reporter for The Center for Investigative Reporting, identified amounts paid throughout the United States after obtaining data from the VA using a Freedom of Information Act Request.
The median payment was identified as $150,000. However, a quick review of the cases indicated several in the range of $1 million. One case involving the Danville Illinois VA medical center appeared to be settled for $1,575,000. A case against the VA in Arizona resulted in a payout of $1,000,000. And a case in Utah was resolved for $950,000.
When pursuing a claim against the VA, or any federal agency for a tort claim, it is important to know the unique procedural steps that must be followed. If you need the assistance of a lawyer with experience dealing with wrongful death claims against the federal government, contact the McGrady Law Firm.
Steps which must be followed when suing the Government
The claim must first be presented to the appropriate federal agency within two years of the claim’s accrual. 28 U.S.C. § 2401(b). A claim is deemed “presented” to a federal agency when the proper claim form (Standard Form 95) or other written notification is received by the agency:
“For purposes of the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 2401(b), 2672, and 2675, a claim shall be deemed to have been presented when a Federal agency receives from a claimant, his duly authorized agent or legal representative, an executed Standard Form 95 or other written notification of an incident, accompanied by a claim for money damages in a sum certain for injury to or loss of property, personal injury, or death alleged to have occurred by reason of the incident; and the title or legal capacity of the person signing, and is accompanied by evidence of his authority to present a claim on behalf of the claimant as agent, executor, administrator, parent, guardian, or other representative.”
Once SF-95 is presented to the appropriate agency, the agency has six months to consider the claim, and if the agency has not acted within six months then the claimant has the option of deeming it a final denial and proceeding in court. You may lose a valid claim against the federal government if these requirements are not followed.
Under Montana law (which is applicable as substantive law under the Federal Tort Claims Act), the personal representative of the estate of the deceased may sue the party responsible for wrongful death on behalf of the surviving heirs. The recovery made by the personal representative is not in his or her capacity as personal representative. Rather, the personal representative is the trustee of the award for each person entitled to compensation. Swanson v. Champion International Corp., 197 Mont. 509, 517-518, 646 P.2d 1166, 1170 (1982), citing MCA § 27-1-323.
Time is of the essence in Negligence cases against the Government
Timely compliance with § 2401(b) is a jurisdictional prerequisite. Fernandez v. United States, 673 F.2d 269, 271 (9th Cir. 1982); Blain v. United States, 552 F.2d 289, 291 (9th Cir. 1977). Federal rather than state law controls when the statute of limitations accrues for a personal injury action brought under the Federal Tort Claims Act. See, e.g., Poindexter v. United States, 647 F.2d 34, 36 (9th Cir. 1981). A plaintiff has a cause of action against the government under the FTCA if he also would have a cause of action under state law against a private person under like circumstances. 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b).
Although the FTCA does not define when a claim “accrues,” the Supreme Court has held that a plaintiff’s medical-malpractice claim accrues when he “knows both the existence and the cause of his injury.” Kubrick, 444 U.S. at 113.
You should contact an attorney like Philip McGrady to review your case.
—Wrongful Death Claims Against the VA
—Suits Against the Government for Negligence
—Wrongful Death Damages