Our Defense Base Act Lawyers Help Contractors Injured in Iraq and Afghanistan

If you are an employee of a civilian contractor injured while working under a U.S. Government contract in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, or anywhere in the world, we can help you.

Our attorneys are experienced in the investigation and prosecution of Defense Base Act claims before the U.S. Department of Labor. We are known for our responsiveness, thorough and hands-on litigation style, investigative and negotiating skills and our accessibility to our clients. We go wherever you need us to be.

Howard Grossman and his Team, a Florida Bar Workers’ Compensation Emeritus Specialist, are practiced in litigating Defense Base Act claims throughout the United States and can help ensure you receive the benefits you are entitled to. We collect a fee, usually from your employer’s insurance company, only if we recover compensation for you.

For injured workers residing in the United States your Defense Base Act claim will be handled by the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs District Directors in the following cities:

Third Country National (TCN) claims are administratively handled by the New York District Director until the claim requires a hearing before the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Your final hearing will be scheduled to take place in your country at the largest city nearest your home town. Wherever you need us to be ...We will be present with you at your final hearing.

If you reside outside the United States, through modern technology we are equipped to attend conferences with you, your witnesses and expert depositions anywhere in the world. Our firm has video teleconferencing capabilities linking us with firms and court reporting offices around the world.

The Defense Base Act affords compensation benefits to those engaged in employment, such as:

According to the Department of Defense, as of March 31, 2010, there were 250,335 DOD contractor personal in the Iraq and Afghanistan theatre. Contractors make up aproximately 48% of DOD's combined contractor and uniformed personnel workforce in the CENTCOM AOR.

Acording to the most recent OWCP statistics through September 30, 2010, there have been 2,400 civilian contractor deaths and 26,650 lost time injuries of more than 4 days.

(Burn Pits Iraq)
Breathing dust, fumes, and other toxic substances from burn pits, exposed troops, contactors, and civilians deployed overseas to serious health hazards. Some of the chemicals were very toxic carcinogens and are deadly.

At US Senate hearings it was r evealed that the toxic carcinogen, Sodium Dichromate (CAS 10588-01-9), was spread across the Qarmat Ali water treatment plant near Basra,Iraq, exposing both soldiers and civilian contactors of KBR, Halliburton, and the Iraqi Oil Company in the spring and summer of 2003. Thousands of individuals may have been exposed.

An exposure to this chemical may produce:

Allergy-like symptoms, COPD, Asthma,bronchiolitis obliterans, breathing restrictions, cancers (lung, brain, bone, skin).

As a supporter for the improved health and welfare of individuals against hazardous occupational and environmental exposures, Grossman Law advocates for changes in safety standards and safer use of chemicals. If you have been exposed to burn pit dust, smoke or fumes or Sodium Dichromate contact Howard Grossman

Known Burn Pit Locations
Abu Ghraib Prison, Iraq
Camp Adder, Talil Air Base, Iraq
Al Asad Air Base, Iraq
Ali Air Base (formerly Talil Air Base)
Al Quo, Iraq
Al-Sahra, Iraq aka Camp Speicher
Camp Al Taji, IQ (Army Airfield)
Al Taqaddum, Iraq (Ridgeway)
Camp or LSA Anaconda, Iraq
Camp Anderson, Iraq
FOB Andrea
Camp Arifjan, Kuwait(Camden Yards)
Camp Ar Ramadi, Iraq
Baghdad International Airport (BIAP), Iraq
Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan
Balad Air Base, Iraq
Baqubah, Iraq (See Warhorse)
Camp Bastion Airfield, Afghanistan
Camp Bucca, Iraq
FOB Caldwell, Kirkuk, Iraq
Camp Cedar I and I, Talil Air Base, Iraq
Camp Chesty, Iraq
Camp Courage, Mosul, Iraq
Camp Cropper, Iraq
Camp Delta, Al Kut, Iraq
FOB Delta, Al Kut, Iraq
Diwaniya, Iraq
Djibouti, Africa
Camp Echo, Diwaynia, Iraq
FOB Endurance - Qayyarah Airfield West/Saddam Air Base
Fallujah, Iraq
FOB Fenty, Jalalabad, Afghanistan
FOB Hammer a/k/a Butler Range
FOB Freedom, Kirkuk, Iraq
FOB Gabe, Baqubah, Iraq
Former FOB Gains Mills
Camp Geiger, Iraq
Green Zone or International Zone, Iraq
Jalalabad, Afghanistan
Kabul, Afghanistan
Kalsu, Iraq
Kandahar, Afghanistan
Kirkuk, Iraq
Kut Al Hayy Airbase, Iraq
Camp Liberty, Iraq (aka Camp Trashcan)
Camp Loyalty, Iraq
FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq
FOB McHenry
COB Meade, Camp Liberty, Iraq
Mosul, Iraq
Navstar, Iraq
Camp Pennsylvania, Kuwait
Doha, Qatar
Q-West, Iraq - Qayyarah Airfield West/Saddam Air Base
Camp Ridgeway, Iraq (Al Taquaddum)
Camp Rustamiyah, Iraq
FOB Salerno, Afghanistan
Camp Scania, Iraq
Scania, Iraq
Camp Shield, Baghdad, Iraq
Camp Speicher, Iraq aka Al Sahra Airfield (formerly FOB)
Camp Stryker, Iraq
FOB Sykes, Iraq (Tall' Afar)
Taji, Iraq
Tall’ Afar, Iraq
Talil Air Base, Iraq (now is Ali Air Base)
Camp Victory, Iraq
FOB Warhorse, Baqubah, Iraq
FOB Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq

Additional Resources:

Judge Keeps Heat on KBR, Halliburton in Burn Pits Lawsuit Daily Finance 9.13.10

Military Contractors Can Be Sued Courthouse News Service 9.14.10

Judge Keeps Heat on KBR, Halliburton in Burn Pits Lawsuit - DailyFinance

Veteran Fights VA Over Exposure to Burn Pits - St Louis Post 9.12.2010

Halliburton, KBR Ordered by Judge to Face Military Suits Over Pit Burning - Bloomberg 9.9.2010

NY Times: Veterans Sound Alam Over Burn-Pit Exposure 8.6.10

Solders mysterious lung disease identified

GIs Tell of Horrors [asbestos] from Burn Pits - Houston Chronicle - 2.7.2010

"Hexavalent Chromium Exposure Weighs on Veterans" The Oregonian 12.28.09

"The Hidden Enemy" NBC-TV Story on National Guards Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium in Iraq (Video) 11.18.2008

Whistle-blower details exposure - Evansville Courier & Press 12.9.2006

Toxic Legacy in Iraq 10.8.2009

Indiana Guardsmen Sue KRB Over Chemical Exposure in Iraq - Democracy Now (Video) 12.4.2008

Did toxic chemical in Iraq sicken GIs? USA Today 6.28.09

OSHA: Occupational Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI)); Final Rule Remand Fall 2009

Downloads:

03-03-09 AFIP Letter

Photos of Camp Al Taqaddum

Department of Veteran Affairs

Photograph of Camp Stryker, Iraq

Aerial photograph of Camp Stryker, Iraq

Aerial photograph of Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq

Congress of the United States 03-03-09 letter to Christopher R_ Owner, Ph_D

Health Risk Assesment - Burn Pit Exposures -Balad Air Base Iraq

GAO Report

Epidemiological Studies of health Outcomes among Troops Deployed to
Burn Pit Sites

To speak with one of our attorneys today call 800-940-8048. If you would like us to contact you, please contact Grossman Attorneys. Our attorneys never charge a fee for consultations and are available at night and on the weekends.