Protect Your Rights while working a government-supported job
Working on overseas airbases and government-supported job sites requires dedication and courage. Civilian contractors operate in environments that may include missile threats, rocket attacks, drone strikes, and other security risks.
If you suffer a physical injury or psychological trauma while working overseas, you may be eligible for compensation under the Defense Base Act.
Internal Resources to Learn More About DBA Claims
For more information about Defense Base Act claims and contractor rights, explore these resources:
Protecting the Rights of Overseas Contractors
Civilian contractors play a vital role in supporting military operations and infrastructure overseas. These workers help maintain airbases, operate equipment, transport supplies, and support mission-critical systems.
Any companies that fall under the DBA Act like DynCorp, Fluor, Aumentum, Taylor, V2X, PAE, Vectrus, Sallyport, Triple Canopy or any other American based Company that carry DBA coverage, you may be eligible to receive benefits under the DBA Act. Contact us now to discuss your potential claim.
Why Many Contractors Are Unaware of Their Rights
Despite being a federal law, the Defense Base Act is not widely understood among civilian contractors.
Workers often discover their entitled rights months or even years after suffering an injury overseas.
You May Still Qualify Even If the Attack Did Not Hit You Directly
One of the most common misconceptions among overseas contractors is that they must be directly struck by an explosion to qualify for a claim.
In reality, the Defense Base Act covers many types of work-related injuries connected to hostile incidents.
Psychological Injuries and PTSD Under the Defense Base Act
Any companies that fall under the DBA Act like DynCorp, Fluor, Aumentum, Taylor, V2x, PAE, Vectrus, Sallyport, Triple Canopy or any other American based Company that carry DBA coverage, you may be eligible to receive benefits under the DBA Act. Contact us now to discuss your potential claim.
If medical professionals determine that the condition is linked to the worker’s overseas employment, the contractor may qualify for medical treatment and disability benefits under the Defense Base Act.
Physical Injuries Covered Under the Defense Base Act
The Defense Base Act provides compensation to workers who suffer job-related physical injuries while working overseas.
Any companies that fall under the DBA Act like DynCorp, Fluor, Aumentum, Taylor, V2x, PAE, Vectrus, Sallyport, Triple Canopy or any other American based Company that carry DBA coverage, you may be eligible to receive benefits under the DBA Act. Contact us now to discuss your potential claim.
By Deborah Caputo — Attorneys Jo Ann Hoffman & Associates, P.A.
You sustained injuries while working with a Defense Base Act contractor. As a result, you filed a Defense Base Act claim for benefits for your injuries. The abbreviation that will be referenced throughout this article which is “DBA” for Defense Base Act.
Your case progresses, litigation proceeds, accompanied by the scheduling of several events. Among these, one particular event, that is arranged by the attorney representing the Employer and their Insurance Carrier, is the Vocational Evaluation. This article dives into the details of vocational evaluations and mastering your approach with confidence.
What is a Vocational Evaluation?
Glad you asked.
An injury while working for a DBA contractor not only raises medical and disability concerns (which warrant separate blog discussions) but also impacts one’s ability to earn wages. The question a vocational evaluator in its simplest form is to address whether the injured person can earn the same wages they did at the time of their injury or in another employment.
During a vocational evaluation, you, your attorney, and the vocational evaluator meet. Think of your attorney as your filter, ensuring only relevant questions are asked. The evaluator, hired by the Employer and Insurance Carrier, seeks information. The evaluation aims to establish the wage someone with your injuries would earn in the open job market under normal circumstances, and after the evaluation, the evaluator will provide a document titled, the “Labor Market Survey”.
The Labor Market Survey is essentially a list of potential jobs with each respective job detailing its responsibilities and average salary. The Labor Market Survey will be sent to all parties in the case post-evaluation.
So, this Labor Market Survey is just based on my evaluation, is that it? 
Continue reading →
How has Artificial Intelligence Impacted the Legal Field?
What is artificial intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the science of programming machines, especially computer systems to think and reason like human beings. These computer systems have been programmed to perform tasks such as problem solving and providing answers to everyday questions, even solving math equations.
Generative Artificial Intelligence is a type of AI technique where the machine perceives and classifies information to produce new and original content. The type of content includes image, music, video, art and design and text generation.
There are different types of generative artificial intelligence services. A few of the most common ones are ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Co-Pilot, Claude and Google Bard. Some are targeted at the legal profession, such as LexisNexis’ AI product which can generate the first draft of a legal document and analyze a judge’s past decisions to tailor a paper to the particular judge.
The Supreme Court’s “2023 Year-End Report on the Federal Judiciary” by Chief Justice Roberts addresses the impact of AI technology on the legal field. “Law professors report with both awe and angst that AI apparently can earn Bs on law school assignments and even pass the bar exam. Legal research may soon be unimaginable without it. AI obviously has great potential to dramatically increase access to key information for lawyers and non-lawyers alike. But just as obviously it risks invading privacy interests and dehumanizing the law,” says Chief Justice Roberts in the report.[1]
What is unique about lawyers using AI as opposed to other professions?
Lawyers are bound by special rules that govern their profession, which may come from their state bar’s ethical rules (i.e. the licensing body’s rules) or from state or federal law. Continue reading →
Congratulations to Jon Stewart who spearheaded a long and hard fought battle to win medical and disability benefits for veterans who breathed smoke from burn pits during their service in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Although not widely known, virtually all of our service people and contractors stationed in the Middle East were exposed on their bases to the daily burning of their trash, plastic, medical waste, and toxic chemicals in open burn pits. Everyone breathed that polluted air on the army bases and it was not good.
What you need to know about the PACT Act and where it takes us from here:
These illnesses are now presumptive:
This is a much needed recognition for many people who suffer with these conditions. For the families who had their service member return home only to suffer a long unexpected painful death from cancer or respiratory disease, the loss has been devastating. Family members may be entitled to survivor benefits and a modest funeral reimbursement. Read more at the VA site for the amounts.
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