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 March 7, 2007
Lawyers offer free services to veterans
by Daniel Tepfer
Connecticut Post Online
BRIDGEPORT - A state attorney association is offering free legal help to Gulf War veterans having trouble getting benefits for injuries they received during the war.
Douglas Mahoney, of the local law firm Tremont and Sheldon, said the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association will provide a lawyer free of charge to appeal claims by vets whose benefits have been denied by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
"With all the controversy surrounding the treatment of veterans at Walter Reed Hospital, it is more important than ever for veterans to get proper representation," Mahoney said.
Because of the intricacies of arguing benefit denial appeals Mahoney said lawyers must undergo special training in Washington before they can argue the cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veteran Claims. But he said local lawyers are willing to pay for the training themselves and represent veterans for free.
The training is being done by the veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program, which was created by a grant from the country's veterans service organizations.
So far, he said only one state lawyer, Matthew Auger, of New London, has taken the training session, but he said at least another dozen state lawyers will be taking it in the near future.
"Right now we just want to make sure that there are veterans in the state who we can help," he said.
Veterans seeking representation should call the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association at (860) 522-4345.
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