Court rules Army not liable for shooting by young recruit

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A federal court says the U.S. Army is not liable for more than $1 million in medical bills for Michael Lahoff, who was left a quadriplegic after being robbed and shot by a young Army recruit in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Three judges from the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit against the Army that was brought by an insurance company that is paying for Mr. Lahoff's medical care and lost wages.

Continental Casualty Co. claimed the Army, under pressure to meet recruiting quotas, signed up an unstable 18-year-old named Marty Allen Armstrong and inadvertently gave him access to a pistol.

Mr. Armstrong enlisted in the Army's delayed entry program while a student at Peabody High School. The Army recruited him even though court records showed he had been charged with aggravated sexual assault and two cases of disorderly conduct at age 13. He then underwent psychiatric care.

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His recruiter, Staff Sgt. Korey Lewis, allowed Mr. Armstrong to move into his apartment, violating an order from a superior, according to the lawsuit. While staying with the sergeant, Mr. Armstrong stole a 9 mm pistol.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08206/899166-53.stm

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This is one that makes you go h'mmmm. I think the Sgt is responsible but he probably has little money. But was so much pressure put on him by his superiors and the Army that he was taking chances on very questionable recruits?

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. "Inadvertently" gave him access to a pistol?

Isn't that like "inadvertently" giving an employee something to do?