U.S. to pay $350,000 after suicide of Marine

[unhappycamper]

U.S. to pay $350,000 after suicide of Marine
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jan 16, 2009 5:45:13 EST

The government has agreed to pay $350,000 to the family of a Marine combat veteran who committed suicide after what his family alleged was negligent mental-health care at Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in Massachusetts.

Former Marine Reserve Cpl. Jeffrey Lucey hanged himself in the cellar of his family home cellar on June 22, 2004, two weeks after being turned away from the Northampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where he had gone for treatment after a combat tour in Iraq.

A spokeswoman for Michael Sullivan, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, verified Jan. 15 that both parties have reached a negotiated settlement but noted that the agreement must still be accepted by the court.

“Jeffrey’s suicide while under VA care was a tragedy for VA and the individual care providers,” Sullivan wrote in the settlement letter. “It also spawned a number of important changes in the hospital’s procedures and outreach to Iraqi veterans.”

Lucey enlisted in December 1999, was mobilized and served in Iraq through May 2003 and came home a month later, according to the complaint.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/01/military_lucey_suicidelawsuit_011509w/%2e



uhc comment: Kevin and Joyce Lucey are two of the nicest people I know.

[globalvillage]

1. Sen. Kerry statement on the settlement

“For the Luceys it was never about the money – it was about making sure this didn’t happen to another family. I am proud of their tireless efforts in their son’s name and I’m glad that those in charge heard their call and arrived at a settlement. Hopefully some good will come out of the Lucey’s tragic loss. Because I do believe the lawsuit was a wake up call to the V.A. that they need to get their house in order to meet the needs of our brave veterans returning home with invisible wounds. I applaud the Luceys for their unceasing effort to prevent what happened to their son from happening to another American family and another soldier in need of help.”