Claims center for Iraqi losses opens

[unhappycamper]

Claims center for Iraqi losses opens
Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, May 2, 2008

A center has opened in Baghdad’s Sadr City that U.S. officials say will accept claims filed by locals who have lost family members or suffered injuries or property losses in clashes between coalition forces and militants.

Fighting has escalated in impoverished Sadr City, where Shiite militants ambushed a U.S. patrol on Tuesday and more than 100 people were killed in fighting.

Members of the 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion and soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team established the claims center near a civil-military operations center, according to a news release issued by Multi-National Division–Baghdad.

Army Sgt. Brendan Piper, civil affairs specialist who is leading the claims process, says he verifies the claimant’s identity and ensures there is proper documentation. He then sends it to coalition officials for review to verify the incident involved coalition forces.

Once the claim is deemed accurate, a legal officer reviews the file and determines whether a claim should be paid, Piper said.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=54479