I used to be a merchant seaman from '88 to '98 and had to retire on disability after a stroke that was linked to irregular blood clots. Now I’ve heard there are lawsuits involving Military Sealift Command and some of the products I worked with. How do I go about requesting info on these lawsuits? Would this be something I could look into under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or should I try consulting a lawyer? Anyone been through something similar?
Sounds rough, sorry to hear that! I think the FOIA route is definitely worth trying. It lets you request info on federal stuff, so you could find lawsuit details and possible exposures. Check the MSC website or Department of Defense FOIA page.
@Ember
Good to know! I wasn’t sure if FOIA covered something like this. Do you think I need specific details about the lawsuits, or can I just mention my work history and health issues?
@Ember
You should be fine just mentioning your work and health issues. FOIA requests can be general—they’ll know what to look up.
If you haven’t talked to a lawyer yet, I’d recommend that too. They can help interpret anything you get back from FOIA and could see if you qualify for any compensation.
Dexter said:
If you haven’t talked to a lawyer yet, I’d recommend that too. They can help interpret anything you get back from FOIA and could see if you qualify for any compensation.
Yeah, that’s true. I guess it might be a good idea to have a lawyer look over things, especially with federal claims.
Dexter said:
If you haven’t talked to a lawyer yet, I’d recommend that too. They can help interpret anything you get back from FOIA and could see if you qualify for any compensation.
Exactly. I went through a similar process, and having a lawyer made a big difference with the legal lingo and all.
Oh man, that sounds complicated. When you say FOIA, does that just mean anyone can get info from the government?
Luca said:
Oh man, that sounds complicated. When you say FOIA, does that just mean anyone can get info from the government?
Pretty much! FOIA lets anyone request info from the government, but there are limits—stuff might be withheld if it’s sensitive.
Luca said:
Oh man, that sounds complicated. When you say FOIA, does that just mean anyone can get info from the government?
Yep, just look up ‘FOIA’ on the MSC or DoD site and there should be forms or instructions for submitting requests.
There might be a personal injury attorney who’s familiar with these cases too. Federal claims can get tricky, so a lawyer with experience in that area could be a big help.
Ciel said:
There might be a personal injury attorney who’s familiar with these cases too. Federal claims can get tricky, so a lawyer with experience in that area could be a big help.
Thanks! I’ll look into that. Having someone who knows the federal process sounds smart.
Ciel said:
There might be a personal injury attorney who’s familiar with these cases too. Federal claims can get tricky, so a lawyer with experience in that area could be a big help.
Totally agree, it’s worth it. They can help connect the dots between your health issues and the work environment.
Appreciate all the input! Sounds like FOIA and maybe a lawyer are my best bets. I didn’t know FOIA requests were so accessible.
Cody said:
Appreciate all the input! Sounds like FOIA and maybe a lawyer are my best bets. I didn’t know FOIA requests were so accessible.
No problem! Best of luck with it, hope you get the info you need!