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Federal Tort Claims Act
Military dependents and retirees may file claims and get recovery for injuries caused by the malpractice of military or government healthcare providers. Although most active duty military personnel cannot sue the government for injuries they personally received due to the malpractice of active duty military doctors, they may file claims on behalf of their children or other dependents.

If you are one of the millions of people who are eligible to receive healthcare in a federal healthcare facility, such as a Department of Defense (“DOD”) military hospital or a Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) hospital, you should be aware of your legal rights in the unfortunate event that you are the victim of medical malpractice, or other government negligence.

The Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”) (28 U.S.C. sect. 2674) provides that the United States is liable for personal injuries and medical malpractice “in the same manner as a private individual under like circumstances.”

For example, the injured child of an active duty person may file a claim against the government. In addition, the active duty parent may also file a claim for its own emotional damages, as well as for the increased medical costs or other expense the parent may incur due to the child’s injury.

EXAMPLES OF TYPES OF CLAIMS

Here are some examples of the types of medical negligence situations, which may occur:

  • Birth Injury/Injuries
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Wrongful Death
  • Misdiagnosis of Cancer (Breast cancer, colon cancer, cervical cancer, melanoma, etc.)
  • Anesthesia Malpractice
  • Delay in Diagnosis of Meningitis
  • Pediatric Malpractice
  • Surgical Errors
  • Orthopedic Malpractice
  • Medication and Pharmacy Errors
  • Newborn Screening (PKU, Galactosemia, Hypothyroidism, etc.)
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Cardiology
  • Group B beta strep cases
  • Stillborn baby cases
  • Failure to recognize and treat jaundice in a newborn baby
  • Injuries resulting in paraplegia or quadriplegia

The FTCA is a complex law and it underscores the unique legal status of the people who receive medical care from the federal government. Needless to say, if you believe you have been the victim of medical malpractice at the hands of a federally employed healthcare provider, you should seek the advice of an experienced attorney immediately.

REQUIREMENT OF FILING A WRITTEN NOTICE OF CLAIM
A written claim must be filed within two (2) years from the date you knew, or through the exercise of reasonable diligence you should have known of the negligence. This two (2) year period is known as the Statute of Limitations period. The claim must be made in writing using Standard Form 95, and it must contain a demand for a “sum certain”. The “sum certain” requirement means that the claimant must ask for a specific dollar amount. If the claim does not contain a request for a “sum certain,” it may be deemed invalid. If a valid claim is not received by the government within the Statute of Limitations period, you have forever lost the right to make the claim and to collect money damages.
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
If a valid claim is filed with the appropriate agency within the Statute of Limitations period, that agency has, by law, six (6) months from the date the claim is filed in which to investigate and reach an administrative settlement of the claim.
FILING A LAWSUIT
If the government has not taken “final administrative action” on your claim and it is after that initial six (6) month administrative time period has expired, you may treat that government inaction as a denial, at which point you are entitled to file a lawsuit against the United States in Federal District Court. If you are dissatisfied with the “final administrative action” that is taken on your claim, you have six (6) months from the date of the certified letter to file a lawsuit against the United States in Federal District Court.

If you do not file a lawsuit within that six (6) month time period, you lose your right to do so, forever.

The Federal Tort Claims Act requires that cases be tried before a judge, without a jury; therefore, you will not be entitled to a jury trial.

CONTACT US

If you would like to speak to an attorney experienced in claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act, contact us to arrange a free initial consultation and evaluation. We are committed to protecting the rights of injured Texans and will pursue every option available in helping you to recover for your injury claim.

Call us toll free (888) 661-4002 or locally at (713) 652-4002. If your injury prevents you from coming to us, we can come to you. Se habla español

Barnes Law Firm works strictly on a contingent fee basis and advances all upfront costs of a case including the investigation, case development, litigation, expert witnesses and court costs. Those expenses, in addition to our fee, are deducted from the ultimate recovery. And if we are not successful in a recovery in your case, we absorb all costs and charge no fee.