- Collection:
- Press Releases
- Title:
- Law scholarship to honor legacy of court pioneer, Fund in memory of Judge Steve Goss supported by 100+ former classmates, friends
- Creator:
- University of Georgia. Office of Communications and Public Relations
- Date of Original:
- 2021-09-07
- Subject:
- University of Georgia. School of Law
Law--Study and teaching - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Clarke County, Athens, 33.96095, -83.37794
- Medium:
- articles
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://digitalcommons.law.uga.edu/press_releases/1453
- Holding Institution:
- Alexander Campbell King Law Library
- Rights:
-
<p>New Veterans Legal Clinic Staff Attorney <a href="https://www.law.uga.edu/profile/katie-becker">Katie Becker</a> successfully persuaded the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to award survivors benefits to the 15-year-old daughter of an Operation Iraqi Freedom combat veteran whose post-traumatic stress disorder caused his death by drug overdose. The VA had denied the dependents benefits because it found overdose to be unrelated to the veterans military experience. Becker argued that the drugs resulting in his death included some prescribed by the VA for his combat-related PTSD in addition to others he used to self-medicate to help with his severe symptoms. This decision has resulted in a substantial retroactive award and ongoing monthly payments to support the veterans surviving child.</p> <p>Learn more about the <a href="https://www.law.uga.edu/veterans-legal-clinic">Veterans Legal Clinic</a>,<em> </em>which is funded by a lead gift from renowned trial attorney and 1977 law school alumnus <a href="https://www.butlerwootenpeak.com/attorneys/james-e-butler-jr/">James E. "Jim" Butler Jr.</a>, who also supports the school's <a href="https://www.law.uga.edu/news/51968">Butler Commitment</a> that guarantees financial aid to 100% of student veteran law school matriculants</p>