The clinic represents Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN) in its campaign to persuade the Department of Defense to more forcefully address military sexual trauma (MST) within the ranks. The representation has included researching and writing a policy report, drafting federal legislation to improve compensation for victims of MST, drafting and submitting a petition for rule-making to VA, and representation of SWAN, the ACLU Women’s Rights Project, and the ACLU of Connecticut in two Freedom of Information Act lawsuits in U.S. District Court seeking DoD and VA records related to MST.
Battle for Benefits--VA Discrimination Against Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma (Report)
Battle for Benefits Appendix (November, 2013)
Amended Complaint, SWAN et al v. U.S. Department of Defense, No. 3:10-cv-1953-MRK (D.Conn.) (“SWAN I”)
Opinion and order, SWAN I (Mar. 30, 2012)
Complaint, SWAN et al. v. U.S. Department of Defense, No. 3:11-cv-1534-MRK (D.Conn.) (“SWAN II”)
Media Clips
Lawrence Downes, The V.A. and Sexual Trauma, Nov. 18, 2013
New York Times editorial, For Assaulted Veterans, a Second Battle, New York Times Nov. 17, 2013
John Christofferson, ACLU Lawsuit: Military Won't Release Rape Records, Associated Press, Dec 13, 2010
Nikita Lalwani, Law School's Veterans Legal Services Clinic representing plaintiffs in federal suit, Yale Daily News, Dec 13, 2010
Editorial: Justice for Women Veterans, The New York Times, September 11, 2011