Military Defense Supports USPHS Members at the 56th Annual Scientific & Training Symposium

Military Defense will be available to meet with COA members at the upcoming 56th annual Scientific & Training Symposium. (phscof.org/symposium). The 56th annual meeting of the Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service (COA) will be meeting May 8th – 11th, 2023 at the Cox Business Convention Center in Tulsa Oklahoma.

Captain Karen Munoz’s Performance “We fight too/!”

Military Defense provides USPHS members with with legal representation for concerns regarding promotions, readiness, special pay, involuntary retirement board, records corrections in addition to EEO and MEB concerns. We understand the unique needs of Commissioned Corps Officers and have a USPHS focused area of our practice dedicated to being there for you, when you have been there for us.

We look forward to seeing you in May!

Law Offices of David P. Sheldon and the Military Defense Team

 

Military Defense is a Sponsor at the PHS Symposium May 24-26, 2022

The 2022 Symposium will be the 55th annual meeting of the nation’s top Federal, Tribal, State and Local public health providers, administrators and emergency responders/planners.

This event is the only annual meeting dedicated exclusively to the work of U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps officers.  Attendance strengthens the nation’s public health and emergency response capability, while building relationships that will further the mission and objectives of agencies  and provides specific education and training based on specialty. The 2022 Symposium is the 55th annual meeting of the nation’s top Federal, Tribal, State and Local public health providers, administrators and emergency responders/planners.

Event details are located at: https://www.phscof.org/symposium/
Military Defense is a Sponsor at the PHS Symposium in Phoenix May 24-26, 2022.
Please stop by the Military Defense booth and pick up some medical kits, stress balls and luggage wraps.
Congratulations to COA PHS for a successful 2022 conference.

Testimonial: “I knew this team would get the job done, and they did.”

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Office of David P. Sheldon as well as his team that worked closely with me during this entire legal process. I’m not sure how much I can discuss, but I can say that I was promised something when I was first commissioned and was then later informed that the USPHS made a mistake and would not honor what they originally agreed upon. Common sense told me that this was wrong and unfair and that I needed legal representation. I did seek out two other firms other than David Sheldon and that same common sense told me that this was the firm to represent me, without any reservation. After speaking with David I felt that he had the most experience, the most confidence and the most integrity which instantly gave me a sense of assurance. It was that assurance that made the whole process tolerable and comfortable as well as a deep feeling that I had nothing to worry about. Truly, I knew in the back of my mind that this team would get the job done, and they did. Again I can’t express my gratitude enough for a job well done.

With great thanks,

CDR H

Case Results: USPHS Commander Wins Restoration of Retirement Credits

Another success story for the Law Offices of David P. Sheldon at the Public Health Service Board for Corrections (PHS BFC). The Law Offices of David P. Sheldon represented a Commissioned Corps Commander who was promised retirement credit-in writing-for prior federal civilian service, only to be informed just before retirement that the Commissioned Corps was denying the credit.

As a result of our firm’s efforts, the PHS BFC “concluded that Corps actions constituted an egregious error and an injustice.” Our client will now receive the retirement credit so richly deserved and is now eligible to retire immediately since receiving years of constructive service credit.

 

Back to News and Results

Testimonial: Veteran Benefits and Retirement Restored for USPHS Member

My first call with David demonstrated his knowledge of the “system” and gave me hope.I could not get a single phone call returned or an email reply from my service branch without his law firm’s help. As a result of their intervention I’ve been able to receive all the retirement and VA benefits that I was entitled to. These benefits had been ignored or denied, until their legal team set to work on my behalf, and achieved complete resolution. Thanks again to the entire staff of the Law Offices of David P. Sheldon PLLC.

P.Z.  USPHS/Air Force

Motion Filed to Rightfully Include USPHS and NOAA at Smithsonian Memorial

Press Release: The Law Offices of David P. Sheldon Files Opposition to the Smithsonian’s Motion to Dismiss in USPHS COA v Bunch et al.

Law Offices of David P. Sheldon PLLC

100 M St SE, Suite 600

Washington, DC 20003

(202) 546 9575

www.militarydefense.com

Read the Complaint Here

Congress created the National Native American Veterans Memorial to be a memorial for all Native veterans. Yet, when it came time to build the memorial, the Smithsonian wrongfully excluded Native veterans of the United States Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In May, The Law Offices of David P. Sheldon, representing the Commissioned Officers’ Association of the United States Public Health Service, filed suit to ensure that those two branches were properly included. The continued denigration of the service of USPHS and NOAA veterans has a pervasive impact on their status before private and public institutions. They are frequently denied benefits both due under statute, and granted by private society, due to ignorance as to their status as veterans. The most egregious example of this is the way in which USPHS commissioned officers, deployed by their country to the hottest spots of the COVID pandemic, were frequently denied early vaccination status by military healthcare facilities ignorant of their status as fellow service members.

Yet, it was on those very grounds that the Smithsonian based their motion to dismiss. They argued that Native veterans of the USPHS and NOAA had no entitlement to inclusion on the monument, and that there was no evidence that the denigration of their service and reputation as “real” veterans had any impact on their societal standing. In addition, they also argued that a question of constitutional interpretation was in fact a political question, not fit for the courts to resolve.

Now, The Law Offices of David P. Sheldon have filed their motion to oppose this attempt to dismiss a rightful claim. In their motion, they demonstrate to the Court the massive impact on societal status of the wrongful denigration and spreading of ignorance as to the veteran status of USPHS and NOAA officers. They also remind the Smithsonian, and the Court, of the clear precedence in the D.C. Circuit that constitutional claims are not, contrary to what was alleged by the Smithsonian, political questions barred from consideration. The Law Offices look forward to the successful resolution of this current round of litigation, to the future success of their case, and to the ensuring that Native USPHS and NOAA officers are given the public commemoration they rightfully deserve.

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Successful Defense for PHS Officer at Board of Corrections

The Law Offices of David P. Sheldon successfully represented an officer at the PHS Board for Corrections. The firm argued that the officer should receive years of constructive service credit for education, which is now being retroactively applied to the officer’s retirement pay multiplier.  The officer stands to make hundreds of thousands in additional retirement pay in the circumstance.

Testimonial: “I would highly recommend him to any uniformed service person.”

Mr. Sheldon came highly recommended by a fellow Public Health Service (PHS) officer. After initial discussion he immediately reviewed my case and provided me with a clear pathway. I retained Mr. Sheldon’s firm to apply to the PHS Board of Corrections to obtain adjudication of my rightful promotion. His knowledge of the law, the system and prior cases is phenomenal. His team worked efficiently, diligently and we were able to get a successful outcome. I would highly recommend him to any uniformed service person.

-CDR HM

PHS Testimonial: “Excellent legal services! FIVE STARS!”

As a US Public Health Service (USPHS) Officer it was difficult to find legal representation with

experience with the USPHS Board of Corrections. The Law Offices of David P. Sheldon came

highly recommended. David and his team prepared my board packet and were successful in

getting get my 0-5 promotion reinstated with back pay and removal of all negative documents

removed from my career file. I highly recommend the Law Offices of David P. Sheldon. Excellent

legal services ! FIVE STARS !

-LCDR W.