Betrayed by the System: Honorably Separated Army Veteran Fights Back After Privacy Breach
Former Army Soldier Brings Lawsuit under the Privacy Act Seeking Justice for the Illegal & Unlawful Dissemination of Documents Within His Official Military Personnel File.
In a new federal lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia files against the Department of the Army for violations of the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552a, a former Army soldier fights back. The case tells the story of a decorated Army veteran whose confidential military records were unlawfully accessed and weaponized in a personal dispute, leading to profound personal and economic harm.
The plaintiff, a former Staff Sergeant honorably discharged after nearly a decade of service, had earned multiple commendations, including the Army Commendation Medal and three Army Achievement Medals. His Official Military Personnel File (OMPF), protected under federal law, should have remained confidential. Instead, a tangled web of misconduct ensued: through illicit access by a member of his former unit, personal records including an official photograph stamped “FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY” were leaked to his estranged former girlfriend who was unaffiliated with the military. Those records were then used maliciously during court proceedings to shame and discredit him.
This filing asserts that a current Army Staff Sergeant deliberately obtained and shared these records without consent or legal justification, violating the core tenets of the Privacy Act. A subsequent Army investigation confirmed the breach, yet the Army withheld details of disciplinary action against the violator, citing “privacy concerns,” a bitter irony, considering the veteran’s rights had already been severely violated.
At stake is not merely personal redress. This case seeks to hold the Army accountable for systemic failures in safeguarding service members’ records. The complaint demands monetary damages for emotional and financial injuries, the correction of inaccurate or derogatory records, and legal fees, but more critically, it serves as a bellwether to ensure federal agencies uphold their sacred trust to protect those who have served.
What This Filing Means for the Defendant
The Department of the Army must now answer for its breach of duty under the Privacy Act. The lawsuit challenges not only the actions of the individuals involved but also the Army’s systemic inability to prevent, detect, or properly respond to the unauthorized disclosure of protected information. A successful verdict could force greater transparency, reform, and accountability within military record-keeping systems.
Correcting a Deep Wrong
Beyond personal vindication, this legal action seeks to affirm a basic principle: that those who serve their country should not have their private histories weaponized against them. Through this suit, the plaintiff demands that the government right this wrong, restoring dignity, enforcing accountability, and strengthening privacy protections for all service members.
About the Law Offices of David P. Sheldon:
The Law Offices of David P. Sheldon, PLLC, based in Washington, D.C., is a nationally recognized military and federal employment law firm. With decades of experience defending service members and federal employees, the firm brings unparalleled dedication to safeguarding the rights, careers, and reputations of those who serve our nation. The firm previously won the right of servicemembers the right to sue in Cummings v. Department of the Navy and In re: Sealed Case, Mr. Sheldon won the right for National Guard members to sue under the Privacy Act-even if the member is under state orders.
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