Supreme Court Decisions Affecting Service Members and Veterans
Author: Veterans News Service
Published: 2011/03/03 - Updated: 2024/03/09
Publication Type: Announcement / Notification
Peer-Reviewed: Yes
Topic: Disabled Veterans News - Publications List
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main
Synopsis: The U.S. Supreme Court has issued three decisions with military connections recently. In a decision, the court found that the deadline set up by the VA Department for filing supplemental disability benefits does not have jurisdictional consequence.
Introduction
In what may be the most contentious of the cases, the court ruled that members of a Westboro, Kan., church have the right to picket at funerals for service members killed in action.
Main Item
The court reversed a lower court decision March 1 and decided a reservist had been the victim of bias due to his military service. Also March 1, the court ruled that Veterans Affairs Department deadlines for veterans applying for benefits do not have "jurisdictional consequences."
In the first case, Albert Snyder, the father of Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq, sued the Westboro Baptist Church for picketing his son's funeral. A jury found the Westboro group, which says it conducts the protests because God hates the U.S. for its tolerance of homosexuality, liable for inflicting emotional distress on the Snyder family, intrusion upon seclusion and civil conspiracy.
The Supreme Court voted 8-1 to reverse the lower court ruling, saying the Constitution's First Amendment shields the group. The First Amendment states:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Also, the court ruled in favor of Army reservist Vincent Staub, who was fired in 2004 from his civilian position as an angiography technician at Proctor Hospital in Peoria, Ill., because of his military obligations.
Mr. Staub sued the hospital under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, which forbids employers from denying employment, re-employment, retention in employment, promotion or any benefit of employment based on a reservist's military obligations. A jury found the hospital liable, but the 7th Circuit Court reversed the decision.
The Supreme Court reversed the reversal March 1, holding that if a supervisor motivated by anti-military hostility performs an act intended to cause an adverse employment action, the employer is liable under the law.
In another decision, the court found that the deadline set up by the VA Department for filing supplemental disability benefits does not have jurisdictional consequence. The case, brought by David Henderson, who since has died, hinged on Mr. Henderson missing a 120-day deadline by 15 days. The court found for veterans, saying Congress regarded the deadline as a claim-processing rule.
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Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Veterans News Service and published on 2011/03/03, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, Veterans News Service can be contacted at news.va.gov NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.