Family of Veteran Wins Lawsuit Against Nevada State VA Nursing Home

State will pay $750,000 to family of veteran who died after legionella found in nursing home's water 
The Nevada Independent
Michelle Rindels
September 13, 2017

Gov. Brian Sandoval apologized to the family of an 88-year-old man who died at the Nevada State Veterans Home in 2015 after legionella bacteria was found in the water, then voted Tuesday to approve a $750,000 payout to his survivors.

The settlement with World War II veteran Charles Demos’ five children comes after the family sued the state on a litany of grounds, alleging negligence, wrongful death, elder abuse, infliction of emotional distress, negligent hiring, training and supervision and breach of contract. A court denied the state’s motion to dismiss the case, and officials with the Nevada attorney general’s office said lawsuit costs could have spiraled to $2.5 million absent a settlement.

“I feel horrible that this has happened,” Sandoval said at a Board of Examiners meeting where the settlement was approved. “It’s a tragedy. This is a gentleman who served our country with distinction … I think this is a fair settlement and I just want to make sure that it was clear on the record that they have my apology.”

Demos, who would have turned 91 on Monday, was a member of the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General Corps and had a decades-long legal career in Florida before retiring in 2010. After moving to the veterans’ home in Boulder City, he served two terms as president of residents at the nursing home and enjoyed playing chess and talking politics.
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VA Offers Beds to Non-Veteran Nursing Home Residents Hit By Irma

VA to make beds available where possible to non-Veteran nursing home residents affected by Hurricane Irma
News Release

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. David J. Shulkin announced that VA is making beds available where possible to non-Veteran nursing home residents affected by Hurricane Irma.

Secretary Shulkin has been working with Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Sen. Bill Nelson and their staffs on this issue beginning yesterday evening.

“We thank Governor Scott and Senator Nelson for involving VA, and are grateful we can help our fellow citizens where we can in this time of need,” Secretary Shulkin said. “All Americans are pulling together to help one another, and we must make a special effort for those most vulnerable to the conditions brought on by the storm.”

VA has the ability to make its facilities available to non-Veterans as part of its fourth mission to support national, state and local emergency management, public health, safety and homeland security efforts, and also through a mission assignment under the Stafford Act.

Secretary Shulkin agreed, where practical, to make beds that are not being used by Veterans available to non-Veteran nursing home residents as needed, while ensuring VA continues its primary mission of providing health care to Veterans.

The VA is also working closely with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state and local partners on the overall response to Irma, in addition to this specific issue.

“We will continue to look for ways to relieve the hardship this powerful storm has caused,” Secretary Shulkin said. “Much of the heavy lifting to recover from the hurricane is still to come, and our leaders and staff are determined to find as many ways as we can for VA to help in coordination with federal, state and local agencies in the response.”

More information on the VA’s response to Hurricanes Irma and Harvey can be found at https://www.va.gov/.

Forget Slogan of "22" California Will Start to Track Veteran Suicides

California will now track suicide among veterans


San Diego Union Tribune
Jeanette Steele
September 12, 2017

At least 27 vets under age 45 died by suicide in San Diego County over 18 months. The San Diego Union-Tribune tracked down the families, friends and medical examiner records of these young veterans.

A new law will require California officials to compile statistics on how many military veterans are committing suicide in the state.

Gov. Jerry Brown signed the legislation Monday.

One of the law’s proponents said the new requirement makes California one of 22 states to accurately report veteran suicide.

Assembly Bill 242 was introduced by two Fresno assemblymen, Republican Jim Patterson and Democrat Joaquin Arambula.

Specifically, the legislation requires the California Department of Public Health to report the number of veteran suicides every year to the state Legislature and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

The data would come from county coroners.

“Not knowing how many of those heroes are making the decision to end their lives is not acceptable,” Patterson said in a released statement.

“Men and women returning home to California after serving their country deserve all the help we can give them.”

California is home to the nation’s largest population of veterans.
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Missing Veteran Alert--California Female Veteran

Police ask for help in search for missing Army veteran
LA Times
Debbi Baker
September 9, 2017

Police are asking for the public’s help to find a San Diego woman who has been missing since leaving her home a week ago.

Julia Jacobson, 37, was last seen at a 7-Eleven on Aero Drive about 6:30 a.m. Sept. 7, according to friends and San Diego police. She texted a friend about 9:30 p.m. saying she was in the Palm Springs area and hasn’t been heard from since.

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Veteran Navy SEAL Missing in California

UPDATE

San Diego Police: Missing Navy SEAL veteran found

US Navy SEAL Veteran Reported Missing

NBC Los Angeles
Astrid Solorzano
September 12, 2017

For Becky McGinnis, the first two weeks of September have been a nightmare.

Her boyfriend, who served as a U.S. Navy SEAL for 18 years, has not contacted her since August 27. He was last seen near Chollas Lake Park, according to San Diego police. Officers found his car in La Jolla on Sunday, September 3.

"We just want to find him,” said McGinnis. “We have a little information on anything.”

John Surmont, 45, has struggled with trauma related to his military service, McGinnis told NBC 7 Monday.

San Diego Police confirmed they are actively looking for Surmont, a veteran of U.S. Navy SEAL Team 3 and a father of three. The VA is cooperating with the police department on their investigation. 

People who served in the SEALs with him confirmed the community is conducting private searches. 

Surmont’s ex-wife got a call from Surmont on August 31 saying he was in a "rough place" in Los Angeles, police said.

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