U.S. to pay $350,000 after suicide of MarineBy William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jan 16, 2009 5:45:13 EST
The government has agreed to pay $350,000 to the family of a Marine combat veteran who committed suicide after what his family alleged was negligent mental-health care at Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in Massachusetts.
Former Marine Reserve Cpl. Jeffrey Lucey hanged himself in the cellar of his family home cellar on June 22, 2004, two weeks after being turned away from the Northampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where he had gone for treatment after a combat tour in Iraq.
A spokeswoman for Michael Sullivan, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, verified Jan. 15 that both parties have reached a negotiated settlement but noted that the agreement must still be accepted by the court.
“Jeffrey’s suicide while under VA care was a tragedy for VA and the individual care providers,” Sullivan wrote in the settlement letter. “It also spawned a number of important changes in the hospital’s procedures and outreach to Iraqi veterans.”
Lucey enlisted in December 1999, was mobilized and served in Iraq through May 2003 and came home a month later, according to the complaint.
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http://armytimes.com/news/2009/01/military_lucey_suicidelawsuit_011509w/%2euhc comment: Kevin and Joyce Lucey are two of the nicest people I know.