Amidst the controversy surrounding President Biden's military vaccine mandate, three separate lawsuits are underway, seeking to transform into a class-action lawsuit to represent all service members adversely affected.
The legal action, filed by former troops, alleges unjust expulsion or unlawful orders to cease drilling, resulting in the loss of pay or benefits, according to reports from Breitbart.
Heading the legal representation are Attorney Dale Saran, a retired Marine, along with attorneys Andy Meyer and Brandon Johnson. Saran asserted that the potential compensation for the impacted service members could amount to billions in backpay. The lawsuits have been submitted to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, a specialized court for handling cases related to illegal discharges, as highlighted by Saran.
The estimated number of affected service members, both active-duty and reservists, is substantial, ranging between 80,000 to 100,000, with more than 8,000 active-duty troops facing expulsion. Tens of thousands of reservists either received orders to cease drilling or were moved to inactive status, according to Saran.
The legal team contends that the affected individuals were denied due process, as no administrative separation boards, hearings, or federal recognition boards were conducted. Saran emphasized the rapid and arbitrary nature of these actions, asserting that Coast Guard personnel were similarly affected.
Monetary damages, as per Saran, extend beyond lost backpay and encompass the repayment of enlistment bonuses. He provided an example of enlisted individuals who received bonuses and were subsequently told they would be injected with an experimental vaccine. The argument centers on the defense secretary's directive, which stated that only licensed vaccines were mandatory.
