New Veterans Legal Clinic Staff Attorney Katie Becker successfully persuaded the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to award survivor’s benefits to the 15-year-old daughter of an Operation Iraqi Freedom combat veteran whose post-traumatic stress disorder caused his death by drug overdose. The VA had denied the dependent’s benefits because it found overdose to be unrelated to the veteran’s military experience. Becker argued that the drugs resulting in his death included some prescribed by the VA for his combat-related PTSD in addition to others he used to self-medicate to help with his severe symptoms. This decision has resulted in a substantial retroactive award and ongoing monthly payments to support the veteran’s surviving child.
To further our Culture of Shared Responsibility, the School of Law is pleased to extend our exciting monetary incentive program for School of Law faculty/staff and J.D., LL.M. and M.S.L. students to get vaccinated. You now have until 10/15/21 to register your completed COVID vaccination status. Since the law school is a small and cohesive community, your chance of winning $1,000 is 10%! This is in addition to the $250 gift cards awarded to those recently vaccinated. Please note that participation is strictly voluntary.
The dedication of the University of Georgia’s Jere W. Morehead Honors College was celebrated on Thursday, Sept. 30, with a ribbon-cutting on the steps of Moore Hall, facing Herty Field. The event was attended by current and emeriti trustees of the UGA Foundation, as well as the acting chancellor, former chancellor and several members of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. Morehead, who currently serves as president of UGA, is a 1980 graduate of the School of Law.
The Alexander Campbell King Law Library has received a Legal Information Preservation Alliance grant to digitize nine volumes of historic Georgia treatises ranging in date from 1819 to 1917. The digitization is scheduled to begin in early October, and fully text-searchable items will be made available in the School of Law's Digital Commons repository by 2022.