Literally billions of dollars have been paid to Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and their families from judgments against Iran for supporting terrorism. The money is paid from the U.S. Victims Of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (USVSST fund). The money in the USVSST fund comes from seizures of entities doing business with Iran, designated a state sponsor of terrorism since 1984.

To qualify, the attack must have caused the death of at least one person, whether a fellow member of the Armed Forces, a civilian, or an ally, including, for example, members of the Afghan National Army. The attack must have taken place no earlier than 2004, with certain exceptions discussed below.

Attacks involving RPGs, mortars, and explosives likely qualify. Attacks involving small arms must be carefully reviewed, since most of these arms were NOT supplied by Iran. However, an explosion followed by a complex attack with small arms likely qualifies. Media coverage linking the attack to groups backed by Iran can make an attack qualify that otherwise would not.

If the attack caused the death of the member of the United States Armed forces, legal action can be brought on behalf of parents, children, and/or a spouse. Yes, stepparents and stepsiblings qualify. But, tragically, this is a hard requirement: the attack must have caused a death. Attacks that “only” caused injuries do not qualify because of how the laws is worded, and we share your frustration. But the deaths of civilians, interpreters, soldiers from allied nations all potentially make an attack qualify.

If you are a survivor of the U.S.S. Cole bombing, or an immediate family member of a survivor or casualty of that tragic event, please contact us if you have not already filed your lawsuit against Iran as many others have already done. The 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut and the Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia also qualify.

For you and your family to qualify, the attack must have caused physical injuries to include TBI, tinnitus, and/or hearing loss. Unfortunately, PTSD by itself does not qualify but PTSD is a factor when combined with physical injuries. A Purple Heart is not necessary, but a Purple Heart is definitive evidence of injuries. Sometimes a Purple Heart is not awarded for things like tinnitus or TBI, but these injuries qualify. Your spouse, children, and/or parents must have been living at the time of the attack to qualify for their own separate lawsuits, but even (for example) a parent that has died since potentially qualifies, as a lawsuit on behalf of an estate.

And, of course, these lawsuits against Iran are done “on a contingency.” The lawyers work for you and get paid if they recover money for you. But you should steel yourself in advance that the lawsuits take years, and the money is paid out over the course of a lifetime.

Palmer Law is a veteran-owned law firm. We can relate to what you’ve been through and we can help.