Phillips v. Shinseki, No. 08-7124

By FindLaw Staff on September 25, 2009 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Veterans Court's refusal to permit the daughters of the deceased veteran-claimants to be substituted for their fathers is reversed and remanded where: 1) with respect to the deceased veteran's daughter's accrued benefits claim, assuming she has preserved her rights as an accrued benefits claimant, she is entitled to substitution on her father's claim and to the benefits of the Veterans Court's decision in his favor; and 2) with respect to the claim for attorney fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), 28 U.S.C. section 2412, the EAJA claim survives the death of the veteran, regardless of whether the EAJA application was actually filed by the veteran claimant prior to his death.     

Read Phillips v. Shinseki, No. 08-7124

Appellate Information

Appeal from:  United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

Decided September 25, 2009

Judges

Before Michel, Chief Judge, Bryson, Circuit Judge, and Spencer, Chief District Judge

Opinion by Bryson, Circuit Judge.   

Counsel

For Appellant:  Eric Alan Shumsky, Sidley Austin LLP

For Appellee:  Meredyth Cohen Havasy, United States Department of Justice

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