Over the Memorial Day weekend, the military contractor once tied to Halliburton, KBR, asked a judge to throw out a lawsuit brought by the family of a soldier who died in Iraq when he was electrocuted while showering. Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth, a 24-year-old stationed with the Green Berets in Baghdad, was killed in January, and an Army investigation found that the electric pump that supplied water to the building was improperly grounded. His death is considered an accident, yet the Maseth family believes since KBR was responsible for supplying the military with things such as showers and food, they are also responsible for Sgt. Maseth’s death.
Though Sgt. Maseth’s death is tragic, he is one of at least twelve soldiers who have been electrocuted in Iraq. The Maseth family is trying to find out what KBR knew and what – and when – the government knew. Because KBR was attached to Halliburton, there is some suspicion that Dick Cheney, who once led the energy company before becoming vice president, knows what was going on as the US invaded Iraq and began parceling out contracts to their companies the Bush administration favored. Cheney has denied having any contact with Halliburton or KBR since he joined the administration. KBR is also accused of price gouging the military and government even though they deliver questionable service.
The Maseth family may wonder why their son, a highly trained soldier, died in this manner, but they are not alone. Democratic chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Henry Waxman, asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates to hand over documents relating to the electrical systems managed by the military. Many are concerned about the pattern they see which extends into KBR’s management – or lack thereof.
Handing out government contracts to your friends is certainly undemocratic. But what’s the word for it when your friends may be responsible for the deaths of at least twelve soldiers whose lives were contingent on your friends’ corporations doing their job? And what do you call it when your friends’ corporations ask a judge to throw out a lawsuit like this over Memorial Day weekend?
If you have lost a loved one in Iraq who was killed in an accident where negligence may have been a factor, please contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area to see if you have a claim.
