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Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic Staff Attorney Katie Becker served as Counsel of Record on an amicus brief recently filed with the Supreme Court of the United States in Soto v. United States. The brief was submitted on behalf of the National Law School Veterans Clinic Consortium (NLSVCC), a national coalition of law school legal clinics dedicated to serving veterans and their families, of which the Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic is a member.
Joining Becker on the brief were Meghan Brooks of the University of South Carolina School of Law and Seth Owens of Syracuse University College of Law. Together, the team provided a vital perspective on behalf of veterans across the country regarding a complex legal issue at the intersection of military benefits and federal claims procedures.
The question presented in Soto asks whether 10 U.S.C. § 1413a, which governs Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC), provides a settlement mechanism that displaces the default procedures and limitations set forth in the Barring Act. Specifically, the Court will consider whether claims for CRSC—combat-related disability pay provided to certain military retirees—are subject to the strict filing deadlines under the Barring Act, or whether § 1413a offers an independent process for resolving disputes over these benefits.
The NLSVCC’s amicus brief highlights the significant implications this decision could have for veterans nationwide. Many veterans who qualify for CRSC are navigating complex disabilities and may face delays in filing claims due to the unique challenges of reintegrating into civilian life. The brief argues that imposing rigid procedural bars under the Barring Act could unfairly deny deserving veterans access to benefits intended to compensate them for service-connected combat injuries.
“We are proud to support the Consortium’s advocacy on behalf of veterans at the highest level of our judicial system,” said Becker. “This case presents an opportunity for the Court to clarify important procedural protections for veterans seeking the benefits they have earned through their service.”
The Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic remains committed to advancing veterans’ rights, both through individual client representation and by supporting systemic legal reforms through its work with NLSVCC.