Agent Orange Side Effect Case Study
In 1979, the first class action lawsuit was filed because of the Agent Orange side effects. Unfortunately, there was little progress for the Agent Orange side effects sufferers until a judge (Jack Weinstein) assigned to the case in 1983 put it on a fast track to settlement. In 1985, an out of court settlement, between the Vietnam Veterans and the chemical manufactures, created a fund for Agent Orange side effect sufferers (Agent Orange Lawsuits).
However, the $180 million settlement fund was completely depleted by 1994, by only paying out just 50,000 of the 2.4 million peoples exposed and potentially suffering Agent Orange side effects. Since the settlement fund required that there must be Agent Orange side effects shown and "total disability"
demonstrated to receive money for each year between 1971 and 1994, many people that suffered Agent Orange side effects after 1994 were not included. In addition, there was a lack of awareness amongst Vietnam veterans that a class action Agent Orange side effects settlement had been formed (Agent Orange Lawsuits).
Thankfully, a tied Supreme Court vote on June 9th of 2003, allowed the Vietnam veterans that have developed Agent Orange illnesses after 1994 to sue the compound's manufacturers despite the 1985 settlement. Even though the Vietnam War was decades ago, some Vietnam veterans are now just beginning to suffer the serious effects of Agent Orange exposure. The 1985 Agent Orange settlement excluded many Vietnam veterans that have suffered, are suffering, and will continue to suffer because of Agent Orange exposure (Agent Orange Lawsuits).
On the flip side, millions of Vietnamese people were exposed to Agent Orange during the war as well, but most Americans' are unaware of it. It is estimated that today approximately a million or more people have disabilities and/or other health problems linked to Agent Orange, according to a number of pilot studies made in Vietnam. These studies estimate that approximately 100,000 of these adversely affected people are disabled children (Fawthrop).
Additionally, based on the high percentage of people in need of assistance and the extremely difficult situation many of them have to face, the Vietnam Red Cross (VNRC) has set up a special fund and taken the lead to mobilize support in order to provide humanitarian assistance. The people affected by Agent Orange are not only suffering from severe disabilities and a multitude of other health problems, but also from the associated effects of not being able to integrate into normal life. Many children cannot go to school and their parents are often unable to work (Fawthrop).
However, the $180 million settlement fund was completely depleted by 1994, by only paying out just 50,000 of the 2.4 million peoples exposed and potentially suffering Agent Orange side effects. Since the settlement fund required that there must be Agent Orange side effects shown and "total disability"
demonstrated to receive money for each year between 1971 and 1994, many people that suffered Agent Orange side effects after 1994 were not included. In addition, there was a lack of awareness amongst Vietnam veterans that a class action Agent Orange side effects settlement had been formed (Agent Orange Lawsuits).
Thankfully, a tied Supreme Court vote on June 9th of 2003, allowed the Vietnam veterans that have developed Agent Orange illnesses after 1994 to sue the compound's manufacturers despite the 1985 settlement. Even though the Vietnam War was decades ago, some Vietnam veterans are now just beginning to suffer the serious effects of Agent Orange exposure. The 1985 Agent Orange settlement excluded many Vietnam veterans that have suffered, are suffering, and will continue to suffer because of Agent Orange exposure (Agent Orange Lawsuits).
On the flip side, millions of Vietnamese people were exposed to Agent Orange during the war as well, but most Americans' are unaware of it. It is estimated that today approximately a million or more people have disabilities and/or other health problems linked to Agent Orange, according to a number of pilot studies made in Vietnam. These studies estimate that approximately 100,000 of these adversely affected people are disabled children (Fawthrop).
Additionally, based on the high percentage of people in need of assistance and the extremely difficult situation many of them have to face, the Vietnam Red Cross (VNRC) has set up a special fund and taken the lead to mobilize support in order to provide humanitarian assistance. The people affected by Agent Orange are not only suffering from severe disabilities and a multitude of other health problems, but also from the associated effects of not being able to integrate into normal life. Many children cannot go to school and their parents are often unable to work (Fawthrop).