Military bases we serve
Alan Ripka & Associates represents active-duty service members and their families in military medical malpractice claims under the Stayskal Act, at treatment facilities across the country. Select a base below to see how we help — and the specific case types we handle at each installation.
- Fort Liberty (Fort Bragg) — Womack Army Medical Center, North Carolina
- Fort Cavazos (Fort Hood) — Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Texas
- Fort Moore (Fort Benning) — Martin Army Community Hospital, Georgia
- Fort Campbell — Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Kentucky
- Joint Base Lewis-McChord — Madigan Army Medical Center, Washington
- Fort Sam Houston (JBSA) — Brooke Army Medical Center, Texas
- Fort Belvoir — Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, Virginia
- Camp Lejeune — Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
- Naval Base San Diego — Naval Medical Center San Diego, California
- Walter Reed (Bethesda) — Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Maryland
The Stayskal Act: your right to hold military medicine accountable
For nearly seventy years, the Feres Doctrine — a 1950 U.S. Supreme Court decision — barred active-duty service members from recovering anything when they were harmed by negligent medical care in the military, no matter how serious the injury. A soldier could be given the wrong medication, misdiagnosed, or injured in surgery, and still have no path to compensation.
That changed with the SFC Richard Stayskal Military Medical Accountability Act, signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020. Named for a Green Beret whose lung cancer went undiagnosed at a military hospital, the Act created an administrative claims process that finally allows active-duty service members to seek compensation for medical malpractice at military treatment facilities.
Under the Act, eligible claims are filed administratively with the service branch — not in state or federal court — and are reviewed under Department of Defense regulations. Because the process is unique to the military, it is important to work with attorneys who understand both military medicine and how these claims are evaluated.
Who can bring a claim
- Active-duty service members harmed by negligent care at a military treatment facility may file a claim under the Stayskal Act.
- Military dependents and retirees generally are not barred by the Feres Doctrine and may have a separate route to compensation under the Federal Tort Claims Act. We can help identify which path applies.
- Surviving family members may be able to pursue a claim when negligent military medical care contributes to a service member’s death.
Deadlines are strict. Stayskal Act claims generally must be filed within two years of the date the claim accrues. Gathering military medical records and expert opinions takes time — the sooner you speak with a lawyer, the more we can do.
How a military medical malpractice claim works
- Free, confidential case review. We listen to what happened and explain your options — with no obligation.
- Records and investigation. We obtain your military medical records and consult qualified medical experts to determine whether the care fell below the accepted standard.
- Filing the claim. We prepare and file the administrative claim with your service branch, documented and supported, before the deadline.
- Review and negotiation. The branch evaluates the claim under Department of Defense regulations. We advocate for the full value of your losses.
- Resolution. If compensation is offered, we advise you every step of the way. Larger claims may involve additional Department of Defense and Treasury review.
Why service members choose Alan Ripka & Associates
Our firm brings decades of trial and medical-malpractice experience to military families. We understand military medicine, the Stayskal Act process, and what it takes to build a claim supported by qualified medical experts. We treat every client with the respect their service has earned — and we handle these cases on a contingency basis, so you owe no attorney’s fee unless we obtain compensation for you.
We fight for those who fight for us
Alan Ripka & Associates is dedicated to representing service members and their families in military medical malpractice claims. Your case review is free and confidential, and there is no fee unless we recover for you. Call 1-84-GETRipka (844-387-4752) or request a consultation today.
Attorney Advertising. This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome; every case is different. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.
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