Las Vegas, NV ā A lawsuit set to be heard on June 23, 2014 before the 8th District Court, Clark County could be a deciding factor on whether veteransā disability can be used to satisfy a civil judgment. The civil lawsuit was filed by a high profile family attorney against several veterans groups on May 14, 2012 has alleged that these so-call militant military groups intentionally cause harm to him and his law firm through defamation, RICO, disparagement of business and other claims.
While Mr. Willick has denied being a public figure in his civil complaint, his actions tell a different story. Mr. Willick has litigated trial and appellate cases in Nevada and claims that he has participated in hundreds of divorces and pension cases in the trial and appellate courts of other states, and in the drafting of various state and federal statutes in the areas of pensions, divorce, and property division. He has been called on to represent the entire ABA in Congressional hearings on military pension matters and written books on pensions. His views on a long standing national debate over controversy in military retirement has thrust him into the public limelight and at the forefront of family law practitioners who strives to influence what could be a bias resolution of these military retirement issues.
Mr. Gene D. Simes and Mr. Jere Beery find themselves in a precarious situation, as Mr. Willick has made it clear though his own words that he is going after them with the intent of publicly embarrassing them before a jury trial and hopes to get a ālarge judgment against them, their associates, and their heirsā. Then he can see how much of this ājudgment will be enforceable, one way or the otherā, if it gets to that phase, and the best that these two disabled veterans can hope is to find legal cover adequate to evade the judgment ā while earning the reputation of a judgment-evading deadbeat.
These two highly decorated combat disabled Vietnam veterans are advocates who seek to preserve veteransā disability benefits awarded to injured soldiers. Both feel that this lawsuit is about trying to silence them for being out spoken on this politically charged debate. For one year and a half they have stood firm on their contention that Mr. Willick used hate speech to maliciously incite an emotional reactions from veterans groups that sparked a series of publications written by Mr. Beery (a freelance writer) through Veterans Today, an online media source.
The outcome of this trial depends on whether they can find an attorney to represent them. According to Mr. Simes and Mr. Beery when they contacted the Nevada Legal Aide, it declined to represent them because attorney Willick sits on their board of directors, thus presenting a conflict of interest. This case could have a rippling effect on whether state courts will be able to court-order garnishment of veteransā disability compensation to settle any type of civil cases, contrary to federal laws. If Mr. Willick prevails, it could set a dangerous precedence that might jeopardize congressional protection of veteransā disability compensation, which dates back to early American revolutionary history.
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For more information . . .
Contact person: Simon Alvarado, Ret. US Army
Email: [email protected]
Although Jere Beery only served 4 years in the U.S. Navy, he has an impressive military history. Twenty seven months of that service was in the combat waters of Vietnam. His first duty station in 1965 was aboard the USS WESTCHESTER COUNTY, (LST-1167) as a Seaman. The WESTCHESTER COUNTY was involved in many operations within the combat waters of South Vietnam and received many awards and accolades for her service. The WESTCHESTER COUNTY was the recipient of 15 Battle Stars for her 19 years of service. LST-1167 was one of only 3 ships of her type to earn 15 Battle Stars (out of over 1200 LSTs built since before WWII).
Beery’s second duty station in 1967 was with the legendary PBRs of the Brown Water Navy. As a volunteer, Beery saw combat on a fairly routine basis with this elite group and their high speed patrol craft. On March 1, 1968, Beery’s patrol was ambushed by a sizeable force of NVA and Viet Cong. The boat Beery was aboard took two direct RPG hits to her starboard side badly wounding four members of the boat’s crew. Seaman Beery was the most severely wounded and not expected to live. The first RPG had exploded right where Beery was standing as he manned his 50 caliber machine gun. To this day, Beery contributes his survival to the live-saving actions of his patrol officer, LT. RICHARD GODBEHERE and his other crew members. Beery spent the next year and a half hospitalized and recovering from his wounds. THE GODBEHERE PATROL
On November 1, 1968, while Jere Beery was recuperating at NAS Hospital, Jacksonville, Florida, USS WESTCHESTER COUNTY was attacked on the My Tho river. At 03:22 in the morning two very large mines were detonated on the ship’s starboard side. 25 men were killed, 17 were ship’s crew. Several of the men killed that morning were friends and former shipmates of Beery’s. This incident has gone down in history as the greatest loss of life by the U.S. Navy in a single attack during the entire Vietnam War. USS WESTCHESTER COUNTY
In mid-1969, Jere Beery was medically retired from the Navy. His service record reflects 1 Bronze Star, 3 Purple Hearts, and 5 military campaigns in Vietnam. Beery was also rated totally and permanently disabled by the Veterans Administration.
Over the years since Vietnam, Jere Beery has attempted to do some things many thought impossible for someone with physical injuries such as his. During the early 80s, Jere Beery, as a member of the Screen Actors Guild pursued a brief career in the motion picture business as an actor. Beery landed a few small parts in a number of movies and television programs. On several occasions, to the amazement of many, Beery even executed his own stunts.
In the 1986, Jere Beery gave up his career in the movies to crusade for his fellow veterans. Since that time, veteran’s rights advocate Jere Beery has been a noted driving force in the Veteran’s Rights Movement and effort to improve services for our veterans. Beery’s efforts have been extremely well documents and many articles have been written about his quest. A few of these articles can be found on this page. You can also type the words “Jere Beery” into any search engine to find out more about Beery’s efforts. www.google.com
Jere Beery’s multifaceted story is truly an amazing one. From his survival in Vietnam, to risking additional injury executing stunts in the motion pictures, to fighting to protect the benefits earned by our troops, Jere Beery has forged his own trail and continues to amaze and baffle many.
– Place and Date of Birth: Orlando, Fl – 03/13/48
– Raised: St. Augustine, Fl
– Place & Date Enlistment: Jacksonville, Fl – 05/20/65
– Branch of service: U.S. Navy
– Highest Rate/Rank: E4/PO3/Signalman Third Class
– Duty Stations: USS WESTCHESTER COUNTY, LST-1167 and TF116, River Patrol Force, River Section – 511, (PBRs), Binh Thuy, RSVN
– Date of Discharge: 5/14/69
– Type of Discharge: Honorable, Medically Retired
– VA Rating: 100% Totally and Permanently Disabled
Military Awards and Medals:
– 1 Bronze Star – w/combat āVā Citation
– 3 Purple Hearts – (1/5/68, 2/14/68, 3/1/68)
– Vietnam Service Medal – w/1 Silver Star – (5 military campaigns in-country, RSVN)
– Republic Of Vietnam Campaign Medal – w/1960 device
– Combat Action Ribbon
– Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon
– Presidential Unit Commendation Ribbon
– National Defense Medal
– Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation – Gallantry Cross Medal Color, w/Palm
– Republic Of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation – Civil Actions Medal, First Class Color, w/Palm
Military Training:
– River Patrol Craft Training, (PBR), Mare Island, CA
– Special Weapons Training, Mare Island, CA
– J.E.S.T. (Jungle Environmental Survivor Training) ā Cubi Point, Philippines
– S.E.R.E. (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape Training) ā Whidbey Island, Washington State
– Vietnamese Language ā Mare Island, CA.
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