Military Veteran Advocacy

Protecting the Rights of Our Brave Men & Women

AWKO’s office is situated in the heart of Pensacola, Florida, home to the world-famous Blue Angels. We are also honored to have a number of military installations in our area, including Naval Air Station (NAS), Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Hurlburt Field, and Eglin Air Force Base. Born from this close proximity to a military-rich community is AWKO’s passion and commitment to our Military Veteran Advocacy.

For over two decades, AWKO has taken a leadership role in large-scale national Products Liability and Injury/Disability law matters. Along the way, we have focused on legal cases impacting Veterans and have expended the necessary time, resources, and expertise to ensure our Veterans receive the best representation possible. This commitment starts with the culture we have created within our firm. The backbone of our firm is made up of over 50 Veterans and active duty military spouses on staff who have a deep understanding of Veterans’ unique challenges.

Our firm’s commitment does not stop there. AWKO partners with our local Veterans Court, the AHERO Foundation, the Department of Defense’s Military Spouse Employment Partnership, the Pensacola Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 566, and The War Horse Project (focused on PTSD).

AWKO has a proven track record of success in representing Veterans. The firm has won millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our Veteran clients, including the largest single jury verdict secured in the Combat Arms Defective Earplug litigation of $77,500,000.00 for one of our Veteran clients (AWKO is also the Court Appointed Lead Counsel for the entire Country).

Here are some quick statistics on AWKO’s success:

AWKO has recovered over 2 Billion Dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients since its founding in 2001, including thousands of Veterans.
AWKO is currently directly representing over 35,000 Veterans in two large litigations:
- Against 3M for hearing damage sustained using the Combat Arms earplug.
- Against the Islamic Republic of Iran for bodily injury sustained by our Veterans during the War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Against 3M/DuPont and other manufacturers of Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) used in the military for cancers and thyroid disease.

The War on Terror Combat Litigation provides support to U.S. Military Veterans & U.S. Government Contractors and their families who actively engaged in combat operations during the Afghanistan conflict (2001-2017) or the Iraq conflict (2003-2011). Eligibility for legal representation, in this case, requires candidates to have either suffered injuries or lost their lives due to enemy actions in Afghanistan or Iraq. Enemy engagement methods, including but not limited to encounters with IEDs, Rocket/Mortar fire, Sniper Fire, or Complex Close Ambush. Learn More

3M Defective Earplugs

Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis, & Overholtz has an expert legal team examining allegations concerning the 3M Combat Arms earplugs and the resulting cases of tinnitus and hearing loss reported by military members. Individuals in the military who have been diagnosed with these issues after using the faulty earplugs can pursue legal action against the manufacturer. These lawsuits would assert that 3M knowingly provided defective earplugs to servicemembers, thereby exposing them to the risk of hearing damage, hearing loss, and tinnitus. Learn More

PFAS Exposure

Firefighters, both military and civilian, along with support personnel, who have encountered Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) during the suppression of flammable liquid fires, face potential risks to their health. This foam, used in firefighting operations, contains a notable concentration of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which have been linked to various cancers and thyroid disorders. Tragically, the producers of AFFF failed to warn firefighters and support personnel about these life-threatening dangers adequately. Learn More

VA Disability

Securing equitable disability payments can pose significant challenges. Veterans often encounter wrongful denials of their claims or are granted compensation that falls short of what they genuinely deserve. Additionally, certain disabilities may only manifest years after their discharge from service. When Veterans file for disability compensation, they are assigned a rating that reflects the severity of their one or more disabilities. To ensure that you receive the compensation you rightfully deserve, having a skilled advocate by your side in the battle for disability benefits is paramount. Learn More

Camp Lejeune

Camp Lejeune is a U.S. Marine Corps military base. Unfortunately, the water supply at the camp was contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other harmful chemicals. The residents unknowingly consumed, bathed and used this contaminated water for cooking. Consequently, numerous individuals have endured severe chronic health conditions, and some tragically lost their lives. You may qualify for compensation if you or a loved one spent over 30 days at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987. This compensation can cover the injuries suffered and the medical expenses incurred in the past, present, and future due to the Camp Lejeune water contamination. Learn More