MILITARY IMMUNITY LAW LEAVES GOLD STAR FAMILY WITHOUT LEGAL RECOURSE
- David N. Damick
- 2 minutes ago
- 1 min read
The parents of 1st Lt. Zachary Galli are calling for legislative reform after an Army investigation revealed that military negligence contributed to their son’s death during a training exercise. According to records obtained by 13News Now, Galli died after falling down an elevator shaft that lacked a required locking mechanism, a defect that went unaddressed despite previous inspections. While the Army’s report acknowledged that a failure to follow internal safety protocols created the conditions for the fatal accident, the Galli family learned that a decades-old legal precedent prevents them from seeking damages or holding specific officials accountable in court. The obstacle to the family’s legal recourse is the Feres Doctrine, a 1950 Supreme Court interpretation of the Federal Tort Claims Act. The doctrine grants the U.S. government sovereign immunity against most lawsuits brought by active-duty service members for injuries or deaths occurring during their service. Legal experts note that while Congress has carved out narrow exceptions for cases involving Camp Lejeune water contamination or specific medical malpractice, the doctrine continues to shield the military from liability in cases of training-related negligence. The Gallis argue the law provides the military with "carte blanche" immunity that discourages the enforcement of safety standards. With accidents remaining a leading cause of death for active-duty personnel, the Galli family is now lobbying lawmakers to amend the Feres Doctrine to ensure greater accountability.
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