Ryan we haven’t forgotten you

Posted on: January 2nd, 2012 at 7:07 am — by Ms Sparky
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was electrocuted in his shower in Baghdad and died January 2, 2008

The war in Iraq is all but over and our troops have pulled out.  It’s been four years today since 24 year old  SSG Ryan Maseth was electrocuted and died while showering in his living quarters at Radwaniyah Palace Complex in Baghdad. Ryan’s courageous mother, continues to fight, not only for the rights of her son, but for the safety of soldiers everywhere.

Cheryl filed suit against for the death of her son. Although this suit drags on in the US courts at an agonizingly slow pace.  has pulled out all the stops in attempts to have this case dismissed in US courts, but much to ’s dismay, it hasn’t.

I will write every year I’m able to remind people of Ryan’s death, the product of corporate greed and corruption, and heroes like Cheryl Harris. We need more heroes like Cheryl!

You can read more on Cheryl’s case against KBR at Cheryl Harris vs KBR.

Below are links to past posts I’ve written and published on the anniversary of Ryan’s death.

SSG Ryan Maseth – You must be very proud! (2009)
Does anyone know what day this is? (2010)
3rd anniversary of the electrocution death of SSG Ryan Maseth (2011)

Cheryl, I pray the next post I publish about Ryan is how you succeeded in holding KBR accountable for his senseless death!

Ms Sparky

Posted in A Soldiers Story, Cheryl Harris vs KBR, Electrocutions/Shocks, GOV. CONTRACTORS, KBR's CAR's, LAWSUITS, Lawsuits Against KBR, LOGCAP III - KBR, Ryan Maseth-US Army. Tags: , , , , , , . 1 Comment »

“KBR protests too much” says Judge Fischer

Posted on: September 24th, 2011 at 8:39 am — by Ms Sparky
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Company’s motion denied in electrocution death lawsuit
Saturday, September 24, 2011
By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

For the second time, U.S. District has denied a motion by Houston-based defense contractor Kellogg Brown & Root Services Inc. to have the civil case stemming from a sergeant’s death decided under Iraqi law.

“From the Court’s view, ‘protests too much,’ ” Judge Fischer wrote in an order denying the firm’s motion for reconsideration of her June order that laws of the U.S. apply in the death of Staff Sgt. Ryan Douglas Maseth, 24. “Iraq’s negligible interests in this case are far outweighed by those of the United States and the controlling law of the United States will be applied.”

Mr. Maseth’s parents, who live in the North Hills, sued KBR over his death by electrocution on Jan. 2, 2008, while showering on the U.S. base at Radwaniyah Palace complex in Baghdad. They blame a short circuit in an electrical water pump, and say KBR was responsible for fixing electrical problems at the complex.

Neither KBR’s attorneys, nor those representing the parents, could be reached for comment. Had KBR prevailed, Judge Fischer would have tried the case locally, but under Iraqi law that does not allow for punitive damages. (click HERE for original article)

Posted in Cheryl Harris vs KBR, Electrocutions/Shocks, GOV. CONTRACTORS, LAWSUITS, Lawsuits Against KBR, LOGCAP III - KBR, Ryan Maseth-US Army. Tags: , , , , . 3 Comments »

KBR’s legal maneuvers denied in SSG Ryan Maseth case

Posted on: June 22nd, 2011 at 5:25 am — by Ms Sparky
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Iraqi Law Won’t Apply in Suit Over Dead Soldier

and

By REUBEN KRAMER – PITTSBURGH (CN) – June 21, 2011 – The parents of a Green Beret who was electrocuted while showering at base camp during his second tour of duty in Iraq can use U.S. law to pursue wrongful-death claims against Texas-based military contractor Kellogg, Brown & Root, a federal judge ruled.

Cheryl Harris and Douglas Maseth sued KBR (PDF) in March 2008, claiming 11 on-base of American military personnel in Iraq gave the contractor notice about sweeping electrical problems. But despite this notice, the couple says “did nothing to fix” the “faulty electric infrastructure,” which included the improperly grounded water-pump system that sent a stream of electrified water through the shower nozzle, killing their son, Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth.

KBR moved on Feb. 4 to apply the Iraqi Civil Code to the case, submitting an expert report that argued Iraqi law does not allow an estate to obtain damages for a decedent’s pain, suffering or emotional distress.

(Read the rest of the story here…)

Posted in A Soldiers Story, Cheryl Harris vs KBR, Electrocutions/Shocks, GOV. CONTRACTORS, Lawsuits Against KBR, LOGCAP III - KBR, Ryan Maseth-US Army. Tags: , , , , . No Comments »

Judge rules against KBR in Ryan Maseth case (with opinion)

Posted on: June 17th, 2011 at 11:45 am — by Ms Sparky
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For a copy of ’s opinion click HERE

Judge: Iraq law won’t apply to Maseth wrongful death suit

Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth

Brian Bowling – PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW – June 17, 2011 – A defense contractor wasn’t in Iraq at the request of the government or because of its business climate, so Iraq has no interest in applying its civil tort laws to a wrongful death lawsuit brought against the company by the parents of a dead soldier, a federal judge ruled today.

The parents of Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth, 24, a native of Shaler, are suing Inc. for the Jan. 2, 2008, death of their son while he showered on a military base in Iraq maintained by the company. and Douglas Maseth claim shoddy electrical work by the contractor caused their son’s electrocution.

KBR had the maintenance contract for the base but claims it was not responsible for repairs and did not work on the pump.

The Houston-based defense contractor asked U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer to apply Iraqi law to the lawsuit because Iraq`s laws would make it hard for Maseth`s parents to prove KBR was responsible for his death, limit the compensatory damages they could receive and prevent them from getting punitive damages.

(Read the rest of the story here…)

Posted in A Soldiers Story, Cheryl Harris vs KBR, Electrocutions/Shocks, Lawsuits Against KBR, LOGCAP III - KBR, Ryan Maseth-US Army. Tags: , , , , . 1 Comment »

Fact or Crap: KBR Fact Sheets Revived

Posted on: June 8th, 2011 at 5:47 am — by Ms Sparky
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As many of you are aware, has a page on their website called KBR Fact Sheets. Until a couple of months ago, the Fact Sheet page listed several of KBR’s high profile cases with links to pages attempting to discredit the victims and tell KBR’s side of the story.

Then all of a sudden no cases and no links to KBR’s pathetic attempts to justify their position in these heinous crimes. I received several emails asking if I had copies of the pages and low and behold……I did, thanks to Google cache!

In light of the upcoming trial which starts on June 13, 2011, it appears KBR has revised and republished their attack against Jamie.

As a public service to all of KBR victims, their attorney’s, reporters, investigators, etc I am republishing KBR’s Fact Sheets as they originally appeared on KBR’s website.

Here’s the link to the original KBR Fact Sheet listing available links.

Below are the links to .pdf’s of the original KBR Fact Sheet pages.

Facts About the Anna Mayo Litigation(pdf)

Facts About the Swanita Taylor Litigation(pdf)

Facts About Burn Pit Litigation(pdf)

Discrepancies Regarding the Jones Allegations – original(pdf)

Discrepancies Regarding the Jones Allegations – revised(pdf)

Electrocution Deaths in Iraq(pdf)

Recent Inaccuracies in the Press(pdf)

DHB Review – Qarmat Ali Water Treatment Plant(pdf)

Posted in Anna Mayo vs KBR, Burn Pits, CHEMICAL AND OTHER EXPOSURES, Cheryl Harris vs KBR, Electrocutions/Shocks, GOV. CONTRACTORS, Jamie Jones vs KBR, LAWSUITS, LOGCAP III - KBR, Qarmat Ali Lawsuits, Rape, Hazing, Discrimination & Harassment, RIO-KBR, Ryan Maseth-US Army, Sodium Dichromate @ Qarmat Ali, Swanita Taylor vs KBR. Tags: , , , , , , , , , . 3 Comments »

KBR wants the Ryan Maseth wrongful death lawsuit to be heard in Iraqi court? I’ll bet they do!

Posted on: April 5th, 2011 at 3:08 pm — by Ms Sparky
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was electrocuted in his shower in Baghdad

This is ’s desperate attempt to keep this case out of a US court room. They are pulling out all the stops. It’s because of Ryan’s mother, ’ unwavering commitment to see her sons death does not go unpunished and that no other soldier or civilian dies in this manner. Because of Cheryl’s tenacious pursuit of contractor accountability, the Army has completely revamped their electrical program. Electricians are supposed to be licensed, installations are supposed to be in accordance to the National Electrical Code (NEC) or the British Standards (BS) and the work of contractors is supposed to be inspected. There are still inherent flaws in the Army’s program most of which involves oversight, but thanks to Cheryl the living and working conditions for our soldiers and civilians are safer. Too bad her son had to die such a horrible death for the Army to make these changes! There is no doubt KBR totally disregarded and her “nuisance” law suit in the beginning. I don’t think they are disregarding her now! ~ Ms Sparky

Contractor claims Iraqi law should apply in suit over Shaler soldier’s death

Brian Bowling – PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW – April 5, 2011 – U.S. soldiers living on military bases in Iraq had no expectation that they were protected by Pennsylvania law instead of Iraqi law, a lawyer for a Houston-based defense contractor argued today in Pittsburgh federal court.

KBR Inc. wants U.S. District to use Iraqi law in the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the parents of Sgt. Ryan Maseth, 24, of Shaler against the company. Maseth was electrocuted Jan. 2, 2008, while showering at a military base in Baghdad.

Cheryl Harris and Douglas Maseth claim shoddy electrical work by the contractor caused their son’s death. KBR has denied responsibility and argues that Iraq has more interest in having its law applied to this case than Texas, Pennsylvania or Tennessee.

Harris said after today’s hearing that KBR’s arguments just feed the frustration she feels from having the case stuck in pretrial maneuvers for the past three years. Members of the military deserve to have U.S. standards applied to the bases they serve on, she said.

“It’s quite sad that KBR would think otherwise,” Harris said. “That they would be paid billions of dollars and not be expected to protect U.S. soldiers.”

Dan Russell, a lawyer for KBR, declined comment after the hearing.

(Read the rest of the story here…)

Posted in A Soldiers Story, Cheryl Harris vs KBR, Electrocutions/Shocks, Lawsuits Against KBR, LOGCAP III - KBR, Ryan Maseth-US Army. Tags: , , , , . 3 Comments »

KBR wants to shirk US law for electrocution on US base

Posted on: February 4th, 2011 at 2:20 pm — by Forseti
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“What they don’t mention, though, is that a United States soldier was killed while doing his duty on a U.S. base in Iraq which was maintained by , a U.S. company, which was getting paid by the United States government under a contract entered into with the United States Department of Defense in the United States,” — Bill Stickman

Defense contractor wants wrongful death case to be tried under Iraqi law rules

Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth

Brian Bowling – PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW – February 4, 2011 – A Houston-based defense contractor says in federal court documents filed today in Pittsburgh that it prefers Iraqi law to Texas or Pennsylvania law when it comes to being sued for the death of a Shaler soldier.

and Douglas Maseth are suing KBR Inc. for the death of their son, Sgt. Ryan Maseth. Maseth, 24, died Jan. 2, 2008, while showering at a military base in Baghdad. The Green Beret was electrocuted by a water pump that shorted out.

His parents claim shoddy electrical work by KBR caused Maseth’s death. KBR maintains it wasn’t responsible for repairs and did not work on the water pump.

KBR Inc. today asked U.S. District to use Iraqi law in handling the case.

“Iraq is the location where the Plaintiffs’ injury occurred, it is the location where all events relating to the incident occurred, and it is the location where the alleged conduct at issue occurred,” the company’s motion says. “There is no other jurisdiction that has a greater interest in having its law apply to this litigation.”

Under Iraqi law, if KBR can convince the court that someone else was more responsible for Maseth’s death, the company would be exempt from damages. In cases in which more than one party is responsible for a death or injury, Pennsylvania law holds every party fully liable for damages, the brief says. Texas law allows a jury to determine how liable each party is for damages, the brief says.

(Read the rest of the story here…)

Posted in A Soldiers Story, Cheryl Harris vs KBR, Electrocutions/Shocks, Lawsuits Against KBR, LOGCAP III - KBR, Reports & Investigations, Ryan Maseth-US Army. Tags: , , , , , . 5 Comments »
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