Lambda Legal Announces Government to Pay $1.325M to Settle Legal Fees in Cases on Behalf of HIV-Positive Service Members

The settlement comes in two cases, Harrison v. Austin filed on behalf of Sergeant Nick Harrison of the D.C. Army National Guard, who was denied a commission and Roe v. Austin filed on behalf of two airmen using the pseudonyms Richard Roe and Victor Voe, whom the Air Force attempted to discharge. Modern Military Association of America (MMAA) is also an organizational plaintiff in Harrison and Roe to advance the interests of its members living with HIV and serving in the military. The two cases were combined for purposes of discovery and argument.  

“We are pleased that service members living with HIV, once affected by an outdated, discriminatory policy, no longer face discharge, bans on commissioning, or bans on deployment simply because they are living with HIV,” said Kara Ingelhart, Senior Attorney at Lambda Legal.   “However, long and expensive litigation like the Harrison and Roe cases shouldn’t be necessary to prove that a positive HIV status alone has no impact on a service member’s ability to serve.” 

The settlement follows the Biden administration’s announcement in June 2022 that it will no longer defend discriminatory restrictions that prevented service members living with HIV from deploying and commissioning as officers in the U.S. military.  In July, the Defendants voluntarily dismissed their appeal of the decision of the district court declaring these restrictions unconstitutional. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III also issued a memorandum outlining changes to the relevant regulations and confirming that “[i]ndividuals who have been identified as HIV-positive, are asymptomatic, and who have clinically confirmed undetectable viral loads will have no restrictions applied to their deployability or to their ability to commission while a Service member solely based on their HIV-positive status.”  

“We are honored to have been a part of this historic ruling alongside the legal teams and service members involved,” said Jennifer Dane, CEO of the Modern Military Association of America. “We hope the settlement sends a message that discrimination is both wrong and expensive. There is still much to do in addressing and eradicating discrimination against those living with HIV who are serving or wish to serve in the Department of Defense, and we remain committed to that fight.” 

“We’re thrilled to have helped Lambda and MMAA secure this historic fee award,” said Lauren Gailey, Attorney at Winston & Strawn. “It’s been an honor to stand shoulder to shoulder with these organizations to vindicate the right of service members living with HIV to continue to serve our country.”  

Joining Lambda Legal attorneys Kara Ingelhart and Greg Nevins on these cases are Scott Schoettes, Esq., Peter Perkowski, Esq., Julie Bauer, John W. H. Harding, Lauren Gailey, and Jason Pesick with Winston & Strawn, and Andrew Sommer of Greenberg Traurig. 

Read more about Harrison v. Austin here: https://www.lambdalegal.org/in-court/cases/harrison-v-austin 

Read more about Roe & Voe v. Austin here: https://www.lambdalegal.org/in-court/cases/roe-and-voe-v-austin