Anthrax vaccine critic succeeds in suit

Anthrax vaccine critic succeeds in suit
By Randall Chase - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Dec 3, 2007 12:42:47 EST

DOVER, Del. — Attorneys for the Defense Department and a former Air Force sergeant have agreed to dismiss a free speech lawsuit alleging that the airman was unfairly reprimanded for criticizing the military’s anthrax vaccine.

In a settlement reached Thursday, the Pentagon said a letter of reprimand given to Staff Sgt. Jason Adkins after he challenged the mandatory vaccination program in 2004 was “deemed to be of no effect,” said Adkins’ attorney, Thomas Neuberger.

Neuberger said Adkins, who now works in the landscaping business, was elated with the outcome.

“The case was all about removing the adverse letter of reprimand from his file,” Neuberger said Friday. “We got exactly what we asked for.”

Air Force spokesman Capt. Thomas Wenz said officials would not comment because the resolution of the case is not final, even though a stipulation of dismissal was filed in federal court Thursday.

In a lawsuit filed in November 2004, Adkins alleged that he was improperly disciplined by his superiors at Dover Air Force Base after seeking treatment for headaches and other medical problems he believed were related to the anthrax vaccine.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/12/ap_anthrax_adkins_071203/