Privacy Policy

USS Cole Veterans Outreach ("we," "us," "our," or "the Site") is committed to protecting the privacy of individuals who submit information through this website. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, who may access it, and what rights you have regarding your information.

This is an informational and intake website organized by a veteran, also referred to as the lead plaintiff/organizer, to build a roster of potential claimants for state-sponsored terrorism-related claims.

This website is not operated by, sponsored by, or affiliated with the United States government, the U.S. Navy, the Department of Defense, the USVSST Fund, or any government agency.

We collect the following categories of information when you submit the intake form:

Personal Identification Information:

• Full name

• Email address

• Phone number

• Date of birth, if provided

Military Service Information:

• Branch of service

• Ship or unit assignment

• Duty dates and deployment dates

• Rate or rank

• Service number or other military identifier

Incident Information:

• Which state-sponsored terrorism incident you are claiming under, such as USS Cole, Khobar Towers, U.S. Embassy bombings, USS Stark, Pan Am Flight 103, Beirut Barracks, or other qualifying incidents

• Your role in the incident, such as survivor, family member of deceased or injured service member, responder, support-vessel personnel, or other

• Relationship to the incident, such as direct victim, family member, witness, responder, or other relationship

Claim Information:

• Whether you have an existing judgment against a state sponsor of terrorism

• Whether you have filed a USVSST claim

• Your preferred contact method

Uploaded Documents, Sensitive Information:

• DD214, Certificate of Discharge

• VA disability rating letter

• Medical records

• Witness statements

• Court judgment documents

• Proof of service or deployment

• Other claim-supporting documentation

Please be aware that the documents and information you upload may contain sensitive personal, military, medical, or legal information, including:

• Protected health information, also known as PHI, under HIPAA

• Military service records

• Medical diagnoses and treatment information

• Disability ratings

• Personal identifying information

• Family information

• Financial information, if included in documents

You should only upload documents that you own or are legally authorized to share.

Do not upload documents belonging to others without their explicit written consent.

We use the information you provide for the following purposes:

• To build and maintain a roster of potential claimants for group litigation

• To organize claimants by incident type, ship assignment, military branch, and other relevant factors

• To contact you regarding your submission and next steps

• To share information with potential legal counsel for case evaluation and representation

• To preserve your claim and document your connection to the incident

• To facilitate coordination among group members when necessary

• To comply with legal obligations and court orders

• To respond to government requests if legally required

We do not use your information for marketing, advertising, or any purpose unrelated to the intake and litigation process.

Your information may be shared with the following parties:

Lead Plaintiff/Organizer: The veteran organizing this intake roster has access to all submitted information and documents for roster management and coordination.

Authorized Intake Reviewers: We may share your information with individuals authorized to review and organize intake submissions, including administrative staff and coordinators.

Potential Legal Counsel: If legal counsel joins the group to represent claimants, we will share your information and documents with that counsel for case evaluation and representation. This sharing is necessary for counsel to determine whether to represent you and to pursue your claim.

Limited Group Members: In some cases, we may share limited information with other group members, such as name, ship assignment, and incident type, for coordination purposes. We will not share your phone number or email address with other group members without your consent.

Government Agencies: If we receive a valid subpoena, court order, or other legal demand, we will share your information as required by law. We will notify you of such requests if permitted by law.

We do not sell, rent, or share your information with third parties for marketing, advertising, or any purpose unrelated to the intake and litigation process.

We may use third-party service providers to assist with form submissions, document uploads, data storage, hosting, and communication.

These service providers may include:

• Secure form platforms, such as Jotform HIPAA or similar

• Cloud storage providers

• Email communication services

• Website hosting providers

These third-party service providers are contractually obligated to maintain the confidentiality and security of your information and to use it only for the purposes we specify.

However, these service providers have their own privacy policies and terms of service. You should review the privacy policies of any third-party service providers we use.

Your information is stored on secure, encrypted servers with access restricted to authorized personnel.

We use industry-standard encryption and security measures to protect your data. However, no digital system is 100% secure, even when reasonable security measures are used.

By submitting your information, you acknowledge this inherent risk.

Your uploaded documents are stored securely and are not shared publicly or accessed by unauthorized persons.

We retain your information for as long as necessary to:

• Pursue your claim through litigation and settlement

• Comply with legal obligations and court orders

• Preserve records for potential appeals or future claims

• Meet legal recordkeeping requirements

You cannot request deletion of information while your claim is active, as this information is necessary for litigation and preservation purposes.

After litigation concludes, we will retain records as required by law and for potential future claims or appeals.

You have the right to:

• Request access to the information we have about you

• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information

• Request deletion of your information, with the limitations noted above

• File a complaint with relevant privacy authorities

To exercise these rights, contact the lead plaintiff/organizer using the contact information provided at the end of this policy.

If we receive a valid subpoena, court order, warrant, or other legal demand for your information, we will comply as required by law.

We will notify you of such requests if permitted by law and if doing so would not interfere with a legal investigation.

This website is not intended for individuals under 18 years old.

We do not knowingly collect information from minors. If we become aware that we have collected information from a minor, we will delete such information promptly.

If you are located outside the United States, your information will be transferred to and stored in the United States.

By submitting your information, you consent to this transfer and to the application of U.S. law to your information.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.

We will post the updated policy on this website with a new "Last Updated" date.

Continued use of the website after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights regarding your information, please contact:

Lead Plaintiff/Organizer: [Name and contact information to be provided]