8. November 2008 by Bob.

Good evening one and all,

I just wanted to say hello to everybody, and let you know that I enjoy the videos and the commentaries that are posted on here.  I do not get to write a lot, because as I have mentioned I have opened my own small business.   For me it is exciting, and scary at the same time.  I have now hired a legal assistant, a paralegal, and have a Secretary that helps me.  Now before you get too excited the legal assistant and the paralegal are part time and I cannot pay the wages they deserve.

So far we are undefeated in legal issues.  the firm has started operating six days a week, which sometimes means that I work seven days a week.  Hopefully that’ll be for a short while, but it is such an exciting and interesting world that I do not mind the long weeks.  I have a current case at the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, which is taking up a lot of our time.  the case involves a Korean War veteran.  I really hope to get his VA benefits for him.  On the other hand we have some local trials which is very interesting.  I mainly due consumer law with a specialization of landlord-tenant and home repair issues.  The consumer law cases or paying the bills, until hopefully we start earning money through the veterans claims.

We currently have about 30 veteran claims that are being worked.  So far we are doing pretty well.

One thing that I wanted to state to all of the all is that by reading your posts, they remind me what a very talented and diverse group that you are.  It is quite interesting to see a telescope being built, read about the home improvement projects, and just remember what wonderful people you are.

I would like to wish each and every one of you a very Happy Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas.  I hope each one of you has a wonderful week and if your down in Texas and especially in Houston please give a call.  Bob

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12. September 2008 by Bob.

Here is an article off the Houston Chronicle (one of the few non-Ike [hurricane] articles:

WASHINGTON — A Pentagon advisory group condemned the Air Force for a dramatic deterioration in managing the nation’s nuclear arsenal, and recommended today that it consolidate nuclear responsibilities under one command.

The decline has eroded international confidence in the United States’ ability to provide a nuclear umbrella of protection, the task force said in rolling out more than 30 recommended changes in the structure, funding, inspections and staffing of the Air Force’s nuclear responsibilities.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Pentagon reporters today that the advisory group made a strong argument for unifying its nuclear management.

“One of the concerns that I had,” based on previous revelations about shortcomings in the Air Force’s stewardship of its nuclear arsenal,” is the lack of unity of command and not having one person or organization accountable for the overall mission,” Gates said.

He added that while he isn’t sure what the right answer is, the Air Force is considering the idea.

The latest review is one of several studies and reports triggered by a series of Air Force blunders in its handling of nuclear-related materials — missteps that prompted Gates to sack the top civilian and military leaders of the service earlier this year.

After Gates spoke, James Schlesinger, a former defense secretary who chaired the advisory panel, told reporters that the Air Force’s division of command over nuclear matters had led to a deterioration in control, staffing and resources.

The panel’s report concluded that there has been “an unambiguous, dramatic and unacceptable decline in the Air Force’s commitment to perform the nuclear mission and, until very recently, little has been done to reverse it.”

Panel members, said Schlesinger, were surprised that the situation had declined more than they had anticipated.

Schlesinger said a central recommendation of his group was that the Air Force convert its existing Air Force Space Command — which now has responsibility for the service’s land-based nuclear missiles but not other nuclear weapons — into an organization called Air Force Strategic Command. The new entity would “be held accountable for the efficacy of the nuclear mission,” he said.

Under the existing Air Force structure, responsibility for the bombers and fighters that can deliver nuclear weapons is held by Air Combat Command, and Air Mobility Command has responsibility for the refueling aircraft used to operate with the nuclear bombers and fighters.

The new plan, said Schlesinger, would also shift control of the supply chain from the Defense Logistics Agency to the Air Force — addressing a key issue in one of the foul-ups that triggered the review and recommended overhaul.

In early June, Gates sacked then Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley and Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne, blaming them for failing to fully address several nuclear-related mishaps, including the mistaken shipment to Taiwan of four electrical fuses for ballistic missile warheads.

The report endorsed plans for the Air Force to take over control of its inventory. Air Force officials have already begun that shift.

Also, in August 2007, an Air Force B-52 bomber was mistakenly armed with six nuclear-tipped cruise missiles and flown from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., to Barksdale Air Force Base, La. At the time, the pilot and crew were unaware they had nuclear arms aboard.

Gates brought in new leaders who immediately vowed to restore confidence in the battered service.

So far they have made a number of adjustments, including an increase in high-level staff, a reorganization of its missile units, revised maintenance procedures and an ongoing review of the inspection process. Schlesinger also said the Air Force is budgeting about $1.5 billion in the fiscal year 2010 budget to address some of the problems.

Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz, the new chief of staff, has said he plans to use the reinstatement of about 14,000 jobs in the service to bolster its nuclear staffing and beef up intelligence and surveillance.

Asked today if his confidence has been restored, Gates said he believes the new Air Force leaders are putting a high priority on the nuclear mission and have begun taking corrective actions.

He said he is confident the short-term problems that led to the Taiwan shipment and the Minot flight have been addressed and won’t be repeated. But, he said he wants to be sure that longer-term issues, such as staffing and funding boosts, have been addressed.

“I won’t be completely assured until all of the corrective measures have been taken,” Gates said.

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11. September 2008 by Bob.

Good Evening everyone,

My report from Houston is the sky is clear.  Earlier the bands of clouds came and now are gone, so the storm is not too far behind.

Most of my hurricanes have been spent in AL, or typhoons on Guam.  I have joked about opening a white water rafting resort, Grand Opening Saturday.  I actually had a few friends today ask me if I was still going to open the Resort with the storm coming.  I then had to tell them the  opening is the storm as I live 100 yeards or so from a huge bayou.

I have to tell you something I did in Court.  Last week I had a hearing / trial to try to save a familes home.  It was foreclosed on, problem is the family was paying their mortgage.  I went for a TRO from a higher court this week and the other attorney helping me and I got a TRO (Temporary Restraining Order).  This is the 1st time in 3 weeks I have seen that family smile.

No other attorney would help these people, as they do not have very much money.  We have 2 -4 more hearings and trials to get their home back, but I am trying.

Legal work is All office work.  To spice up, this work, I am also getting some Vietnam Vets in to the office, who stated they can and will do bad things to VA people.  I unfortunately do not tell them they can barely move, and they (nor me) am 21 and in the jungle.  I told one Veteran I did not do criminal defense, and he had better knock it off or I would not be helping him.  He boasted once more and I had to tell him a story.  It got him to actually listen.  As he stated, I actually knew what it was like.

I assume by tomorrow night it will be bad here, so I better go, just wanted to tell everyone hello, and that I enjoy reading the article, I am just swamped trying to get my firm up and running and handle cases, so I apologize for being lax on the articles writing.  I actually have a free night thanks to Ike, and I will get my plants in tomorrow and hope the apartmant and van survive.

Wishing all of you a great week, and rest of September.

God Bless all of you on this day, Bob

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10. May 2008 by Bob.

Graduation & old age

          It seems like just a few weeks ago that Jim was out here to watch his daughter graduate from the University of Houston.  Since last December I have completed my second thesis entitled “Informed Consent for Complex Eye Surgeries” and have taken my last law school final.  That final was genetics and the law, and involved a very scientific course.  My sister who is a nurse practitioner came over and looked at “the basics” and stated that was a complete semester of biology.  That was only one section out of 23.

          On Thursday, May 8, 2008, I took my last final and picked up Moe Winston’s son at the Houston Airport.  Moses’s son is also named Moses and hopes to attend the University of Houston law school starting in 2009, to be a member of the graduating class in 2012.  It was really good to see the son, and Moe arrived last night around 11 p.m.  Today we were able to run around and look at two law schools in Houston. 

          On Monday, May 12, I will be in my office even with the VA being terribly slow in not providing any of the equipment that they had contracted for in my self-employment plan.  The degrees I earned are Masters of Law in Health Law and a Masters of Law in Intellectual Property and Information Law.  Even though a JD is considered a TERMINAL degree the Masters of Law is higher than a JD, and requires having earned the JD prior to attending law school to earn the LL.M. degree.  Many of my peers in the LL.M. program had been practicing law for up to 35 years.  Only 10% of attorneys ever earn a LL.M. degree.  In fact I was the only person who earned two degrees at the same time.

I have a couple of clients now, and even have a hearing for one client on Tuesday.  So life is going to be interesting.  I have a Court of Appeals case for a veteran with my part due approximately June 10 to the court.

I will have my website up by 1 July and hope to have a good marketing and PR campaign by then.

I hope everyone is well and has a great Mothers’ Day.  You are in my prayers.  Bob

713-572-4VET (4838) (Voice)

877-425-4VET (4838)  (Toll-free)

713-572-4843 (Fax)

E-mail: bob@GossLaw.com

Website: www.attorneyforveterans.com

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15. April 2008 by Bob.

Good evening one and all,

I wish to say hello, &  state that I enjoy reading your Blogs as you write them.  I apologize for not writing very often, but I have been extremely busy trying to open up an office, handle clients, and finish by two masters programs.

I do have a question for all of you, as one of the target groups that I am trying to help is veterans with issues with the VA.  This is a new area of law with very few practitioners handling this issue.  Specifically, I am looking to help veterans at the board of veteran appeals and court of appeals for veterans claims.  I currently have one client at the Court of Appeals for veterans claims, who is a Korean War veteran.

Now to my question, what magazines or newspapers or other means would you look to find an attorney to help you with a veteran issue?  I am having a website designed, but with everything under this vocational rehabilitation program I am waiting on the VA.

I finished my second thesis in March, and it is being graded at this time.  Graduation occurs on May 9 at 2 p.m. at the University of Houston.  The following week I am trying to be at my new office, and attend some continuing legal education dealing with intellectual property.  This is a last opportunity I get to attend at a student rate.  The differences $70 versus $655.

I hope each and every one of you has a very wonderful April, and I will look forward to reading your adventures.  Have a wonderful week, Bob

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11. January 2008 by Bob.

Dear BOB,
Happy 2008. I want to wish each one of you a very Happy and successful year. James’s spirit and demeanor are inspiring, and I will start this letter off with an interesting encounter I had this week.
On Thursday, 10 November, I met an old ACSC student of mine. He is now the USAF Chaplain at Arlington. As we discussed just how fast 11 years has flown by, he asked about James Dad. Col Charlie Stutts performs all the USAF burials at Arlington, and he asked me to see if James’ Dad was in the Army of USAF. He told me that the majority of veterans he sees are originally Army Air Corps folks. Charlie informed me that because of the purchase of new land that Arlington would be open for us. At least until 2050-60. For me that was nice, as I have stated that is where I would like to go.

On a happier note, I was truly blessed to see James, his wife and daughter, Sarah the UH graduate. James looked marvelous as he beamed ear-to-ear thinking about not having to write any more checks to the University of Houston.

As far as my life, since Dec 13th, I have only been off 4 days as my Intellectual Property Professor allowed me to convert a paper into a thesis. This will enable me to graduate with both Masters in May. May 9th to be precise.

I have also been receiving a bunch of requests for legal help. This week I spoke and accepted representation for a client who was not paid properly, another claim about appealing denial of Unemployment benefits (I had to get an affidavit from the Texas Partner of the company), asked to do a will, accept a case (recommended by the VA) on having someone committed, seek repair to a home air conditioning system (geothermal) that was done in a negligent manner (breach of warranty issue), seek legal recourse against a business that was paid to repair a boat and has not hidden the boat, and tried to recommend help for two other people.

After sending certified letters to the Florida Company that did not properly pay the client, I have received letters from their attorney. The Texas Wage Commission has also responded within 3 days of the letters going out. The client has tried since October to get a response. She was laughing, that having an attorney makes a difference.

I know it is not fun like flying, but it is nice to help people. I am even getting movement from the VA on my disability and non-payment of my school issues. I write Senator Hutchinson bi-weekly it seems, and filed an IG complaint on Jan 3, 2008. My counselor told me today his bosses told him to “make the issues go away” which he told me would if the VA paid for the school items they told me to pay for and they would reimbursement (a little over $4,000 now). The US Court of Appeals for Veteran Claims issued a REMAND in July on my eye appeal (disability) and that is helping now too.

I am still amazed on how bad the VA seems to be with certain issues, and received an e-mail from a local investigative News Team stating they would like to talk to me about the VA issues I have faced.

Ok, I apologize for the litany but I do not have anything exciting to report, such as flying. Just a new line of work. I think it is interesting and fun that I can help. It amazes me, like today when someone who is an attorney tries to bluff a legal point. Alternatively, dismisses a claim until you recite the statute that allows you to make the claim. It is like the Dash 1 (-11) and the SAC OIs and regs. Learn them and you control the flight and mission.

As I stated I will graduate with the 2 Masters in May, and I am already trying to get clients. It does look as if the best possibility for me is to open my own firm. I am currently calling my Practice the Law Office of Robert B. Goss. I hope to specialize in Intellectual Property, Veteran Law and Health Law.

Lastly, I wish each of you a wonderful weekend, January and 2008. It is nice to see everyone, at least in the e-mails or BOB Blog. V.R, Bob

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11. December 2007 by Bob.

Good evening everyone and Merry Christmas.

It has been interesting, reading everybody’s adventures. I am finishing up finals, and I have two papers that are due on the 14th of December. Luckily I finished writing both of them and now am waiting for Professor’s comments, and to finish checking the citations.

The papers are nothing exciting, like flying airplanes. But it is beginning to become interesting to me. One of the papers is only about a hundred pages, and it was about copyright protection for music and the payment of royalties by business and restaurant owners with a comparison to the United States violation of the TRIPS agreement.

The other paper ended around 700 pages, and it actually documents the regulation of two Texas physicians. These are two doctors that you would want nowhere near you or your family. I am shocked that one of them has not been locked up as being a sexual predator, and the other eventually gave up his practice tWo years ago. But that did not help the six patients who died (four from the surgery & two committed suicide because of their injuries).

I am hoping that James will have enough time to at least say hello and let me run by and see him. Unfortunately, after being hurt, I no longer look anything like I did on active duty.

I read that Chuck stated that I spend most of my time researching cases and so forth and so on. That’s pretty accurate, with the exception that I actually research the law. I have had a couple of veterans that have contacted me asking that I represent them in their claims against the Government. I was able to help one young man, and the Sergeant I had to refer her to attorney who had time to handle her case. I never heard back from her. Each of those individuals however contacted me cold, so I guess my name as out there somewhere. Although it could be listed with the court itself.

I am hoping to take a couple days off and start working on the last Bar exam I want to take, the Patent Bar. I was thinking about trying to drive back to Alabama and attend midnight Mass at Maxwell Air Force Base. And with my eye problems I think it’s probably safer that I just stay here in Houston.

But I did want to tell everybody hello and I hope you have a very Merry and happy Christmas. Bob

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11. September 2007 by Bob.

Hi BOB,           

Thanks for the updates and I wish everyone a wonderful week.  I do not have any exciting news like y’all.            

This will be short and I apologize now, as I have a ton of homework and research.            

If anyone knows where Walt Ledford, Lance King and Alan Parmeter are I would appreciate their email.            

I have volunteered to help pro se Veterans with their appeals at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veteran Claims.  I saw the request in a VFW Magazine.  I also am preparing a MOTION TO COMPEL in the same court vs. the VA, as I won a case there in July and the nice VA folks have ignored the Judges ORDER to expedite the actions.              

A sad point is the person who helped me go to Law School (Kevin Ross, Montgomery AMVETS) passed away this last weekend.  The Houston AMVETS folks were nice enough to call me today to let me know.  Kevin was a retired Chief that was a kind and nice person.  He saw past my blindness and later low vision (2 surgeries) to help me stay out of a VA home and fight for rehabilitation.

Hey I have found out how to be a political delegate, let me know if you are interested in serving at your state, and I will tell ya what I have been told.            

As far as the nukes, the CG for one should have been off a little bit, and I wondered how the appearance of the weapons differed.  We did not see the warhead, it was covered.  I was involved on one project that looked at those things and replacing the material with a conventional war head.  So for the aircrew, it should have been paperwork.  But for the guys loading and moving they have a problem.  If you hear who loses their jobs please let us know.            

Jim I pray your Dad continues to improve.  Oh your daughter’s school got a $11.5M remodeling contract awarded by Texas.  She will be gone by then.  For me the entire school is under renovation and parking is bad.  So with that being my major concern,. Life is good.  Thanks everyone for the updates, I really enjoy them. 

V/R,

Bob

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11. August 2007 by Bob.

I appreciate the opportunity to get to say hello and read about a few old friends.  I remember almost all the names on the BOB list.

For those of you who do not know, I lost my eyesight in 1999 (blind) and after 2 operations I have become an attorney.  Thanks in part to Chuck, and a Navy WISO who recommended Law school after I lost my sight, I was able to obtain this rehabilitation.

I am currently at the University of Houston Law Center working toward 2 Masters of Law degrees (Health Law; & Intellectual Property and Information Law [IPIL]).  Most places just state IP.  That covers copyright, patents, trademarks and trade secrets.  Graduation and employment will complete my rehabilitation program.

 I just had my first issue reach the Board of Veterans Appeal and in turn be presented to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veteran Claims.  The Judge commented very favorably on my submission to the Court and chastised the VA for their frivolous claim.  I think this is a good start.

 To be clear, I am leading the life of a student so I really do not want anyone to think I have accomplished anything yet.  I hope in the future to work as a Patent attorney and help veterans with claims and promotion appeals.

I hope everyone is well, thank you for listening and allowing me to say hello. 

Bob
 

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