Navy SEAL acquitted of war crimes files lawsuit against ex-lawyers and military legal nonprofit

The complaint, filed Friday, alleges legal malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty

By ANDREW DYER
SEP. 13, 2019 7:36 PM

SAN DIEGO — A San Diego-based Navy SEAL acquitted of murder in a closely-watched war crimes trial this summer filed a lawsuit against two of his former attorneys and a military legal defense non-profit, according to a complaint filed in federal court in Texas Friday.

In the complaint, Petty Officer 1st Class Edward R. Gallagher says his former attorneys, Colby Vokey and Phillip Stackhouse, along with the nonprofit United American Patriots, failed to defend his case properly. Instead, the complaint says, the attorneys attempted to delay the case in an effort to maximize fundraising for UAP.

Gallagher was acquitted of most of the charges against him during a court-martial this summer at Naval Base San Diego. He was accused by several SEAL teammates of killing a wounded ISIS fighter and shooting civilians. A jury acquitted him of those charges and convicted him of posing for photos with the body of the deceased fighter, reducing him in rank from chief petty officer to petty officer 1st class.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday has yet to confirm the verdict or the sentence.

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