Tomah VA Settlement

Tomah VA To Pay Family Of Dead Marine $2.3M Settlement

Tomah VA Settlement

TOMAH – Survivors of Marine veteran Jason Simcakoski reached a $2.3 million settlement for negligent care from Tomah VA linked to the death of the veteran in 2014.

Simcackoski, 35 years old, died following receipt of psychiatric health care services and treatment provided by now infamous David Houlihan, MD and Houlihan’s staff. He was survived by a wife, Heather, and their daughter Anaya.

Last January, Dr. Houlihan agreed to permanently surrender his medical license. In 2015, IG concluded its investigation the precipitated Houlihan’s termination from VA employment at Tomah VA, aptly nicknamed “Candy Land.” Houlihan was known as “Candy Man” by veterans he treated.

RELATED: Tomah VA Employee Assaults Vet On Video

The veteran, an honorably discharged Marine, received health care from Tomah VA from 2006 to 2014. In August 2014, he submitted for acute care. After 20 days, August 30, 2014, doctors so heavily sedated him that he could barely speak with his family. Hours later, Simcakoski was found unresponsive.

Tomah VA staff waited a shameful 10 minutes to provide the veteran with any life-saving attempts, which were ultimately unsuccessful. IG found Tomah VA lacked medication to reverse drug overdose.

RELATED: Sex Assault Of Veterans At Tomah VA

An autopsy showed Simcakoski died from mixed drug toxicity. It did not help that VA lacked overdose reversal drugs or that staff failed to perform CPR.

Many veterans were injured or killed as a result of negligent health care received at Tomah VA over the years. While VA has shifted roles at the facility, local reports indicate problems at Tomah still persist despite attempts to reform Tomah VA.

In an unrelated matter, during a Congressional investigation into wrongdoing at the facility, agency employees were caught on video playing human Hungry Hungry Hippos that was first leaked to me and then played on Fox News. It was a real hoot.

Here are a couple oldies but goodies to refresh your memory:

Corny Halloween Ghostbusters Flu Vaccine Video

On Tomah VA employee leaked this video to me a couple years ago. I’m not sure who in the video still works there, but we thought it was hilarious and worth passing along.

Tomah VA Human Hungry Hungry Hippos

That same Tomah VA employee also leaked the hilarious human Hungry Hungry Hippos video taken during the facility’s annual Halloween party. This one made the rounds through Fox News and other news media publishers. Fantastic.

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/10/28/2-3-million-settlement-in-veterans-death-at-wisconsin-va.html

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43 Comments

  1. Folks, with all this corruption bursting at the seams, I hardly have a stomach left to stomach all of it. The VA, the Democrats, the Clintons, the Obama administration, the FBI, the IRS, etc. My list goes on. Though, I am very pleased that the family of this young veteran received the VA settlement for the VA negligence that led to his death. The young veteran’s death sends sadness throughout me. You all know why I say this. If people in these professional positions would do what they are supposed to do to begin with, many lives could be saved. The death of this young veteran did not have to happen. My statements apply to all. I cannot hardly stomach all the corruption.

  2. I’m glad the settlement took place, but when are we going to put these criminals behind bars?

    Nothing at the VA won’t change until people are held accountable and using taxpayers’ money to pay out settlements isn’t the solutions.

    Last week I had the pleasure of a VA employee’s response to me filing suit over a FOIA. He said ‘It ain’t my money’. So his and other VA employees don’t care because yes, it’s taxpayers who pay for VA criminals and negligence.

    1. The salem hospital shutdown all eye surgeries until further notice. 4 vets sustained vision loss due to possible unsanitized surgical tools. An internal investigation had been started which will absolve the hospital of all wrongdoing. The hospital just had a Halloween party. By all appearances it was well attended and most employees showed plenty early I’m sure patient care was an after thought while they got dressed up an an hour or two before the event.

  3. If the VA pays veterans MONEY for them killing them, they can pay billions , after all its free money. Its not VA money its the Veterans whom their disability claims have been denied or from veterans the VA put in jail for disruptive behavior so they can stop their disability payments.

    !0 years for Genocide

  4. Anyone know whether out of all these IG investigations whether the IG referred that fool for prosecution?

    Would that have exposed the grab-ass way the VA credentials these quacks?

    Would that have exposed the IG office themselves for whitewashing their first investigation?

    Would that have exposed several more in upper VA management? Some who have been since promoted?

    Seems like the VA bit the bullet on this one due to the publicity rather than fighting the widow. $2.3 million might have been cheap compared to the fallout they could have faced.

  5. One wrongful death of a Veteran is one too many. This one strikes home because our volunteer attempts to expose what is wrong at WLA includes its understaffed psychiatric department that locks down Veterans who suffer from aggressive symptoms of PTSD and TBI.
    Remember, this understaffed, resource-short, medical service is on the same facility that touts the settlement plan that egregiously allows private non-veteran interests to flourish upon the 1888 gift-land that visionaries saw as necessary for battle scared Veterans, a sanctuary that once gave the tranquil and peaceful settings to Civil War Veterans and expanded services where all such cases from across the nation, it is a “National Home”, may be brought to.
    Not!
    By all appearances “drug ’em, lock ’em up” is the treatment. We are surprised to have not found the leg yoke used in the days of the “Asylums” that preceded the old soldiers homes but we suspect that a 21st century version of it exists.
    Meat on the hook, that’s what we are and I don’t need to tell you who the butchers are.
    “THE WORD SATISFIED MUST NOT EXIST IN THE VERNACULAR OF VETERAN ADVOCATES”

    1. I agree thee archaic ideology of hatred ,,the days of old has reared its ugly head again,,Where MEDICINE DESIGNED TO LESSEN PHYSICAL PAIN ONLY,,ARE VIEWED AS TERRIBLE DRUGS,THUS THOSE WHO NEED.USE THEM AS DIRECTED,AS NEEDED ARE ARCHIACLY VIEWED AS DRUGGY’S.THERE DOCTORS WRONGLY VIEWED AS DEALERS..ITS ARCHAIC!!iTS ARCHAIC,WHEN HUMAN BEINGS ARE ONCE AGAIN DENIED ACCESS TO MEDICINE TO LESSEN PHYSICAL PAIN FROM WAR INJURIES THAT WILL LAST A LIFE TIME,locked up in some sanatiurim,like pennhurst,for having physical pain from a permanent medical injury!!..ITS ARCHAIC WHEN THOSE SITTING IN SOME CONFERENCE ROOM ON OUR DIME,,THINK THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DENY ACCESS TO MEDICINES TO LESSEN PHYSICAL PAIN WHEN FACT/TRUTH DICTATES,IT IS LITERALLY IMPOSSIIBLE FOR ANYONE TO PHYSICALLY FEEL THE PHYSICAL PAIN OF ANOTHER,THUS AS A ONCE HUMANE SOCIETY,ARE ONLY OBLIGATION IS TO RESPECT THAT ADULT AND LESSEN THEIR PHYSICAL PAIN EFFECTIVELY..
      U R CORRECT,THE,ARROGANCE, BIGOTRY,PREJUDICE,THUS IGNORANCE OF OLD,HAS LITERALLY ONCE AGAIN,TORTURED TO DEATH LITERALLY,1000’S,,VIA DENIAL OF ACCESS TO MEDICINE,,,maryw

  6. Stopping the importation of illegal drugs from China, etc. would necessitate the shutting down of the CIA, FBI, DEA, DHS, etc. who are the world’s biggest drug runners

    1. Do you mean shutting down all the three letter departments that fall under the Department of Injustice and Homeland insecurity?

    2. Again,,I guess ,”informed consent,”’ as a adult means nothing in this country?And the fact/truth here,,they won for neglect,,,not ,opiates,,for it had nothing to do w.opiates ,,, AT 500 NANOSCAMS of tramadol ,IN THE BLOOD LEVEL AUTOPSY REPORT,,, sorry for this ADULT MANS DEATH but at 35 years old,,taking no responsibility for your own body and what u choose to put in it,,, NO FAN OF,,AT ALL,, at 35 we are not babies,we are not children,we are not irresponsible adults,,,unless we choose to do so…The psych-ward did not know cpr,,nor preform it..The doctors houlihan is a shrink,,not a trained professional in MEDICAL DOCTRINE,NOR pain-Management..w/ALL THE PSYCHOTROPICS IN THIS MAN BODY,,YOU ARE ALL POINTING THE FINGER AT THE EASIEAST TARGETS,,THE INFAMOUSE DEMON OPIATES,,,MAYBE THE PSYCHOTROPICS KILLED HIM,,,BUT A man,,AS A 35 YEAR OLD man,he only need to look in the mirror,,for the one to say NO,,, I do not want that medicine doc,,,i do it all the time,,tell my dictors NO,, I do not want do that or take that,,,because I am responsibile for my own body,and what I put in it,,,All this ,”candy land crap did was contaminated a jury BEFORE proven guilty,,is that the new America?,,,guilty before proven innocent??Sure appears like it now a days and where men/women who fought for freedom cannot even receive access to effective medical care to lessen the severe physical pain from war injuries??telling 1000’s to suffer a tortuous death by denial of access to effective MEDICINES that lessen physical pain from medical conditions is defined legally as torture,,Since these trump up head lines,lies about demon opiates,witch hunts on innocent actual pain management physicains,which go to school for 12 years,,not 8,,to be a pain management doc,,,but since thee infamous lieing headlines of Tomah V.A.,,10,000 have now been FORCED to endure physical pain from painful medical conditions,,when the MEDIA in Wisconsin lied all over the place,,and it NEVER EVER WAS A OPIATE THAT KILLED HIM!!!!!maryw

      1. Just think of all that poison in his system do you think he was able to make a sound decision, I don’t think so. I was taking 4 800mg. of gabapentin for about 2 months I had a hard time remembering if I ate that day. and I bet he had more of a cocktail than that…..I Slept well though.

      2. Again,,then why did u take a medicine that wasn’t working for u??y didn’t u say NO DOC,, I don’t want that medicine anymore?m

      3. I didn’t tell him anything I don’t need permission from a doctor I quit on my own and never ordered anymore,
        But some people don’t know when to quit they listen to their doctor thinking he knows best as if one shoe fits all.
        It did get rid of some pain but once it started to get rid of my brain I quit.

      4. Same BS excuse making as before.

        Yes, he was an adult. Informed Consent? So he should have studied all the crap Foolihan was shoveling at him before taking it?

        Care to explain what kind of Informed CONSENT he had with a court order?

        Care to explain what INFORMED consent is involved with experimental drug cocktails?

        Rather than blaming the victim in all this, why not recognize the quack lost his license for a reason.

      5. Yea ill explain it,,u take a aspirin,, u own that body,u know how it is effecting u.,,,,AGAIN,,, at any time,,u can say NO,,,,ANYTIME,,,FOR IT IS YOUR BODY,,now 10,000 of medically ill human beings w/painful medical conditions,cancer,lyms,medical error,war injuries,are being forced to suffer to death,literally tortured to death,from forced endurement of physical pain from painful medical conditions!!,92 year old innocent doctors are being arrested for helping the medically ill,,they have made it s felony in America,,to be a doctor!!!llllll ,, because adult humanbeings do not want to take ,”informed consent,” responsibly,,,as adults!!

      6. As I stated in the very first post on this page. Jason had no free will he was court ordered to take every pill prescribed by Houlihan.

        “Jason’s death sentence may ultimately have come on 08-12-2009 when he was sentenced to a term of 48 months’ probation for being party to the crime of burglary. Although Jason knew and was trying to seek help for his addiction the court sentenced him to take all medications prescribed by Dr. Houlihan and Houlihan’s staff.

        His sentenced include the following stipulation to his probation.

        “Inform agent of all doctors he is seeing and sign releases for them and comply with their recommendations. Take all medication as prescribed and inform agent of any changes to those medications. Disclose Opiate addiction to all doctors he is seeing. Complete any other treatment deemed necessary by agent.””

      7. Let’s be completely honest here maryw. Jason was murdered by Dr. Houlihan and the staff at Tomah VAMC after he contacted the FBI about the combination of Drugs he was being forced to take.

        Dr. Houlihan knew exactly what would happen when he prescribed the high does of tramadol to Jason who was already taking a combination of drugs know as California Rocket Fuel.

      8. To prove it I cite Dr. Houlihan’s research.

        “Serotonin syndrome resulting from coadministration of tramadol, venlafaxine, and mirtazapine.”, Ann Pharmacother. 2004 Mar;38(3):411-3. Epub 2004 Jan 23. Author Dr. David J Houlihan.

        His own words “An objective causality assessment revealed that the addition of tramadol was the probable cause of the adverse reaction.”

        It was murder!!!!!!!

      9. As I stated in my 1 st post,,neglect absolutely,,and wow,,sooo this is what happens when 3 Shrinks,not,doctors sign off to court order a adult into a forced psychiatric care????they die,,,when the state steps in and takes away a adults free will!!!no-wonder why u sued the state,,as it should be,,jmo,,Soo why then did all the papers blame a opiate w/500 nanoscams of 1,,the weakest of weak,,tramadol was thee only romote opiate in his system??Why blame a medicine,,that essentially as not in his system at all at the time of death??
        Don’t get me wrong,,,this man should not be dead,,if not for the complete neglect of that judge,the hospital and the state,and a SHRINK,, not even a real doctor,,,a shrink,,
        Here my point,,i am just 1 person,,stating my opinion,,I did not nor have gone to any newspapers,state official ,lawyers,,yet,,to force my opinion on anyone as a law,or change definition,laws,regulations on a medicine that has literally been around for 3,000 years.,Since Tomah V.A ,,opiate medicine have further been wrongfully demonized,Real Doctors who prescribe them responsibly are being arrested wrongfully,,people w/terribly painful medical conditions,cancer,broken bones,lymes,arthtits 70-90 years old w.arthitis,,,are alll being denied access to effective medical care to lessen physical pain./.
        Personal,,I think our state politicians used this family.Used Jasons death,,to promote a agenda of the 1880 prohibition all over again,,maryw

      10. Listen up David I know who you are. You are clearly still using if you think you can troll here with the name of Maryw.

      11. What do you think is going to happen when everyone currently connected to you finds out that you have been trolling Disabled Veterans?

        Even trolling an article of the Veteran you murdered.

      12. WOW,,U KNOW.,,MAYBE U SHOULD SEEK SOME HELP HERE GUY,IF U TRY TO DENY TRUTH W/IMAGENERY FREINDS AT OUR AGE,,,I GIVE MR.KRAUSE PERMISSION TO ANSWER YOUR ACCUSATION W/A SIMPLE YES OR NO,,,,AM I SOME GUY NAMED DAVID MR.KRAUSE??,,
        SIR MY NAME IS MARY,,I LIVE 45 MINUTES FROM TOMAH V.A.,,I AM JUST A FARMER,,W/3 BROTHERs WHO SERVED,A FATHER WHO SERVED,A GRANDFATHER WHO SERVED,A FATHER IN LAW WHO SERVED, AND A COUP[LE OF VERY OLD FRIENDS ,95 YEAR OLD, WHO SERVED,,,WHO HAS SEEN 1ST HAND PEOPLE LITERALLY BEING TORTURED TO DEATH VIA DENIAL OF ACCESS TO MEDICINE TO LESSEN PHYSICAL PAIN FROM MEDICAL ILLNESS..ITS GONE TOOO FAR,,,TRUTH IS WILLFULLY BEING IGNORED,,’
        THAT TRUTH BEING,,IT IS PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANYONE TO PHYSICALLY FEEL THE PHYSICAL PAIN OF ANOTHER,THUS,,NO-ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHO LITERALLY IS TORTURED TO DEATH BY DENIAL OF EFFECTIVE MEDICINE TO LESSEN PHYSICAL PAIN.THAT DECISION IS BETWEEN 2 CONSENTING ADULTS,U AND YOUR DOCTORS..WE ADHERE TO INFORMED CONSENT SOO INNOCENT PEOPLE DON’T GET GET KILLED,,,WHICH IS EXACTLLY WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW A DAYS,,INNOCENT MEDICALLY ILL PEOPLE ARE LITERALLY BEING TORTURED TO DEATH,,,INNOCENT DOCTORS ARE LOSING THIER LIFES WORKS,,LOCKED UP,ASSET STOLEN,DEMONIZED,FOUND GUILTY IN THE PRESS BY PROPAGANDA BEFORE EVER STEPPING FOOT IN AS COURT ROOM,,THATS WRONG!!!that’s not America,,,or what are founding fathers thought of when they founded this country art all!!!

      13. David,

        With that sizable judgment. The family can now afford to really come after you. They can afford to hire the best investigators and attorneys with all the connections.

        Yet here you are trolling disabled Veterans and disrespecting Jason even more.

        Payback for what you have done is really going to be a bitch.

      14. jmo,,You’ve lost it guy,,,I disrespect no-one,,just stating truth via facts,,and reality seems hard for u to comprehend today,,maryw

      15. What ever David. Just know that the pay back coming your way is going to be truly a bitch.

        Now go ahead Pop another Fuck-it-all and slip back into your fantasy world where you are smarter than everyone else.

      16. GUY U NEED HELP,,,, so u r correct,,I deal w/reality,,and your delusion of grandeur is not my cup of tea,,,please get help,,before u hurt yourself or someone else,,maryw

  7. Two things I believe in here. First, President Trump wants to “clean up the opioid and other dangerous drugs hitting our streets!” That’s all fine and good. Except there’s no mention as to the VA’s culpability in drug addiction. Which, by the way, was rampant! That being said,
    How many of our elected and appointed officials are/were receiving monies from Pig Pharma to keep the flow of drugs going to VHA’s nationwide?

    Secondly, how much of the taxpayers monies are being paid out by VA for the incompetent medical healthcare providers? That money is coming out of the “allocations” VA receives. Hasn’t anyone in Washington D.C. figured that out?
    Why can’t VA get professionally trained healthcare providers? Why is it we’re stuck with the “bottom of the barrel” providers? “Scum suckers” is what veterans receive for healthcare providers!

    Lastly, FUCK THE VA!

    1. The Government Has Created Every Step In The Development Of The Opiod Crisis | Zero Hedge

      “https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-10-27/government-has-created-every-step-development-opiod-crisis”

    2. Who do u think just gave this family 2.3 million,,,,and rightfully soo,,the man died of neglect,,,but ALLL MALPRACTICE REWARDS ARE PAID FOR BY a ,”fund,” from THE STATE OF WISCONSIN,,WE THE TAX PAYERS!!!!maryw

      1. Maryw, if this was a judgement against the VA, it would have come from the US Treasury, not the State of Wisconsin.

        It still ultimately comes from the taxpayers.

        I recall reading a news article about congress thinking about judgements coming from any agency instead of the Treasury in order to try hold an agency accountable, but I don’t think congress got beyond the wishful thinking stage.

  8. Candyman. Candyman. Candyman. Damn! Did not even say it 3x in a mirror and yet the scumbag is floating again in swamp gas news! Perhaps for trick or treat, all disgruntled disabled veterans should swing-by and each stick Houlihan with a mystery syringe and we shall call it an experimental treatment for persistent case of flaming asshole. Yep, Candyman and his ilk just burn my ass. That settlement should have a zero or two in decimal point, it seems at least $10M short…rat bastards!

  9. As Ben points out in his article, Jason was an honorably discharged Marine, who had received health care from Tomah VA from 2006 to 2014. Under the control of the infamous Dr. David Houlihan and Houlihan’s staff.

    Jason’s opiate addiction and its progression under the care of Dr. Houlihan is trackable in Wisconsin’s circuit court access website. As Jason’s care under the control of the Candyman progressed so did his court records showing first minor conflicts with the law that ultimately lead to more serious convicts. This is all while his dependence on opiates was growing under the Candyman’s control.

    Jason’s death sentence may ultimately have come on 08-12-2009 when he was sentenced to a term of 48 months’ probation for being party to the crime of burglary. Although Jason knew and was trying to seek help for his addiction the court sentenced him to take all medications prescribed by Dr. Houlihan and Houlihan’s staff.

    His sentenced include the following stipulation to his probation.

    “Inform agent of all doctors he is seeing and sign releases for them and comply with their recommendations. Take all medication as prescribed and inform agent of any changes to those medications. Disclose Opiate addiction to all doctors he is seeing. Complete any other treatment deemed necessary by agent.”

      1. Sorry that should read “Basically it was court ordered suicide via VA Health Care!”

      2. va deathcare will @ does kill vets for the bonous $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ THE MAFIA IS MICKEY MOUSE TO VA DC HQ VETS SCREWED AGIN BY VA DEATHCARE FROM SARANIC HELL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      3. Same exact thing happened to Jared Lynn Miller, killed through neglect by the West LA VA, may 4, 2016. Jared was honorably discharged, suffered PTSD, ordered to the VA for treatment, was addicted to opiates and killed after being ordered to enter a rehab run by said VA, WLA, was told to leave, send with a bus token back to his home, a back ally in LA, where he was found 2 days later, dead of an over-dose. He left a son, sister and mother who deeply miss him.

      4. Definitions of the day Politicians using touchy, feely words to fool their flock (bbbbaaaahhhhhhhh bbbaaaahhhhhh)

        TRANSPARENCY Openness, accountability and honest, define government transparency. In a free society, transparency is governments obligation to share information with citizens. It is at the heart of how citizens hold their public officials accountable.

        OBSCURE Dark, vague, enigmatic, cryptic, ambiguous, equivocal; means not clearly understandable. Obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge.

        VA VAL-OR ASSASSIN
        VA Transparency The false appearance of being open, honest and accountable all while being completely obscure.

    1. Looks like the State of WI also failed him. Perhaps if the State, and all states didn’t knuckle under to the VAs bullshit credentialing process, they would have more closely tracked Foolihans malpractice.

      Do you recall if the state investigated more than once?

      I recall the state initially offering excuses, then they conducted their own investigation when the heat was turned up.

      Didn’t do much good for this Marine.

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