K&L Gates Secures Death Benefits for Family of Contractor Killed in Benghazi Attack

Washington, D.C. - Lawyers and government affairs advisors from global law firm K&L Gates LLP have helped to secure US$400,000 in death benefits on behalf of the family of Glen Doherty, a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) contractor who was killed in the 2012 attacks on the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya.

Despite Doherty’s required disability and insurance coverage, the family had not previously received any benefits from the CIA due to the Defense Base Act (DBA), an outdated law that did not provide benefits to families of employees and contractors without dependents or a spouse. As a result of the firm’s pro bono efforts for the Doherty family, the CIA recently announced a new program that allows for benefits payments to employees and contractors who are victims of terrorism regardless of dependent and marital status, dating retroactively to 1983 to include families of those killed in the attack on the United States embassy in Beirut, Lebanon and others since that time. There are now dozens of families who will receive this benefit.

“We are thrilled that this culmination of three years of hard work resulted in justice for our client and the families of other American heroes,” said Amy Carnevale, a government affairs advisor in the K&L Gates’ Boston and Washington, D.C., offices. “It was an honor to serve the Doherty family and we are glad that the CIA will now recognize the sacrifices made by their employees and contractors.”

Led by Carnevale, the K&L Gates team that assisted on the case included Washington, D.C., partner Michael J. O’Neil and Orange County counsel Michael D. Mortenson and partner Caitlin C. Blanche.

To learn more about K&L Gates’ commitment to pro bono and public service, please see the firm’s annual pro bono reports or visit the pro bono section of K&L Gates’ website.