Landmark Class Action Judgment Orders Veterans Guardian to Pay Three Times the Unlawful Fees It Collected from Disabled Veterans
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Today on Veterans Day, Berger Montague PC, one of the nation’s leading plaintiffs’ law firms, and Varnell & Warwick PA, announce that the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina has issued an order granting summary judgment for the certified class of over sixty thousand disabled veterans in Ford, et al. v. Veterans Guardian VA Claim Consulting, LLC, ruling that the defendant, Veterans Guardian, must pay each class member three times the unlawful fees that it collected plus interest.
The plaintiffs’ legal team issued one brief statement: “We thank the Court for its careful consideration of this important matter. This is a victory for disabled veterans across the country and a reminder that companies cannot profit by disregarding federal laws designed to protect those who serve our nation. Veterans should not be forced to surrender a portion of their hard-earned disability benefits to a company that the Court already ruled is unaccredited in violation of law. This decision sends a message that those who exploit veterans are subject to liability. That said, the case is not over, and there is more work to be done. We look forward to the next phase of this case which is establishing the amount that Veterans Guardian must pay.”
Berger Montague PC and Varnell & Warwick PA serve as counsel for the certified class of veterans alleging that Veterans Guardian charged illegal fees for preparing and presenting VA disability benefits despite lacking the accreditation required under federal law. The decision paves the way for a substantial monetary judgment against Veterans Guardian, which is headquartered in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
In earlier rulings, the Court granted class certification and determined that Veterans Guardian acted as an unaccredited agent before the VA. Yesterday’s ruling granted summary judgment in favor of the veterans on liability under North Carolina’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The Court’s order establishes Veterans Guardian’s obligation to pay compensatory damages, treble damages under the North Carolina statute, and prejudgment interest.
Because the Court’s ruling yesterday leaves no remaining issues for trial, the Court cancelled the February 2027 trial and ordered the parties to confer on the form of a final judgment. The next court hearing will take place in December 2026. This ruling brings the certified class one step closer to obtaining monetary relief for the unlawful fees they allegedly paid.
Due to the interest in this case, Plaintiffs’ counsel is coordinating media inquiries through the communications office of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), and any media with questions can contact Rob Couture, Director of Public Affairs & Strategic Outreach of the VFW Washington Office located at 200 Maryland Avenue NE Washington, D.C. 20002; Rcouture@vfw.org; Telephone: 202.374.9998. The VFW is available to speak to the impact of the challenged conduct on veterans. Class members can also direct questions to Berger Montague PC through the website Ford, et al. v. Veterans Guardian VA Claim Consulting, LLC – Berger Montague.
Additional Information
- Case: Ford, et al. v. Veterans Guardian VA Claim Consulting, LLC, No. 1:23-cv-00756 (M.D.N.C.) Read more here.
- Read the Court’s opinion here.
- Berger Montague PC’s team on the case is led by Executive Shareholder Shanon J. Carson and Senior Counsel Jeffrey L. Osterwise, with Associate Radha Raghavan.
- Varnell & Warwick PA’s team on the case is led by Brian Warwick, Janet Varnell, Christopher Brochu, and Pamela Levinson.
Berger Montague is one of the nation’s preeminent law firms focusing on complex civil litigation, class actions, and mass torts in federal and state courts throughout the United States. The Firm is a leader in the fields of complex litigation, antitrust, consumer protection, defective products, environmental law, employment law, securities, and whistleblower cases, among many other practice areas. For over 55 years, Berger Montague has played leading roles in precedent-setting cases and has recovered over $50 billion for its clients and the classes they have represented. Berger Montague is headquartered in Philadelphia and has offices in Chicago; Malvern, PA; Minneapolis; San Diego; San Francisco; Toronto, Canada; Washington, DC; and Wilmington, DE.
Media Contact for Berger Montague PC:
Amy Wall-Monte
215.875.3021
awallmonte@bergermontague.com
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