Cash-Landrum v. United States (FTCA suit, 1982-1986).
official-recorduncategorizedLandmark High-Strangeness Cases
[DOCUMENTED] Federal Tort Claims Act suit (filed via attorney Peter Gersten, ~late 1982) seeking $20M from the US government for the 1980 injuries. Dismissed Aug 21 1986: injuries deemed genuine, but plaintiffs could not prove the craft/helicopters were government-operated. One of the first US attempts to win damages for a UFO encounter.
Path: 1981 letters to Sens. Bentsen & Tower -> referral to the Bergstrom AFB Judge Advocate claims office -> 1982 FTCA filing in Houston federal court. Dozens of Army/Air Force/Navy/NASA witnesses testified; no documentary link to the government emerged. An Army IG inquiry (Lt. Col. Sarran) likewise found no link. No trial was held.