Camp Lejeune was a United States Marine Corps base in North Carolina specializing in amphibious assault training. Over the decades, thousands of Marines and their families lived on the base. From 1953 to 1987, untold numbers of people drank and bathed in groundwater that we now know was contaminated.
This has caused a variety of health concerns for veterans and their families. Contaminated Camp Lejeune water has been linked to the high frequency of cancer, liver failure, and ALS found in people who lived or visited there. Marine veterans and their families, as well as anyone who worked at this base, have the right to seek compensation for their losses connected to these diagnoses. A Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit could help those affected receive the money they deserve. The recent enactment of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 allows individuals to file lawsuits against the federal government connected to their health problems after living at Camp Lejeune. Working with an experienced attorney at our firm could help you seek the compensation you deserve.
Doctors and the federal government have long suspected a problem with the ground and tap water at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. For decades, Marines serving on this base and their families have suffered from a disproportionate rate of cancer, liver failure, and ALS. In the past, they have been able to pursue compensation through a traditional VA disability compensation claim.
However, recent changes to the law signed by President Biden in 2022 now hold the federal government directly liable for your personal injuries. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 creates a private cause of action for Marine veterans and their families. It allows you to pursue a personal injury lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina related to your injuries by water contamination at Camp Lejeune. It also says that the federal government expressly waives any immunity related to these incidents. An attorney could further explain how the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 impacts your rights.
A Camp Lejeune lawsuit aims to collect the compensation needed to set things right for you, your family, and the suffering you all endured as a result of water contamination. This often includes payments for necessary medical care and reductions in quality of life connected to their diagnoses. However, there are limitations to these lawsuits.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 specifically states that any compensation you receive will offset any payments you have received via the VA disability compensation program, Medicare, and Medicaid. This prevents any instances of double compensation.
You must also be able to connect your condition to your time at Camp Lejeune. The law says that this connection must be enough to establish a causal relationship. In other words, you must show that, likelier than not, living at Camp Lejeune contributed to your diagnosis.
Finally, the law places a two-year statute of limitations on these cases. This time limit began from the date of the law’s enactment in September of 2022. You must file a formal petition with the Navy by September 2024.
Living at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 exposed thousands of Marines and their families to toxic tap water. This exposure has a direct link to diagnoses of cancer, liver failure, ALS, and other health conditions. The recent passage of the Camp Lejeune Act of 2022 now allows you to file a lawsuit against the federal government for your losses – but you have until September 2024 to do so.
A capable lawyer may be able to help you determine your eligibility for these cases. If you qualify, they are prepared to file a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit on your behalf. Reach out to an attorney today to learn more.
