As of August 10, 2024, the deadline for filing claims under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) has passed. Thousands of veterans, their families, and civilians have filed claims for health issues caused by the toxic water at Camp Lejeune. Now, we move into the next phase of this litigation.
Background
The exposure of around 1 million veterans and their families to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is one of the worst drinking water contamination incidents in history.
Experts believe that multiple sources contaminated the groundwater near Camp Lejeune, affecting the base’s water supply. These sources include:
- Spills at industrial sites on the base
- Leaking storage tanks and dumps
- Improper dumping by an off-base dry cleaner
Although the exact start date of the contamination is unknown, the U.S. government acknowledges that from 1953 to 1987, over a million Marines, their families, and civilians working on the base were exposed to hazardous chemicals in the water. These chemicals are linked to serious and life-threatening health issues.
Camp Lejeune Justice Act
This act allowed individuals who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune for over 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987 and suffered injuries from the contaminated water to file claims against the U.S. government.
Without this legislation, those affected would be unable to seek compensation due to North Carolina’s statute of repose, which limits lawsuits to within ten years. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) removes this limitation, ensuring these cases can be heard fairly.
What’s Next?
The CLJA intended to provide a quick and systematic review of claims and compensation for victims. However, two years after the law was enacted, the government has made only a limited number of settlement offers and paid even fewer claims. Despite these challenges, our team has successfully resolved some cases early on.
We are hard at work as the next phase of the litigation begins. We will keep you updated as things progress!
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