File Your Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit Right Away!
After decades of hard work, you can now file a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit against the United States government! On August 10, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, paving the way for these claims.
This Act allows people who were victims of the contaminated water on the base between 1953 and 1987 to file claims for damages. If eligible, you may be able to receive substantial compensation.
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Is there a class action lawsuit against Camp Lejeune water contamination?
A class action lawsuit was initially filed in 2011. However, it was dismissed due to the North Carolina statute of repose.
In other words, too much time had passed since the plaintiffs had been exposed to water contamination and their right to sue had been taken away under North Carolina law.
Thankfully, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act resolves this issue. It eliminates the restriction imposed by the North Carolina statute of repose. In turn, this allows veterans and their family members to file a claim for compensation.
What is the deadline to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit?
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act imposes a two-year time limit to file a lawsuit. This is true even though the Act eliminates the North Carolina statute of repose. As a result, it is important to contact a lawyer for help right away.
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What is the Camp Lejeune Justice Act?
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act allows you to file a lawsuit against the United States government if you lived or worked at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987. If you, or your loved one, were diagnosed with a severe illness or disease either during or after your time at Camp Lejeune, you may qualify for substantial compensation.
Interestingly, this new law is part of the Honoring Our PACT Act, which is a larger bill that provides additional benefits to United States military veterans.
Who can file a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit?
The list of those allowed to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit includes the following:
- Active duty service members
- Former service members
- Family members living on base
- Non-military staff
- Families of those who are now deceased
- Victims who were still in utero while their mother was living on base
As a result, you may be eligible to file a claim even if you were not in the military yourself. Further, if you have a family member who was on base for the required 30 days but has since passed away, you may be able to file a lawsuit on their behalf.
How to file a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit
Filing a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit includes several steps. Importantly, you must ensure you have all the necessary information and documents as early in the process as possible.
Steps to take before filing your lawsuit
Here is what you should do even before filing your lawsuit:
- Gather all of your documentation – Put all of the documents you have in one place so they are easy to find and discuss with your lawyer. These documents can include medical records, military records, documents proving that you (or your loved one) was at Camp Lejeune, medical bills, or even VA disability records.
- Contact a lawyer – You will need a lawyer to handle your case because filing a claim is complicated. A lawyer will ensure that all proper procedures are followed and that you will receive the most compensation possible.
- Provide complete information to your lawyer – Once you have hired a lawyer, he or she will require additional detailed information regarding you (or your loved one). This will include learning about your military status, position while at Camp Lejeune, medical history, and more. Most importantly, the more detailed information you can provide to your attorney the more effectively they can pursue your claim.
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The Camp Lejeune legal process
Unfortunately, you cannot file your Camp Lejeune lawsuit directly in court. Instead, you must first file an administrative claim with the Office of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the Navy’s Tort Claims Unit (TCU). The claim form is found by clicking through to the JAG website.
This process allows JAG to have the first opportunity to consider your case. For certain claims, JAG will consult with the Department of Justice (DOJ).
If your claim is denied by JAG and the TCU, you will have the opportunity to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit. Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, all cases must be filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. This is true regardless of where you are located throughout the country.
Once your lawsuit begins, you will have the right to a trial by jury in the event you cannot reach a favorable resolution otherwise.
What was in the water at Camp Lejeune?
The water supplies at Camp Lejeune were contaminated with various toxic chemicals, including benzene, trichloroethylene, and vinyl chloride. These chemicals can cause serious health problems, such as cancer, birth defects, and miscarriages. Alarmingly, these chemicals often show up in dry-cleaning, degreasing metals, PVC pipes, and wire coatings.
For decades, military personnel and their families stationed at Camp Lejeune were exposed to contaminated water. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 allows them to file a claim for damages.
What symptoms and diseases are connected with Camp Lejeune water contamination?
Sadly, numerous symptoms, conditions, and diseases go along with the water contamination at Camp Lejeune. Therefore, you may qualify for compensation if you, or a loved one, suffer from one or more of the following:
- Aplastic anemia
- Cancer: bladder, breast, kidney, liver, esophageal, or lung
- Female infertility
- Hepatic steatosis (fatty liver disease)
- Leukemia
- Miscarriage
- Multiple myeloma
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Renal toxicity
- Scleroderma
- Other severe conditions or diseases
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. So, you may still qualify if you suffer from another severe condition or disease. Ensure you contact a lawyer immediately to find out if you qualify.
What is the average Camp Lejeune settlement amount?
Unfortunately, the truth is that it is impossible to tell how much your case it worth as you are reading this. However, if you are successful in filing a claim under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, you could receive a significant amount of money in compensation for the damages that you suffered as a result of the contaminated water on base. How much money you could receive depends on the extent and severity of your injuries.
Fortunately, the Act allocates about $6.7 billion in funding to pay for water contamination claims. This is highly unusual since most lawsuits of this type involve lots of court battles over case values and bankruptcy. Instead, anybody eligible to file a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit should do so as Congress has allocated significant funds to settle these claims.
It is important to note that the process of filing a claim under this law can be complex, so it is crucial to seek the help of a qualified lawyer. A lawyer can help make sure that all of your paperwork is correct. In addition, a lawyer can represent you in court if necessary. With the help of a lawyer, you have a better chance of being successful in obtaining the compensation that you deserve.
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What are the chances of my claim being successful?
The chances of success with your Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit depend on a number of factors, including the severity of your injuries and whether or not you have a lawyer representing you. However, with the help of a qualified lawyer, your chances of being successful are much higher than if you were to try to file a claim on your own.
Call Kitay Law Offices for help filing your claim!
If you or a loved one was affected by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, don’t hesitate to contact a qualified lawyer. The sooner you act, the better your chances of success.
At Kitay Law Offices, we are here to help you and your family throughout this difficult time. You have suffered enough and it is time to obtain the compensation you deserve. Complete our form for a FREE INSTANT CASE EVALUATION.
