If you or a loved one were harmed by exposure to water at Camp Lejeune, you may be entitled to recover money from a Camp Lejeune Justice Act lawsuit case or settlement claim.
A team of Camp Lejeune injury lawyers and class action attorneys is investigating potential lawsuit cases and settlement claims of individuals who suffered harm that was caused by exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in North Carolina.
Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 Lawsuit Cases
On March 3, 2022 the United States House of Representatives passed H.R. 3967 (known as the “Honoring our PACT Act of 2022” and “Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022”), a bill that addresses health care, presumption of service-connection, research, resources, and other matters related to veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during military service.
On June 16, 2022 the United States Senate passed a version of the PACT Act of 2022 with certain amendments that required the bill to be passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.
On July 12, 2022 the U.S. House passed an amended version of the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022 (also known as the “Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022”) which amended Senate Bill 3373 by inserting the text of the Senate-passed version of the PACT Act of 2022 minus a clause having to do with the tax treatment of certain health care contracts.
On August 2, 2022, the Senate passed the House Amendment to the PACT Act of 2022. On August 10, 2022, the President signed the bill into law. The bill creates a federal cause of action relating to the water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Section 804 of the PACT Act of 2022, known as the “Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022” provides, among other things, that:
An individual, including a veteran (as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code), or the legal representative of such an individual, who resided, worked, or was otherwise exposed (including in utero exposure) for not less than 30 days during the period beginning on August 1, 1953, and ending on December 31, 1987, to water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, that was supplied by, or on behalf of, the United States may bring an action in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina to obtain appropriate relief for harm that was caused by exposure to the water at Camp Lejeune.
Individuals who bring Camp Lejeune Justice Act lawsuits have a right to a trial by jury, but punitive damages may not be awarded in any such Camp Lejeune lawsuit cases. However, the United States government may not assert any claim to sovereign immunity in a lawsuit under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act that would otherwise be available to it.
Camp Lejeune Justice Act: Injury Claims
Before bringing a lawsuit under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act against the United States for money damages for personal injury or death caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of the Government, an individual must comply with section 2675 of title 28, United States Code, which requires, among other things, the presentment of an administrative claim to the appropriate Federal agency.
Camp Lejeune administrative claims can be filed with the Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Navy’s Tort Claims Unit (TCU) in Norfolk, VA. A CLJA claim form can be submitted online at CLclaims@us.navy.mil or via mail or other carriers to Department of the Navy, Office of the Judge Advocate General, Tort Claims Unit Norfolk, Attention – Camp Lejeune Claims, 9620 Maryland Avenue, Suite 205, Norfolk, VA 23511-2949. If you hire a Camp Lejeune attorney to represent you, your lawyer can help you file your administrative claim.
According to the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps: “CLAIMS PREVIOUSLY DENIED UNDER THE FEDERAL TORT CLAIMS ACT INVOLVING WATER CONTAMINATION AT MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. MUST BE REFILED FOR CONSIDERATION.”
According to Reuters, approximately 5,000 administrative claims have already been filed in the first few weeks after the legislation was signed into law. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of Camp Lejeune claims will be filed within the next few years.
Camp Lejeune Justice Act: Burden of Proof
In general, the burden of proof in a Camp Lejeune Justice Act case will be on the claimant (i.e., the party filing the lawsuit) to show one or more relationships between the water at Camp Lejeune and the harm by producing evidence showing that the relationship between exposure to the water at Camp Lejeune and the harm is sufficient to conclude that a causal relationship exists; or sufficient to conclude that a causal relationship is at least as likely as not.
The types of harm potentially related to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune may include cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndrome, aplastic anemia, fatty liver disease, female infertility, miscarriage, birth defect, neurobehavioral effects, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, renal toxicity, end-stage kidney disease, scleroderma and other health effects.
Camp Lejeune Justice Act: Statute of Limitations
A claim brought by a claimant in a lawsuit under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act may not be commenced after the later of the date that is two years after the date of enactment of the Act (i.e., two years after August 10, 2022) or the date that is 180 days after the date on which the claim is denied by a federal agency under section 2675 of title 28, United States Code. This is known as a statute of limitation. If a claim is not brought before the statute of limitations expires, the claimant will be barred from bringing forth a claim. In other words, time is limited, so those claimants who wish to pursue a Camp Lejeune lawsuit case should act promptly.
If you or a loved one suffered harmed caused by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you may be entitled to money from a Camp Lejeune Justice Act lawsuit case or settlement claim. Contact an injury lawyer to request a free case review.
*If you or a loved one are experiencing health issues, side effects or complications from a product, we urge you to promptly consult with your doctor or physician for an evaluation.
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