Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Lawsuits - Legal Milestones for 2023:
In 1982, the Department of Defense discovered that the drinking water on U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune was contaminated with “volatile organic compounds,” or VOCs. From August 1953 to February 1985, active-duty service members and their family members on base faced exposure to VOCs, which can lead to many chronic health conditions, including cancer. But until recently, service members couldn’t sue the government for compensation under the Feres Doctrine.In August of 2022, President Biden signed the Honoring Our PACT Act (PACT Act) into law, which included the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA). This law allowed two years for qualifying victims of Camp Lejeune’s toxic water to file claims with the Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Navy’s Tort Claims Unit in Norfolk, Virginia. The JAG office can then accept liability and decide to offer compensation. Some important milestones for these lawsuits have passed in just a few short months in 2023.
January 2023
While many people attempted to file lawsuits in 2022 after the CJLA passed, the courts dismissed many claims for failing to refile an administrative claim with the government after the passage of the CLJA before filing a civil suit. First, claimants must file an administrative claim with the government. Then, after the administrative claims process, or six months after filing that claim, victims can file suit in federal court.
February 2023
As of February 1, 2023, the Navy JAG received over 15,000 claims from Camp Lejeune victims. However, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry estimates that more than a million people were affected by the Camp Lejeune contaminated water. On February 10, 2023, the initial six-month waiting period for those who filed administrative claims with the government passed. With it came a flurry of litigation in the Eastern District of North Carolina. In February, the Veterans Administration Office of General Counsel also urged victims to file two claims, including one for disability benefits with the VA, even if they’ve filed a claim under the CJLA.
March 2023
As of March, 179 Camp Lejeune lawsuits are pending in the Eastern District of North Carolina. More will come as the Navy JAG fails to act on many of the thousands of administrative claims filed with their office.
Deadline for Filing Claims
If you qualify, you can claim medical expenses, lost wages, pain ad suffering, and more. However, the deadline for filing federal tort claims under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act is two years from when the claim arose. Because President Biden signed the Act into law on August 10, 2022, the deadline to file a federal tort claim under the Act is August 10, 2024. If you don’t meet this deadline, you can’t file a lawsuit under the Act either. If the government denies your claim, then you will have 180 days from the denial to file your lawsuit.
You Need a Skilled Personal Injury Attorney
If you or a family member got sick after exposure to Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water, you may be entitled to VA health and disability benefits and be able to file a lawsuit for toxic exposure. But filing a claim or a lawsuit comes with strict statutory and evidentiary requirements. You need an attorney experienced in toxic tort claims to help you make the best claim and appeal if the VA or the Navy JAG denies your claims. At the Madeksho Law Firm, we’ve been helping people like you with toxic tort claims for years. Find out how we can help you. The deadline for claims is fast approaching, so contact us today at 1-888-910-6376 or online. Your first consultation is free, and you won’t pay a fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
