The US government is facing a considerable number of lawsuits related to Camp Lejeune Water Contamination. This is the result of a recent law that allows veterans and their families to bring claims for exposure to contaminated water at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. If you or a loved one lived, worked, or were stationed at Camp Lejeune for 30+ days and were diagnosed with a disease — you may be entitled to compensation.
The increase in civil cases is largely due to lawsuits related to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The water, which was contaminated with harmful chemicals, including benzene and vinyl chloride, from the 1950s to the 1980s, has been linked to a variety of health problems, including cancer, birth defects, and developmental disorders.
As many as one million people may have faced a higher risk of cancer and health issues due to the chemicals in the contaminated water from 1953 to 1987, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
The cases involve military personnel, civilians, and their families who were stationed at the base during the period when the contaminated water was in use. Many of the plaintiffs allege that the government knew about the contamination but failed to take action to protect those who were exposed to it.
About The PACT Act
In August 2022, the U.S. president signed the PACT Act. The removal of the government’s overall protections regarding accountability regarding Camp Lejeune was enacted, thereby lifting the barrier that had restricted the majority of claims about the water from being presented in court. The PACT Act established a system for individuals to pursue reimbursement through administrative channels, but did not establish a dedicated fund for this purpose.
The PACT Act does not impose a specific timeframe for resolving claims. However, it grants the victims and their families the right to file a suit against the offender in North Carolina’s federal court if their administrative claim has not been resolved within six months. In February, when the initial claims had been pending for six months, a lot of new cases were added to the court’s schedule.
Since the beginning of the year, the judges presiding over civil cases in the Eastern District of North Carolina have been handling three times the typical amount of cases.
The judges collectively issued an order on April 25th, allowing the legal representatives of plaintiffs who have cases concerning Camp Lejeune time until the end of May to present a recommended team leader to facilitate the creation of strategies for handling grievances, investigations, and resolution talks.
The lawsuit is still in its early stages, but time limits may still apply.
