Since we continue to see a bunch of questions about Camp Lejeune, we decided to do another round of FAQs. 1. HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO FILE A CLAIM FOR CAMP LEJEUNE WATER CONTAMINATION INJURIES?
Under the terms of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 ("the Act"), there is a 2-year time period to file your Camp Lejeune lawsuit. Since the Act was passed on August 10, 2022, that means that you have until August 9, 2024 to file your Camp Lejeune claims. If you think you were affected by the contamination, please reach out to us or another firm immediately.
2. DO I NEED A LAWYER TO REPRESENT ME IN THE CAMP LEJEUNE LITIGATION?
We strongly recommend you hire an attorney to help with your Camp Lejeune lawsuit. These types of contamination and exposure cases are complicated, requiring significant legal and medical expertise. While you can technically represent yourself, an experienced partner will give you the best chance at a successful resolution of your case.
3. HOW MUCH WILL CAMP LEJEUNE VICTIMS GET?
The settlement fund was established to provide compensation to veterans and family members who were affected by exposure to contaminated drinking water. The amount of compensation that eligible individuals can receive depends on several factors, including the extent of their exposure and the nature of their health conditions.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, eligible individuals can receive up to $2.2 million in compensation for certain medical conditions related to exposure to the contaminated water, such as certain types of cancer or other serious illnesses. However, the actual amount of compensation that an individual receives depends on factors such as the severity of their illness, the cost of their treatments, and the duration of their exposure. As cases have only just begun to reach the courtroom, it's still too early in the process to approximate the average value of these claims. As the litigation develops and as cases begin to be settled, we will have a better idea of the true value of these claims. Consumer Legal Request and our partners have committed significant time and resources into this litigation and while we do not yet know how much Camp Lejeune victims will receive, we anticipate that eligible Camp Lejeune victims will receive significant compensation for their suffering.
4. IS THERE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR CAMP LEJEUNE WATER CONTAMINATION INJURIES?
Technically, the Camp Lejeune cases are not traditional class action lawsuits. Under the terms of the Act, firms around the country will be filing individual lawsuits for victims who suffered specific injuries related to the contamination. However, this litigation may be referred to as a “mass tort” because many of the lawsuits will be in the same court with similar fact patterns. With potentially 100s of thousands of claims to be filed, this case will likely be one of the larger mass tort cases in history.
5. WHO QUALIFIES FOR THE CAMP LEJEUNE LAWSUIT?
The contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune was found to have affected a large number of veterans who served at the base between1953 to 1987. Additionally, these veterans' family members who lived on the base during the same period were also affected by the contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune.
Further, civilians who worked at Camp Lejeune during the same period may also qualify for the lawsuit if they were exposed to the contaminated drinking water.
To be eligible for the lawsuit, individuals must have been exposed to the contaminated water and have developed one of several health conditions that have been linked to the toxic chemicals found in the water. Some of the health conditions that may qualify include certain types of cancer, neurological disorders, and other serious illnesses. See previous Camp Lejeune FAQ for complete list.
6. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AT CAMP LEJEUNE?
The problem at Camp Lejeune stems from the contamination of the base's drinking water with various toxic chemicals over a period of several decades. Between 1953 and 1987, the drinking water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with several toxic chemicals, including trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and other toxic substances. These chemicals were released into the environment by various sources on the base, including leaking underground storage tanks and runoff from industrial areas. The people in the surrounding area were unaware of the contamination and thus they drank, bathed in, and cooked with the contaminated water, suffering irreparable injuries as a result of the exposure.
7. WHAT MADE THE WATER AT CAMP LEJEUNE TOXIC?
One of the main contributors to the contamination of the water at Camp Lejeune was the use of underground storage tanks to store and dispense fuel and other chemicals. Many of these tanks leaked over time, releasing toxic substances into the soil and groundwater. In addition, industrial activities on and off the base contributed to the contamination. For example, a local dry cleaner apparently dumped large quantities of perchloroethylene (PCE) chemicals into the soil. Over time, these toxic chemicals migrated into the groundwater and contributed to the contamination of the base's water supply.
8. IS CAMP LEJEUNE WATER STILL CONTAMINATED?
The government has taken steps to remediate the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and thus the drinking water is no longer contaminated with the same toxic chemicals that were present in the past. The U.S. Marine Corps has implemented a number of measures to address the contamination, including the installation of new water treatment systems and the closure of contaminated wells.
However, it is important to note that the contamination of the water at Camp Lejeune was a complex problem that persisted for many years, and the long-term effects of exposure to the contaminated water are still being studied. Undoubtedly, many health problems related to that exposure are yet to be discovered.
NEXT TIME... HOW DOES A CAMP LEJEUNE LAWSUIT WORK?
Comments