The North Carolina military base Camp Lejeune had an issue with water contamination from the 1950s until the 1980s, exposing marines and their families to adverse health conditions. The water used for drinking, bathing, cleaning, and showering was contaminated by carcinogenic chemicals that caused health conditions like liver cancer, renal toxicity, and bladder cancer.
Since the passing of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, toxic water victims can file administrative claims to pursue compensatory damages after years of not being allowed. Many personal injury law firms invested millions of dollars into advertisements to attract Camp Lejeune contaminated water victims to their law firms. However, many have made false promises and misled Camp Lejeine victims with incorrect settlement information.
Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Victims Experienced Adverse Health Conditions
Camp Lejeune is a warfighting platform in southeastern North Carolina that prepares marines for wartime situations. Between August 31st, 1953, and December 31st, 1987, marines and their families living at the military camp were exposed to toxic water. Carcinogens contaminated the water at Camp Lejeune through improper disposal of chemicals and leaks from underground storage tanks, industrial spills, and waste disposal sites.
Marines and their families, including children in utero while they lived at Camp Lejeune, were exposed to toxic water that led to life-altering health conditions. Some health conditions Camp Lejeune toxic water victims experienced include lung cancer, eye and birth defects, pancreatic cancer, and renal toxicity.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act Allows Victims to Pursue Compensatory Damages
Victims were not allowed to pursue compensation for damages through personal injury claims for a long time because of North Carolina’s statute of repose. This law disallowed personal injury victims from filing claims ten years after the incident they require compensation for. In the case of Camp Lejeune toxic water victims, they did not find out about the Marine Corps’ negligence for decades after the exposure to contaminated water.
President Biden signed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act into law as a part of the PACT Act in August 2022. This allowed Camp Lejeune toxic water victims to file administrative claims with the Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) to pursue compensation for damages. Those that lived or were in utero at Camp Lejeune between August 31st, 1953, and December 31st, 1987, who experienced significant health problems are allowed to file administrative claims until August 2024 to pursue compensation for damages.
Personal Injury Lawyers Spend Millions of Dollars in Camp Lejeune Advertising
Following the passing of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, many personal injury law firms began investing money into advertisements. These ads, which you’ve likely seen on television, seek to convince Camp Lejeune contaminated water victims to hire their lawyers to help them with the claim process.
According to Reuters, law firms and marketing agencies spent $45 million on Camp Lejeune ads after the Camp Lejeune Justice Act was passed. Between March 22nd and September 28th, 2022, there were about 94,000 aired across every media market in the United States. Television, radio, and online advertisements sought to convince Camp Lejeune toxic water victims to hire personal injury lawyers to help with the potentially complicated legal process involved in pursuing compensatory damages.
Advertisements Make False Promises About How They Can Help With Your Camp Lejeune Lawsuit
These Camp Lejune advertisements do not come from a solely altruistic place. Many law firms have invested so heavily in Camp Lejeune ads to reap the rewards of settlement money from the government. Some of these advertisements have misled Camp Lejeune toxic water victims about what was possible.
Law firms have made promises about how much compensation a victim could get and a clear timeline for recovering compensation for damages. Not much is known yet about when victims could recover compensation, so any promises about helping victims recover Camp Lejeune toxic water settlements are lies. Many veteran advocacy groups have warned Camp Lejeune toxic water about the predatory nature of these ads and to remain wary about law firms making too many promises.
No Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Victim Has Received a Settlement Yet
Despite what some advertisements suggest, no Camp Lejeune toxic water victim has received a settlement yet from the Navy JAG. They haven’t seen fit to offer a settlement to anyone that has filed an administrative claim. Many that have filed administrative claims went through the six-month administrative period without receiving a settlement offer and are now allowed to file Camp Lejeune toxic water lawsuits.
Some law firms claim they have a track record of helping Camp Lejeune clients recover compensation for damages. Camp Lejeune toxic water victims should not believe these ads. Any promises about how much compensation they can earn you and when are untrue and misleading.
Should You Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer to Help With Your Camp Lejeune Lawsuit?
Camp Lejeune toxic water victims can experience significant damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, because of their adverse health condition. They can file an administrative claim and then a personal injury lawsuit to pursue compensation for damages.
Hiring a personal injury lawyer can help with the process of a Camp Lejeune claim. While an experienced lawyer cannot guarantee you will earn compensation, they can help you with the complicated process. They will know what paperwork to file, what is required to file an administrative claim, and how to handle the process if you do not receive a settlement offer from the Navy JAG.
Contact The Russo Firm for Help With Your Camp Lejeune Lawsuit
At The Russo Firm, our personal injury lawyers have vast mass tort experience that can help you with your Camp Lejeune lawsuit. They will have handled similar types of claims and lawsuits, which can help you through the process of a Camp Lejeune administrative claim.
We understand how the Marine Corps’ negligence exposed you to toxic water that could result in negative health conditions causing economic damages and worsened quality of life. Allow our personal injury lawyers to walk you through how they can help with the claim process by taking advantage of our free consultations. Contact us for a free Camp Lejeune case evaluation at (561) 270-0913 or leave a message on our online contact page.
