Marines and their families that lived at Camp Lejeune, a North Carolina military camp, between August 1st, 1953, and December 31st, 1987, were exposed to contaminated water. The toxic water used for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and bathing caused significant health issues like lung, brain, breast, and pancreatic cancer.
After the Camp Lejeune Justice Act was passed, toxic water victims were allowed to file administrative claims to pursue compensation for damages. However, the Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) has not settled any claims. Many Congress members and senators showcased their displeasure with the lack of settlements for Camp Lejeune toxic water victims by sending a letter to the JAG and Department of Justice (DOJ) urging transparency.
Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Led to Severe Health Problems for Marines
Camp Lejeune toxic water contamination happened because of improper disposal of chemicals and leaks from industrial spills, underground storage tanks, and waste disposal sites. The people living and serving at the North Carolina military base were exposed to water contaminated by dangerous chemicals, such as perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), vinyl chloride, and benzene.
Many marines and family members were exposed to contaminated water, which led to them suffering adverse health conditions. These health problems caused to significant damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The rest of their lives were dramatically altered, with reduced quality of life, expensive medical costs, and pain associated with their illnesses.
The following are some health conditions caused by toxic water at Camp Lejeune:
- Cervical cancer
- Brain cancer
- Lung cancer
- Breast cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Rectal cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Soft tissue cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Renal toxicity
- Hepatic steatosis
- Choanal atresia
Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Victims Have Yet to Recover Compensation for Damages
Toxic water victims were not allowed to file claims to pursue compensatory damages for a long time. North Carolina has an obscure law known as the statute of repose that does not allow personal injury victims to file claims or lawsuits ten years after the incident. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act was passed to allow those affected by water contamination at Camp Lejuene between August 1st, 1953, and December 31st, 1987, to file claims to seek compensation for damages until August 2024.
However, those who have filed administrative claims as outlined by the Camp Lejeune Justice Act have yet to receive a settlement. Over 45,000 administrative claims have been filed, but the Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) hasn’t offered a settlement yet. Those that go through the six-month administrative period can file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit. There have been over 900 lawsuits filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina but still no settlements.
Congress Members and Senators Write Concerned Letter to JAG and DOJ About Camp Lejeune Damages
Members of Congress and United States Senators have grown concerned regarding how long it’s taking Camp Lejeune toxic water victims to recover compensation for damages. They sent a letter to the Navy JAG and Department of Justice (DOJ), stating that it is imperative for them to “act expeditiously to ensure these individuals receive the justice they deserve without undue delay.”
Their concern over the delay has to do with the health status of many victims trying to recover compensation for damages. Many Camp Lejeune toxic water victims have passed away recently from their adverse health conditions or old age without recovering fair compensatory damages. Senators and Congress members want the JAG and DOJ to swiftly address these claims to allow victims to recover from adverse health conditions, and anything less is an injustice.
Letter End With Request for Response to Important Camp Lejeune Questions
Part of the letter from the Senators and congress members included a list of questions they requested the JAG and DOJ answer. They received complaints from constituents about the lack of movement in Camp Lejeune’s toxic water claims and lawsuits. They requested these questions be answered to “conduct oversight of the implementation of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act and to ensure those impacted by contaminated water receive justice in a timely manner.”
The following are the questions the JAG and DOJ must answer by June 9th, 2023:
- How many Camp Lejeune claims has the Navy Judge Advocate General received?
- How many Camp Lejeune lawsuits have been filed in federal court since 2022?
- How many individuals with pending Camp Lejeune claims have died while waiting for a
- resolution to their case?
- What are the Department of the Navy and the Department of Justice’s plans to process
- these claims in a timely manner?
- What are DOJ’s guidelines for resolving these cases?
- Will cases brought in federal court be litigated by lawyers from DOJ headquarters or by
- lawyers in the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina?
Contact The Russo Firm for Help With Your Camp Lejeune Lawsuit
The Russo Firm’s Camp Lejeune lawyers can help you with the process of filing your administrative claim and handling a lawsuit. We know how complicated the process has been without any victims receiving a settlement to pay for their damages. We hope this letter from senators and congress members can help get the process moving.
Our Camp Lejeune lawyers can help you assess your damages, collect evidence to prove you were exposed to Camp Lejeune’s toxic water and take care of all the steps involved in recovering compensation for Camp Lejeune damages. Contact us for a free Camp Lejeune lawsuit case evaluation at (561) 270-0913 or leave a message on our online contact page.
