What You Need to Know About The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022
America’s veterans have provided a great service to our country. For those who served, lived, and worked at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, that service may have come at a cost. Since volatile organic compounds were discovered in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune, NC, in the early 1980s, service men and women have been fighting for their rights to take action. With the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, now they can.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act lifts the statute of limitations and allows veterans and their family members to sue to recover damages for any harm resulting from the toxic wastewater they may have been exposed to while living and working at Camp Lejeune. At Avera & Smith, our specialized team of Gainesville lawyers understand the need to act quickly. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 and work with you on your Camp Lejeune settlement.
What Is the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022?
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 is a bill passed by the U.S. Congress in 2022 that allows veterans and their family members who worked and lived at Camp Lejeune to sue and recover damages for harm from exposure to contaminated water. It aims to provide justice to those who suffered harm from the toxic water by allowing them to sue for damages. The bill provides medical care and benefits to those affected.
Many harmful and toxic chemicals were found in the drinking and bath water at Camp Lejeune, including trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), and benzene, which are linked to a number of serious health conditions.
Who Can File a Lawsuit?
In order to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit, a person must meet the following two criteria:
- First, they must have lived or worked at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between the years of 1953 and 1987. This also applies to those who were in utero during this time.
- Second, anyone wishing to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit must have been diagnosed with one of the following diseases that have been linked with the contaminated water:
- Adult leukemia
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Birth defects
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Cardiac effects
- Cervical cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Female infertility
- Hepatic steatosis
- Kidney cancer
- Leukemia
- Liver cancer
- Lung cancer
- Miscarriage
- Multiple myeloma
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Ovarian cancer
- Parkinson’s disease
- Renal toxicity
- Scleroderma
If you or a loved one meets these qualifications and has been diagnosed with one of the above diseases, you may be eligible to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit.
What Are the Time Limits for Filing a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit?
One of the best things about this act is that it removes the statute of limitations for this specific situation; the Act overrides a North Carolina statute that prevented lawsuits from being filed. This means that as long as a person meets the two criteria stated above, they can now file a claim for damages as long as they do so within the time set forth in the Act.
Other Important Things to Know
There are several important things to know regarding the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022.
First, punitive damages are not available for claims.
All claims must go through the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina as it is the exclusive venue for claims and actions related to this situation. Since affected service men and women are widely located throughout the country, our firm, and firms in other states, are working diligently to assist with claims.
Lastly, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 creates an exception to the Feres Doctrine, which prohibits military personnel and their families from bringing claims against the federal government for health conditions and injuries related to their time in the military service. Under the new Act, any military personnel, active or retired veteran, or their families who served, lived or worked at Camp Lejeune during the specified time for 30 days or longer, and who have been diagnosed with one of the listed illnesses, can bring a claim against the federal government.
Next Steps
If you or a loved one were affected by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Contact our team of expert Gainesville lawyers at Avera & Smith today to discuss your case and learn more about your legal options for a Camp Lejeune settlement.
About Mark Avera
Mark Avera is board certified in civil trial law (B.C.S.) by the Florida Bar. He received his initial certification in 1998 and has remained qualified for board certification in civil trial law since that time. In 2021, Mark Avera also became a member of the North Carolina Bar Association. He represents clients in Florida and North Carolina, listening to each client’s needs while helping them navigate the legal environment and achieving success. Learn more about Mark Avera in his bio.