The Camp Lejeune Justice Act
The attorneys and staff at Harvell and Collins, P.A., would be happy to assist individuals who qualify to file a claim under the Camp Lejeune Act. Our office will assist clients in filing the administrative claim and we will provide competent guidance to help claimants navigate through the conclusion of the claim and the current uncertainty surrounding the administrative claim process. In the event a legal claim is necessary, our firm has extensive experience in representing clients and litigating cases filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina and we will be available to provide zealous advocacy and consistent communication throughout the duration of a claimant’s legal claim.
Background: Camp Lejeune
From August 1, 1953 to December 31, 1987, hundreds of thousands of military personnel, civilian employees, and their families lived and worked at the Camp Lejeune military base located in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Studies have revealed that during this time period the drinking water from two of the wells at Camp Lejeune contained trichloroethylene (TCE), benzene, and tetrachloroethylene (PCE). These chemicals are known to be linked to causing various forms of cancer and other serious illnesses. For decades, victims who ingested the contaminated water or who were exposed to the water could not seek relief in the State of North Carolina. Many of the claims brought by victims would be barred by the state’s statute of repose.
Honoring Our PACT ACT and Camp Lejeune Justice Act
On August 10, 2022, the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (Honoring Our Pact Act) was signed into law. One of the provisions of the Honoring Our Pact Act included the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act will allow for military veterans, their family members, and any other non-military workers who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune for more than 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987, to file a claim and recover damages for harm caused by the contaminated water that existed in the water supply at Camp Lejeune.
Illnesses and Diseases:
The following cancers and other serious diseases have been found to be linked to the water contamination at Camp Lejeune from August 1, 1953 to December 31, 1987:
➢ Lung Cancer
➢ Bladder Cancer
➢ Breast Cancer
➢ Throat Cancer
➢ Kidney Cancer
➢ Liver Cancer
➢ Brain Cancer
➢ Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma
➢ Myelodysplastic syndromes
➢ Leukemia
➢ Prostate Cancer
➢ Parkinson Disease ➢ Liver Failure
➢ Fatty Liver Disease ➢ Female Infertility ➢ Aplastic Anemia ➢ Systemic Sclerosis ➢ Miscarriages
➢ Kidney Damage
➢ Immune Disorders
➢ Nerve Damage
➢ Lou Gerhig’s Disease (ALS)
How to File a Claim:
Individuals seeking to file a claim under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act must first file an administrative claim with the Navy JAG office. A legal claim may be filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina if the Navy JAG denies the administrative claim or fails to address the claim within six months after receiving the administrative claim from the claimant. Individuals seeking to file a claim must do so within two years from the date the Camp Lejeune Justice Act was signed into law (August 10, 2024). Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, anyone who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune from August 1, 1953 to December 31, 1987, and who was exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune for 30 non-consecutive days can file a claim. The Act does not require claimants to have served in the military to qualify to file a claim. A personal representative for an estate of a deceased individual who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune during the requisite time period can file a claim on behalf of the deceased individual.
