Camp Lejeune Justice Act

What Is the Camp Lejeune Justice Act?

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act is a bill designed to help contractors, veterans, non-military (civilian) workers, and family members who were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune file claims to recover damages for the harm they suffered.

While a lot of progress has been made to give the victims justice, no claims can be made yet until the bill is signed into law by the president.

Early Efforts to Assist Affected Military Family Members

In the aftermath of the Camp Lejeune water contamination and toxic exposure, a lot of efforts were made by former residents of the North Carolina Marine Corps base to seek healthcare benefits.

Although the exposure to toxic chemicals has led to serious medical problems and even the death of many people, army vets, and their families have been denied their legal rights to be compensated until now.

First Lawsuit

The wife of one of the Marines stationed at Camp Lejeune filed the first lawsuit in 2010 after she was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Signing Into Law

The Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act was signed into law in 2012 by President Obama. This was the first big step, which allowed some service members to be granted benefits after being exposed to toxic chemicals at the base.

List of Presumptive Conditions Announced

It was not until 2017, that a list of presumptive conditions and diseases was announced by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This resulted in a large number of claims for healthcare benefits, of which many were denied.

The Combined Legislative Effort

The injustice of veterans exposed to contaminated water being denied the health care they needed, spurred groups of people, including victims, lawmakers, and advocates, to work together to find a way to amend this unfair legislation.

This combined effort finally gave birth to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. The legislation seeks to remove legal barriers that are faced by Marines and their families who were stationed at Camp Lejeune that are due to an anomaly in North Carolina Law.

Furthermore, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act goes on to say that anyone affected by exposure to contaminated water at the camp should file an administrative claim at the district court of the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Honoring Our PACT Act

The Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 seeks to address issues of presumption of service connection, resources, research, and health care for veterans exposed to toxic chemicals while on active duty.

President Biden, after the bill enjoyed overwhelming support in both the House and Senate, promised to sign the Honoring Our PACT Act into law.

Purpose of the PACT Act

The Honoring Our PACT Act is more than just compensation for water contamination victims.

It will guarantee benefits to veterans who:

• Were part of a toxic exposure risk activity
• Served on specified dates in specific locations
• Were deployed as part of a specified contingency operation.

Next Steps for the Camp Lejeune Justice Act

Before the bill can become law, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act will have to go through the following formalities:

• Approval by Senate
• Signed by President Biden
• Implementation into law.

Common Injuries Suffered by Camp Lejeune Victims

The water contamination at Camp Lejeune exposed army vets and their families to very serious conditions and diseases, such as:

• Parkinson’s disease
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Liver cancer
• Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS)
• Bladder cancer
• Multiple myeloma
• Kidney cancer
• Miscarriages
• Scleroderma
• Neurobehavioral effects
• Plastic anemia and other bone marrow conditions
• Other undiscovered diseases.

Ehline Law Can Help You Seek Compensation

One of the best things you can do if you are suffering from any condition that you think may have been caused by being exposed to toxic chemicals and water at Camp Lejeune is to contact our law offices for a free consultation with one of our personal injury attorneys.

We can assist army vets with the following:

Determine Eligibility

The law is very specific about the conditions you need to meet to be deemed eligible to be compensated under the Act, such as the date and location of the supposed exposure.

Understand the Law

There are many benefits that the law offers to victims that you may not be aware of. One important fact that a good lawyer will know is that in this particular situation, the bill prohibits the claiming of specified immunity by the government, as is the case when a soldier is injured or killed while on duty.

Take Legal Action

Some cases may require a strong attorney to fight for your rights, such as when a family member dies and you have to make a wrongful death claim which the government may try to deny.

Win Damages

Lastly, we can help you walk away with huge settlements to cover the following damages:

• Medical bills
• Permanent disability
• Wrongful death
• Reduced quality of life.

Call Us Now!

The Veterans Affairs (VA) has set aside $2 billion for disability benefits specifically for victims of the Camp Lejeune water contamination incident. If you think you are part of the intended recipients of these benefits, call Ehline Law today, and let us help you get the justice you deserve.