Attorney Jessie Paluch, founder of TruLaw, has over 25 years of experience as a personal injury and mass tort attorney, and previously worked as an international tax attorney at Deloitte. Jessie collaborates with attorneys nationwide — enabling her to share reliable, up-to-date legal information with our readers.
This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy and clarity by the team of writers and legal experts at TruLaw and is as accurate as possible. This content should not be taken as legal advice from an attorney. If you would like to learn more about our owner and experienced injury lawyer, Jessie Paluch, you can do so here.
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Hundreds of thousands of veterans, their family members, and civilian workers who served and lived at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina from 1953 to 1987 were exposed to contaminated water containing harmful chemicals.
Tragically, many of those who were exposed to the contaminated water on the base were later diagnosed with certain types of cancer and other adverse health effects.
Individuals who were diagnosed with certain serious health conditions after living and working at Camp Lejeune might be able to recover compensation through a federal claim if a new bill, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, is approved by Congress and signed into law.
To qualify for a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit, the plaintiff must have resided at the Marine Corps base for a period of at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987.
This includes active-duty service members and veterans, family members of veterans who lived at the camp, civilian staff, families of deceased individuals, and even individuals who were in-utero at the time of exposure.
Individuals who are dishonorably discharged might not qualify for a lawsuit even if they meet the other eligibility requirements.
Victims of water contamination at Camp Lejeune currently have no legal recourse to pursue compensation for damages they suffered after living on the base.
Under the 2012 Janey Ensminger Act, which was signed into law during the Obama administration, the family members of veterans who were diagnosed with specific cancers and other diseases after living at Camp Lejeune have the ability to recover healthcare benefits through Veterans Affairs.
However, they are still time-barred from bringing a claim against the government and other potentially liable parties because of North Carolina’s statute of repose against polluters.
The statute of repose against polluters in North Carolina allows victims just ten years to file a lawsuit for compensation.
And because the clock on the statute of repose begins ticking when the defendant first engages in negligent conduct, the statutory deadline passed long before the water at Camp Lejeune was determined to be contaminated.
The new bill aims to remove the legal barrier that currently prevents victims of the base’s contaminated water from taking legal action.
Plaintiffs in Camp Lejeune water contamination cases will likely be filing their lawsuits in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
However, there are numerous steps that plaintiffs must take before they file a complaint in federal court.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act is inching its way toward being passed into law.
If it becomes law, the attorneys at TruLaw will be prepared to take on cases and help victims secure the financial relief they deserve.
It is possible that there will be a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of Camp Lejeune water contamination victims.
In 2011, a Camp Lejeune class-action lawsuit was filed in federal court against the United States government, but the case was dismissed due to the statute of repose.
If the new bill passes, then it is likely that any class-action suit would proceed because the statute of repose will not apply to the Camp Lejeune water contamination cases.
Until the final legislation is available, it’s not possible for TruLaw to know the exact process and rules for filing a Camp Lejeune contaminated water lawsuit.
It is possible that the new bill will make it easier for plaintiffs to bring a lawsuit, but if it doesn’t, attorneys representing Camp Lejeune plaintiffs might initially have to file with the Department of the Navy under the Federal Tort Claims Act.
The federal government must respond to the claim within six months.
If the government issues a denial, plaintiffs could then sue the United States government in federal court in North Carolina.
If you suffered adverse health issues after being exposed to contaminated water while living at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, TruLaw can help.
Visit our Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water Lawsuit page and get an instant case assessment.
Experienced Attorney & Legal SaaS CEO
With over 25 years of legal experience, Jessie is an Illinois lawyer, a CPA, and a mother of three. She spent the first decade of her career working as an international tax attorney at Deloitte.
In 2009, Jessie co-founded her own law firm with her husband – which has scaled to over 30 employees since its conception.
In 2016, Jessie founded TruLaw, which allows her to collaborate with attorneys and legal experts across the United States on a daily basis. This hypervaluable network of experts is what enables her to share reliable legal information with her readers!
You can learn more about the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit by visiting any of our pages listed below:
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Camp Lejeune’s water contamination issue spanned several decades starting in the 1950s. Exposure to these chemicals has been linked to various serious health issues, including cancer, organ diseases, and death.
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Here, at TruLaw, we’re committed to helping victims get the justice they deserve.
Alongside our partner law firms, we have successfully collected over $3 Billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured individuals.
Would you like our help?
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