If you or a family member lived in Camp Lejeune at any time from the 1950s to the 1980s, you should determine your eligibility for a Camp Lejeune lawsuit. This is because the water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with a high level of carcinogens. This could have caused numerous conditions, including cancer. Thankfully, you may have legal recourse if you or a family member suffered due to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Read on to learn more about the Camp Lejeune lawsuits.
Who is eligible for Camp Lejeune lawsuits?
Millions of people are eligible to file lawsuits in this case. Veterans, their family members, and private contractors who lived at Camp Lejeune for a period of at least 30 consecutive days from August 1, 1953, to December 31, 1987, may be eligible. Of course, you or your family members must have also suffered from an eligible condition to be considered for compensation.
What conditions are eligible?
There are a total of 15 conditions that are covered under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. People can seek compensation under this act through the terms of the PACT Act that was signed into law by President Biden. These conditions include:
- Scleroderma
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Lung cancer
- Leukemia
- Multiple myeloma
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Renal toxicity
- Parkinson’s disease
- Breast cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Female infertility
- Esophageal cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Hepatic Steatosis
- Miscarriage
Where must the lawsuit be filed?
The lawsuit must be filed in the United States Federal Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. You do not necessarily need to be present within North Carolina to file this suit. An attorney can file the suit for you. To ensure the best possible outcome for your case, it's advisable to enlist the expertise of the best Camp Lejeune attorneys.
Do federal or state laws prevent me from filing a suit?
In the past, several federal or state laws could have prevented you from filing a suit in such a situation. For example, the federal government had immunity in many similar situations that involved military personnel. However, the PACT law does away with this immunity.
It is also important to note that North Carolina has a law that restricts tort claims (such as those related to the Camp Lejeune lawsuit). These claims must be filed within 10 years of the incident. However, the Camp Lejeune case falls under federal jurisdiction. This means that you do not have to concern yourself with the North Carolina state legislation.
Those who lived at Marine Corps Air Station New River are also eligible
The vast majority of claimants will be those who had a past association with Camp Lejeune. However, if you or your family member lived at Marine Corps Air Station New River, you might be eligible for the Camp Lejeune lawsuit. You must have lived at MCAS New River for 30 consecutive days. The time period for these claims is the same as the time period for those who lived at Camp Lejeune. Those who lived at MCAS New River must also file their claims with the Federal Court for East North Carolina.
