On October 30, an attorney for the U.S. government announced the first three settlements for Camp Lejeune water contamination victims have been reached. This compensation comes more than a year after the Camp Lejeune Justice Act was first enacted.
The three Camp Lejeune payouts, totaling $850,000, mark a crucial milestone in the pursuit of justice for those suffering health issues caused by exposure to toxic water at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune from 1953 to 1987. Two of the three offers have already been paid out.
These payments are a part of the Elective Option, which was introduced by the Department of Justice and the Department of the Navy in September 2023.
The Elective Option was designed to streamline the Camp Lejeune payout timeline and provide veterans and their families with quicker access to compensation. Elective Option payments may range from $100,000 to $550,000, depending on the claimant's illness and the duration of their exposure to the contaminated water.
In addition to these three payments, U.S. Department of Justice Attorney Adam Bain stated that another 23 families have been offered Camp Lejeune compensation, and the government is currently waiting for them to accept or decline the payment amounts offered to them.
Thousands of Camp Lejeune Payments May Be on the Horizon
More than 117,000 administrative claims are pending with the U.S. Navy, and an additional 1,300 lawsuits have been filed in the Eastern District Court of North Carolina as of November 2023.
However, a recent court filing revealed that far more money has been requested than the U.S. government is prepared to pay out.
Nearly $3.3 Trillion has been demanded to resolve the Camp Lejeune claims filed so far, but the Congressional Budget Office predicts the government will pay around $21 Billion to veterans and families impacted by the contaminated water.
While no Camp Lejeune lawsuits have resulted in compensation at this time, the first trials are set to begin in March 2024. However, more families may be awarded compensation through the Elective Option before the year is over.
Additional information about the Elective Options payments that have been made is expected to be announced in January 2024, a spokesperson from the U.S. Navy told Reuters.
Stay informed on the latest happenings — get regular updates on Camp Lejeune litigation and settlements.
Camp Lejeune Health Issues Eligible for Compensation
Researchers have linked many health issues to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, including different types of cancer and issues connected to pregnancy.
Camp Lejeune health issues that may qualify for compensation include:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Aplastic anemia
- Birth defects
- Bladder cancer
- Brain cancer
- Breast cancer
- Cardiac defects
- Cervical cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Crohn’s disease
- Esophageal cancer
- Fatty liver disease (hepatic steatosis)
- Female infertility
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Lung cancer
- Lymphomas
- Miscarriage
- Multiple myeloma
- Myelodysplastic cancer
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Parkinson’s disease
- Pancreatic cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Rectal cancer
- Renal toxicity
- Sarcoma
- Scleroderma
Additionally, an unpublished study from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has identified the strongest evidence to date linking contaminated water at Camp Lejeune to higher risks of cancer.
The study reportedly found elevated cancer rates in both service members and civilians who resided at Camp Lejeune. Significantly, the report also increased the number of known cancers linked to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
While the agency has yet to formally publish the study, it has heightened concerns and may result in even more Camp Lejeune claims being filed.
If you lived or worked at Camp Lejeune and developed a health condition linked to the toxic water, you still have time to file a claim — but not long. The deadline to file a Camp Lejeune claim is August 10, 2024.
Get Help Filing Your Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Today
The recent announcement of Camp Lejeune payments signals a step forward in addressing the grave consequences of the contaminated water. The road ahead may remain challenging, but our Camp Lejeune attorneys remain committed to helping victims access the compensation they deserve.
Since 1979, Sokolove Law has helped thousands of veterans and their families get justice for illnesses caused by toxic exposures, and we’ve recovered over $9.6 Billion total for our clients nationwide.
Our Camp Lejeune lawyers have already helped over 30,000 families impacted by the contaminated water on base.
