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November 21st, 2023Nestled in the heart of North Carolina, the Camp Lejeune military base is coming to terms with a dark history. From 1953 to 1987, the water meant to sustain service members, their families, and workers contained toxic chemicals. Since the passage of the PACT Act, attorneys have been working to provide compensation and redress to those who suffered long-lasting health effects from the polluted water. Now, more than a year after the PACT Act became law, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that three individuals accepted the first Camp Lejeune settlements, totaling $850,000.
On October 30, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) attorney Adam Bain disclosed the initiation of the first Camp Lejeune settlements and the actual disbursement of funds. According to the DOJ, three individuals accepted settlements for their injuries amounting to $850,000. While specific settlement numbers for each individual have not been specified, two of the three have been paid already.
Currently, the U.S. Navy finds itself grappling with an overwhelming load of administrative claims, a staggering 117,000, to be exact. Remedying the 117,000 administrative claims could cost the government nearly $3.3 trillion.
Simultaneously, the federal court in North Carolina is handling 1,300 Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuits. Both the administrative claims and filed lawsuits center on a spectrum of troubling health problems allegedly tied to the military base’s tainted water, including cancer, miscarriages, birth defects, autoimmune disorders, and more.
These Camp Lejeune settlements are just the tip of the iceberg. The Navy has extended 23 Camp Lejeune settlement offers, but only three people have accepted thus far. We won’t have more details until at least January 1, according to a statement from the Navy.
Furthermore, more administrative claims and subsequent lawsuits could be on the way due to an unpublished study by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The study indicated elevated cancer rates in service members and civilians who lived at Camp Lejeune.
The announcement of the first Camp Lejeune settlements does give hope that the elective option is streamlining proceedings. The Navy and the Department of Justice introduced the elective option in September to resolve Camp Lejeune claims faster.
Under this elective option, the government offers specific dollar amounts to claimants tailored to their illnesses and the duration of their exposure to the contaminated water. Settlement amounts under the elective option range between $100,000 and $550,000.
In the wake of the first Camp Lejeune settlements, there is still a lot of work to be done. While the $850,000 disbursement is a start to remedy the tragedy individuals suffered because of the contaminated water, thousands of claims remain. The Lake Law Firm stands ready to support individuals seeking justice through the Camp Lejeune elective option. Call us today at (888) 525-3529 to learn how The Lake Law Firm can help you.
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