Legally Reviewed
This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy and clarity by Tort Defenders’ writers and staff and is as accurate as possible. This content should not be taken as legal advice from an attorney.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) of 2022 is part of a larger bill signed by President Joe Biden. The larger bill, Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, is meant to protect veterans exposed to harmful toxins while serving.
The CLJA section specifically provides a framework for the Navy to respond quickly to claims of exposure to harmful chemicals from those who served or lived at Camp Lejeune from 1953 to 1987. With it, the government can work quickly to compensate victims and stay accountable for this contamination incident. As of September 2023, more than 93,000 CLJA claims have been filed.
The goal is to help as many affected servicemen and their families get the compensation they need. Learn more about the CLJA and what it means for veterans.
What Prompted the Passage of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act?
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune opened in 1941 to support America’s overseas military during WWII. However, from 1953 to 1987, the water was contaminated by nearby buildings that leaked unsafe chemicals. Service personnel, their families, and civilians who worked on-base all used contaminated water to drink, prepare food, bathe, wash their clothes, and serve various buildings, including the on-base hospital.
While the chemicals were identified and the contamination was addressed by 1987, the damage was done. Many people who lived and worked at Camp Lejeune have since developed leukemia, other cancers, and additional complications because of their exposure to toxic substances. The goal of the CLJA is to bring justice to the victims and families affected because of the negligence of the United States Navy.
The CLJA is part of the PACT Act that states servicemen do not need to prove that their service directly caused their medical condition. They can instead prove that they were exposed to dangerous substances and the government will presume that there is a connection between the exposure and their medical needs.
The PACT Act is considered “the largest health care and benefit expansion in VA history,” and had nearly the full support of the United States Senate, along with several veterans groups and advocates for service personnel. Comedian Jon Stewart also supported the bill because of its protections for 9/11 first responders.
When Was the Camp Lejeune Justice Act Enacted?
The CLJA has a complicated timeline. Even though the government knew the water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated by the 1980s, it didn’t start notifying affected veterans and their families until 1999. The first lawsuit related to Camp Lejeune water contamination was filed in 2009. Compensation for people affected by this water poisoning has been slow and arduous, which is what the CLJA is supposed to clear up.
Nearly 70 years after the first contamination incident, the House of Representatives drafted the CLJA. A similar bill was drafted by the Senate in November 2021. However, it wasn’t until July 2022 that Congress started to vote on this proposal. Senate Republicans blocked the first vote of the act but then voted in favor of the CLJA and PACT as a whole after a few modifications.
Once this bill passed through Congress, President Biden signed The Camp Lejeune Justice Act into law by President Biden on August 10, 2022.
Main Points of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act
If you were affected by toxic water at Camp Lejeune, learn more about this act. Here are a few key points to know:
- The act allocates funds to provide medical benefits to individuals affected by toxic water at Camp Lejeune.
- Those affected will have two years to submit a claim for compensation starting in August 2022.
- This act covers anyone who resided or worked at Camp Lejeune, not just veterans, for at least 30 days.
- Claimants will need to prove that they were at Camp Lejeune and developed medical complications after.
The purpose of the CLJA and PACT Act is to streamline claims so affected individuals do not need to prove that their illness was caused directly by contaminated water on the base.
Who Is Covered According to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act?
The CLJA does not just apply to veterans. Anyone who lived or worked on base and was affected is covered under this act. Here are a few types of people who would be covered:
- Service members stationed at Camp Lejeune;
- Spouses, children, and other family members who lived on base;
- Civilian employees who worked at Camp Lejeune;
- Contractors who stayed at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or more.
The CLJA also covers in-utero exposure. If a mother was living at Camp Lejeune while carrying a child, this Act could cover birth defects or developmental disorders in the child caused by exposure to toxic chemicals.
Claimants will need to provide their military records or other forms of proof that they were on base during the affected time. They will also need to present medical records of complications that have developed since. Learn more about submitting a Camp Lejeune claim and discuss your options with one of our experienced mass tort lawyers.
Updates to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act
Since the passing of the bill, there have been 147,428 administrative claims filed with the Navy. More than 1,471 lawsuits have been filed by victims seeking compensation. However, only 15 payouts have been made.
In December 2023, the government added stipulations to the bill and will be proposing more in 2024. Unfortunately, plaintiffs have yet to see how these stipulations will affect the claiming process.\
Possible Settlement Amounts
The potential settlement amounts through the CLJA will vary depending on the severity of the case and the needs of the claimant. However, some experts estimate that settlements will range from $25,000 to $500,000 on average.
The first three settlements from the CLJA were awarded in November 2023, with three servicemen receiving $850,000 combined. The government estimates that it will pay $3.3 trillion to cover these claims.
Since this act is so recent, and claims are filed in such a short time span, it’s important to follow updates on the Camp Lejeune lawsuits to learn the average settlement amounts and what this potentially means for your claim.
Controversy
One of the biggest concerns with this bill is that the claims process and payouts won’t be as fast as they are intended to be. For example, a sample of 3,604 plaintiffs found only 490 (13.6%) had a qualifying diagnosis that could result in early resolution. The Navy could potentially receive hundreds of thousands of claims by the August deadline, but many of them could get stuck in the courts for several years. Critics say that many claimants are older, sick, or dying. They don’t have time to wait for their settlement to go through.
Additionally, if a claim is rejected or denied, the plaintiff can sue for benefits. However, this process can be slow and expensive for the affected veteran or family member.
The CLJA is meant to empower service personnel and their families who were affected by the military’s negligence; however, navigating legal processes is always challenging. Don’t go through this alone. Contact a lawyer so you can file a claim effectively.