August 10th, 2023, was the first year anniversary of the popular Camp Lejeune Justice Act. Since then, the journey has been slow, but it seems that things are finally taking shape. The probable reasons for settlement delays are coming to light, which is bringing in more clarity.
In May 2023, Bloomberg Law News reported that even after nine months of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, not one case had been settled. When questioned about the reason, the Navy said that it has to launch a website to manage the claims better. Today, over 45,000 claims have been filed. It’s estimated that by August 2024, which is the last date for filing a Camp Lejeune lawsuit, more claims might get added.
In this article, we will discuss how things are at present and what victims can expect in forthcoming years.
The Current Scenario
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 was introduced to help veterans and their family members get compensated for the ailments they have developed and suffered from by getting exposed to contaminated water. Prominent ailments include bladder cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, cervical cancer, multiple myeloma, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Even though the exact count is unknown, the Navy to date has received more than 50,000 administrative claims and over 1,000 lawsuits filed against the U.S. government in federal court. It’s indeed unfortunate that the federal government has offered no compensation till now. Additionally, the government defended itself by stating that Marines, their children, spouses, and relatives were negligent. Such a lack of accountability is indeed concerning.
Camp Lejeune Court Appointed Lawyers, Committees, and Subcommittees: Understanding the Relevance
In July 2023, District Judges in the U.S. supervising the Camp Lejeune claims had appointed a team of lawyers to take on a leadership role in managing every aspect of the litigation. Let’s look into all these developments that took place:
Lead and Co-Lead Counsel
Here, the court had elected one lawyer as a lead counsel and six lawyers as co-lead counsel. That means it’s a team of seven members accountable for monitoring the litigation activities linked to Camp Lejeune’s toxic water litigation. This team was set up to provide the required supervision and guidance and coordinate the accountabilities allocated to the Steering and Plaintiff’s Executive Committees.
Liaison Counsel
It is a team of two members and is a contact point between the plaintiffs’ leadership, the court, and victims who lack representation.
The court had appointed Ret. Major General Hugh Overholt and Charles Ellis as the two members of the team. They now act as a crucial link between the parties and the court.
Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee
The objective of this committee is to provide assistance and guidance to the lead and co-lead counsel to conduct and coordinate these proceedings. That aside, the committee members also contribute to subcommittees accountable for executing a compact litigation plan. It also ensures that there is oversight and correct organization throughout the process.
Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee
It’s a committee that takes charge of initiating, conducting, and coordinating every part of the discovery process for the benefit of plaintiffs on their behalf in the litigation. Additionally, it also plays a vital role in creating and presenting scientific methods to assess any harm that plaintiffs experience.
The committee was also formed to devise smart strategies for resolution and submit the required motion to the Court.
Subcommittees
The subcommittees had been created to address certain aspects of the litigation plan. At present, there are 8 subcommittees, namely:
- Plaintiff Criteria/Bellwether
- Database Development
- Government Liaison
- Resolution, Science, and Experts
- Discovery and ESI
- Administrative and Common Benefits
- Law and Briefing
Both the lead and co-lead counsel can add more subcommittees based on the requirements.
The Fight for Compensation And Justice Continues
Even though these developments point towards better days, the victims still have to tackle delays in the claims process. The Elective Option can also be counted as a point of progress to help victims receive their compensation fast to pay for urgent medical costs. It’s possible for the claimants to receive a higher compensation amount through a conventional lawsuit. However, the Elective Option can help ailing elders whose days are numbered.
TorHoerman Law states that victims should seek legal recourse by getting in touch with a lawyer with the correct expertise. They can provide correct guidance about navigating the legal path, make good use of the evidence to build a solid case, and attain the correct compensation that a victim deserves. Amidst all the changes that are taking place, there is hope for justice.
In conclusion, an overview of the Camp Lejeune timeline of activities would prove that progress has indeed been slow. But when the gray areas are known, there is a chance for resolution. Changes concerning speeding up the claims process might not change overnight, which means victims might need to exercise some more patience.
In any situation, if you have developed any chronic ailment because of the toxic water contamination between 1953 and 1987 in this region, you need to file a lawsuit and seek compensation to cover the damages you’ve endured.
