Over 546,000 Claims Filed for Camp Lejeune Toxic Water

The U.S. Navy has received over 546,000 claims for compensation related to toxic water exposure at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, making it one of the largest personal injury cases in U.S. history. Contamination, discovered in 1982, has been linked to various harmful chemicals that affected military personnel and civilians from 1953 to 1987, resulting in increased risks for cancers and other serious health issues. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act, signed into law by President Biden in 2022, opened a two-year window for affected individuals to file administrative claims before pursuing lawsuits in federal court. Approximately 2,000 lawsuits have already been filed, and four judges are managing the overwhelming caseload, with trials anticipated to commence next year. The Navy is currently sorting through claims to eliminate duplicates and ensure a fair adjudication process. Government projections suggest that total compensation payouts could surpass $21 billion, reflecting the extensive impact of the contamination.