Since the Camp Lejeune Justice Act was passed into law last August 2022, the influx of lawsuits for compensation shows no sign of slowing. If you’ve already filed yours, or you’re considering one, you may wonder if anyone has received any settlement in a Camp Lejeune case yet.
To date, there have been no settlements for Camp Lejeune water contamination cases. This is not good news for someone who has been waiting a long time to finally get some kind of compensation. Some estimates put the total collective payout of settlements at $6.7 billion. Individual settlement estimates are currently just that—estimates. The Navy’s Judge Advocate General (JAG) has not yet established a system for settlement distribution, even though the deadline for filing a claim is just 18 months away.
What About Consolidation?
To date, claims are individually filed. Currently, there are more than 15,000 claims already filed, with more cases expected. It is estimated that thousands more of these claims will be filed before the end of the filing period in early August 2024.
It will be very difficult for the government to litigate every one of these cases. One possibility that is being discussed is the consolidation of all the claims. The federal government and plaintiffs’ lawyers have recently and jointly requested that the court consolidate these Camp Lejeune lawsuits in some measure for both discovery and for the eventual settlement distribution.
The court has not yet responded, but it is widely expected that the court will agree with consolidation. While this will not become a class action lawsuit, it will be similar since the US government will settle the claims more or less at once.
Settlement Amounts
There isn’t a formula to determine what you might receive in a settlement. Some experts are making suggestive estimates based on the type of illness someone might have, but they are just educated guesses.
If you are filing a claim for Camp Lejeune water contamination, you will need to show proof of all the damages you suffered, including:
• Medical expenses
• Lost income/wages
• Lost future wages and earning capacity
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Disability
Because this isn’t a normal type of personal injury case, a settlement may not include pain and suffering like it would be for an auto accident, slip and fall, or other type of personal injury cases.
Camp Lejeune Claim? Contact The Herren Law Firm Today
If you served at or worked at Camp Lejeune and are now suffering a chronic illness, you may have a claim under this act. For more than 30 years, the Herren Law firm has helped veterans and other disabled people with their benefits claims and appeals. Given the short window to file, we have turned our expertise and resources to Camp Lejeune cases. We have extensive experience dealing with governmental agencies and the claims that are filed with them.
If you or someone you know became ill after being stationed at Camp Lejeune, get in touch with us immediately. You may have a claim. There is a strict deadline of two years to file a claim so do not wait.
We’ve helped over 4,000 people, and we can help you as well. Contact us today by calling (713) 682-8194 or using our online contact form. Our consultation is free, and it is best to discuss it with us to find out if you may have a claim.
