# Plain Language Summary: Protect Access to Justice for Veterans Act

This bill puts a cap on how much lawyers can charge veterans who are suing the government over contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, a major Marine Corps base in North Carolina. For decades, the water at this base was polluted with dangerous chemicals, and many people who lived or worked there developed serious health problems. A previous law allowed these veterans and their families to sue the federal government for compensation. This new bill limits what their lawyers can take as payment from any money they win.

Here's how the fee limits work: If a lawyer settles a case quickly—within 180 days of filing a claim—they can take 20 percent of whatever money the veteran receives. If the case goes to trial or takes longer to settle, the lawyer can take up to 33.3 percent. The bill also requires that all settlement money be held in a special account and given to the veteran first, before the lawyer gets paid anything. This protects veterans from having their money tied up while lawyers collect their fees.

The bill includes penalties to enforce these rules. Lawyers who charge more than allowed can be fined up to $5,000, and those who don't follow the payment procedures face additional legal consequences. The intent is to make sure that when Camp Lejeune victims win their cases, most of the money goes to them rather than to their legal representatives. While the bill doesn't prevent veterans from hiring lawyers, it does ensure those lawyers' fees stay reasonable and don't eat up a large portion of what veterans are owed for their suffering and medical expenses.

Protect Access to Justice for Veterans Act

Nadler, Jerrold

Protect Access to Justice for Veterans Act This bill limits attorneys' fees for claims involving individuals who were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. Further, the bill requires an attorney representing an individual for such a claim to disburse the funds from any judgment or award to that individual before collecting any compensation for services rendered. The bill establishes certain penalties for violations.