# Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022

For decades, people who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune, a major Marine Corps base in North Carolina, were exposed to contaminated drinking water. The water contained dangerous chemicals like benzene and trichloroethylene (TCE), which can cause serious health problems including cancer, kidney disease, and other illnesses. Many people didn't even know the water was poisoned until years or decades later, after they'd already gotten sick. This bill finally gives those people the right to sue the federal government for the harm they suffered.

Specifically, anyone who spent at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune between August 1953 and December 1987—whether they were a Marine, a family member, a civilian worker, or even someone exposed before birth—can now file a lawsuit in federal court in North Carolina. They can seek compensation for any health problems caused by the contaminated water. The person filing the lawsuit has to prove that the water exposure caused their illness, but the standard isn't impossibly high; they need to show the connection is "at least as likely as not," meaning it's more probable than not that the water caused the harm.

There are some important limits on these lawsuits. People can't get punitive damages (extra money meant to punish bad behavior), and any money they receive will be reduced by the amount they've already gotten from Veterans Affairs, Medicare, or Medicaid for the same condition. Also, people have a deadline: they must file their lawsuit within two years of this law being enacted, or within 180 days after the government officially denies their claim, whichever comes later. Once someone wins a lawsuit under this law, they can't sue the government again for the same harm under any other legal theory.

Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022

Cartwright, Matt

Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 This bill allows certain individuals to sue and recover damages for harm from exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. This action is available only to individuals who were exposed to contaminated water for at least 30 days. The bill prohibits the U.S. government from asserting specified immunity from litigation in response to such a lawsuit. The bill also prohibits an individual who brings such an action from bringing a separate tort action against the United States based on the same harm.