Camp Lejeune water claims: what to check in Illinois

Jurisdiction — All Claims Filed in E.D. North Carolina: All CLJA lawsuits, irrespective of the plaintiff's home state, must be filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Wilmington Division, before Judge Louise Flanagan. Illinois courts have no jurisdiction over these federal claims. Illinois-based counsel appear in E.D.N.C.

Filing Deadline — Window Has Closed, Discovery Rule May Still Apply: The CLJA two-year administrative and civil filing window closed on August 10, 2024. Claimants who received their diagnosis or first learned of the water contamination link close to the deadline may have discovery rule arguments that are still viable, but these are contested. Legal consultation is advisable.

VA Disability Claims Are Separate and Remain Open: VA disability claims for Camp Lejeune presumptive conditions — including NHL, leukemia, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, Parkinson's disease, and neurobehavioral effects — are handled through Illinois's VA regional offices in Chicago and are not subject to the CLJA deadline. Illinois veterans can file VA claims independently of any civil proceeding.

Illinois Veteran Population and Exposure History: Illinois has approximately 630,000 veterans. Marine Corps and Navy veterans from Illinois bases including Naval Station Great Lakes had documented Camp Lejeune assignments. Illinois plaintiffs are well-represented in the consolidated E.D.N.C. docket. The contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune — TCE, PCE, benzene, and vinyl chloride — was present from 1953 to 1987 and is associated with cancers including NHL, leukemia, bladder, kidney, breast, and esophageal cancer, as well as Parkinson's disease.