Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water has been identified as the primary cause of numerous cancers, organ damage, birth defects, and other life-threatening health conditions experienced by both service members and their families who were at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987. After decades of negligence exposed hundreds of thousands of Marines and their families to highly toxic carcinogens at Camp Lejeune, their claims are finally being evaluated for compensation.
Given the amount of time that has passed since most Camp Lejeune plaintiffs were exposed to toxic chemicals, the extent of their damages, and the government’s previous unwillingness to acknowledge the widespread contamination, most plaintiffs are wisely seeking out the help of experienced personal injury lawyers to represent their claims. This has led to questions about what Camp Lejeune attorneys intend to charge for their services.
At Dolman Law Group, we are committed to dealing fairly with the Camp Lejeune families we represent. Our team understands that you have likely been waiting for years to have your damages acknowledged, and we don’t take for granted the trust you are placing in our team. To learn more about how our services can benefit your claim, you can schedule a free consultation with one of our expert personal injury attorneys.
New Legislation is Providing Camp Lejeune Families a Path to Compensation
An act of Congress overrode an existing statute of limitation that had prevented most Camp Lejeune families from seeking the compensation they needed for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages like pain and suffering. Since then, over 93,000 administrative claims have been submitted to the JAG office and 130 Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuits are being heard in the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Known as the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, this legislation has opened the door for people who have suffered from serious illnesses to be compensated for their damages. Under the PACT Act, Congress created a limited opportunity for military veterans, their families, and civilian contractors who were likely exposed to carcinogens on base to recover the compensation they deserve.
Up until this point, most plaintiffs were unable to pursue claims because of a 10-year statute of repose that exists in North Carolina. In many cases, signs of illness or injuries did not present themselves until years or decades after the original exposure, so they were unaware that they would need to file a claim for compensation until after the window to pursue a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit had already passed.
Some Remain Unsatisfied With Camp Lejeune Justice Act Over Unchecked Lawyer’s Fees
Camp Lejeune activists like retired Master Sergeant Jerry Ensminger have raised objections that Congress did not stipulate a limit for what personal injury attorneys could charge to represent Camp Lejeune clients. Ensminger has been at the forefront of this issue for decades after losing his daughter, Janey, to leukemia she likely suffered as a result of exposure to contaminated Camp Lejeune water in utero and as a young child living on base.
He has expressed concerns that some Camp Lejeune attorneys intend to recover fees equivalent to 40% of what their client’s claim settles for, substantially reducing the compensation the injured party receives. Many Camp Lejeune service members and their families have suffered for decades with no financial relief in sight, so maximizing the amount of compensation they receive is understandably a priority.
The exclusion of a cap on attorney’s fees was not an oversight by Congress, but rather the result of a lobbying effort. Camp Lejeune lawyer Ed Bell, who financially contributed to members of Congress and worked to persuade them to remove a cap on fees from the bill’s final language, says that this was necessary to attract leading personal injury lawyers to the case.
Congress Wrestles With an Appropriate Ceiling for Camp Lejeune Lawyers’ Fees
To address the concerns of Camp Lejeune plaintiffs like Ensminger, various lawmakers have floated bills to institute a limit on Camp Lejeune attorneys’ fees. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) has introduced a bill that proposes Camp Lejeune lawyers must cap their fees at 17%. Ensminger concurs that attorneys’ fees should have a cap and that Congress needs to act on this issue.
However, he does not support Sullivan’s 17% cap because it would discourage personal injury lawyers from taking on Camp Lejeune cases, as their fee needs to be sufficient for them to recover operating costs and receive a reasonable profit. Solid legal representation is essential to ensuring that a plaintiff has the support they need to prove that their injuries resulted from Camp Lejeune’s toxic water supply and establish the value of their damages.
Another bill, proposed by Representatives Nadler and Takano, has suggested a 33% cap for lawyer’s fees for Camp Lejeune lawsuits being handled as a mass tort issue in the Eastern District of North Carolina, and a 20% cap for personal injury attorneys representing Camp Lejeune families in administrative claims being processed through the JAG office.
Dolman Law Group is Dedicated to Fair Lawyer Fees for Camp Lejeune Families
As personal injury lawyers, we operate on a contingency fee basis. There are several key benefits to this system for our clients. The first advantage is that someone who is injured by another person’s negligence can hire one of our highly qualified personal injury attorneys without having to pay anything upfront. Second, they are not responsible for costs related to their claim until their claim is settled.
The contingency fee is recovered out of the settlement itself, meaning that there are no out-of-pocket legal expenses related to paying our personal injury attorney’s fees. Finally, there is an added layer of protection in the event that the claim cannot be settled, as the client does not owe anything in this event. The industry standard for a contingency fee is a third of the settlement that is negotiated or court awards, which is approximately 33%.
This represents a fair balance between ensuring that plaintiffs receive the compensation they deserve for their damages and that our personal injury lawyers are appropriately paid for their time, efforts, and services. Our team at Dolman Law Group is motivated to put forth our best effort to make the resources, skills, and knowledge invested worth it for ourselves and our clients.
Why You Should Choose Dolman Law Group to Represent Your Camp Lejeune Lawsuit
The personal injury lawyers of Dolman Law Group have been leading the effort to help Camp Lejeune families secure settlements for their damages. We believe that the catastrophic injuries inflicted as a result of years of negligent water management practices deserve to be acknowledged and receive the maximum compensation possible. Our team has the mass tort experience and subject matter expertise on Camp Lejeune to effectively represent your claim.
As your Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyers, we will compile evidence connecting your injuries to your exposure to toxic chemicals in the water supply, thoroughly enumerate your resulting damages, and use a strategic approach to negotiate for the full compensation of your damages. Our diligence and skills have yielded phenomenal case results for our injured clients.
We have received various awards over our years of service, but the recognition we value the most comes from former clients. Their trust in our team of personal injury attorneys reinforces our reputation as nationwide advocates with a clear understanding of complex legal subjects, excellent negotiating abilities, and a strong drive to maximize our clients’ compensation.
Contact Dolman Law Group for Help With Your Camp Lejeune Lawsuit
Most Camp Lejeune families have endured numerous obstacles to receiving proper compensation over the decades, and our award-winning team of personal injury lawyers at Dolman Law Group is ready to help you resolve your case once and for all. You can benefit from our years of experience, mastery of legal procedures, and familiarity with the intricacies of Camp Lejeune cases.
Our exceptional personal injury lawyers will work relentlessly to secure a fair settlement for your damages, such as medical bills, reduced earning potential, and reduction of quality of life. We understand that justice has been a long time coming, and we are proud to represent veterans and Camp Lejeune families as they seek accountability and maximum compensation.
To contact Dolman Law Group and schedule a free consultation about your Camp Lejeune water contamination claim, you can call our office at (866) 817-5084 or fill out a form on our contact page. We can review the details of your case to determine if you should proceed with an administrative claim or a personal injury lawsuit, conduct an assessment of your damages to ascertain their approximate value, and provide further clarification on how attorney’s fees may apply in your case.