Today the Justice Department and the Department of the Navy (Navy) issued the following fraud alert to inform individuals filing a claim or lawsuit under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) of 2022 about fraudulent attempts to obtain personal information or monetary payments from potential claimants.
Due to growing concerns over reports that unscrupulous people and companies are seeking or sought to obtain personal information from CLJA claimants or otherwise defraud them, the Justice Department and Navy advise claimants and their attorneys to be cautious of potentially fraudulent activity through telephone calls or email solicitations.
Claimants who receive calls or emails from individuals attempting to collect money or personal information in connection with their CLJA claim should contact their attorneys to report this activity. Claimants who are not represented by counsel that receive such calls or emails should immediately report this activity to the Navy’s Camp Lejeune Claims Unit (CLCU), which has issued the following guidance:
- The Justice Department and the Navy will never request money or payment from you.
- If an attorney is representing you, direct all inquiries to your attorney for verification.
- Authorized emails from the Navy will be sent from CLClaims@us.navy.mil, and you may forward any email message you receive to that address to verify authenticity.
- If you receive a phone call claiming to be from the CLCU or offering assistance with your claim, and you are uncertain, ask for the person’s name and position, then call the CLCU at (757) 241-6020 to verify.
- If you are represented by an attorney, the Justice Department and Navy will not contact you directly and will only contact you through your attorney.
The CLJA is a provision of the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022, signed into law by President Biden on Aug. 10, 2022. It allows individuals, including veterans, to file a claim with the Navy to recover for injuries caused by exposure to contaminated water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for at least 30 days between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987.
Settlements under the CLJA are made pursuant to the Federal Torts Claim Act, 28 U.S. Code 2672 and 28 U.S. Code 2677. Attorneys’ fees for administrative claims cannot exceed 20%, and attorneys’ fees for cases in litigation cannot exceed 25%.
The Justice Department and Navy are committed to reviewing every claim submitted and resolving every claim as fairly and efficiently as possible. The Justice Department and Navy have jointly developed an Elective Option that will expedite the review and resolution of claims filed under the CLJA.
For more information regarding CLJA claims, please visit the Navy’s official CLJA website at www.navy.mil/clja or contact the CLCU at CLClaims@us.navy.mil or (757) 241-6020.