Fake Camp Lejeune Claims Threatening to Affect Payouts

Life has always been turbulent for residents of North Carolina’s most famous navy base, Camp Lejeune. Even then, it is home to 80 fire ranges and 50 tactical landing zones. Overall, the camp generates USD 3 billion in commerce. 

However, between 1953 and 1987, over 1 million veterans, civilians, and workers were exposed to harmful chemicals after using the camp’s water supply. Researchers found high levels of organic volatile compounds like dry cleaning solvents, degreasers, and other chemicals. After using this poisoned water for over 30 years, the residents developed all types of cancer, fertility issues, multiple myeloma, and more. 

As a result, over 70,000 administrative claims were filed against the American government for negligence. Even though these cases were still pending, everything was going smoothly, and the camp’s former glory was slowly being restored. 

But in late 2023, everything changed. Scammers started to take advantage of the seamless filing process and file bogus claims, threatening the litigation’s outcome. This incident not only affected the plaintiffs but also tainted the camp’s name. 

In this blog, we will discuss what caused the scammers to make bogus claims, how lawyers found out about it, and more.

What Led to the Bogus Camp Lejeune Claims?

The Camp Lejeune contaminated water lawsuit has always gotten nationwide attention. Lawyers from every corner of the country are fighting to bring justice to veterans and their families. They are helping victims file lawsuits against the government while regular citizens are eagerly waiting for an outcome. 

According to TorHoerman Law, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) was a huge milestone that promised quicker results. Due to this, it was easy for victims to file Camp Lejeune claims without having to go through any trouble. That means the victims were one step closer to receiving the disability compensation they deserved. However, it also meant that scammers could easily file fake claims. 

Lawyers speculated that the government could spend over USD 21 billion to settle the claims. But this decision to pay billions to the victims attracted scammers. Their greed compelled them to file multiple fraudulent claims that can taint the outcome of many such cases. 

Other than that, these opportunists used social media, lead generation, and legal advertising to sell their names to attorneys. For instance, telecom companies received thousands of robocalls seeking help for Camp Lejeune settlements. 

With the deadline being August 2024, attorneys are pulling in all resources to register potential plaintiffs. Due to this, some lawyers are taking shortcuts to gain clients without accurately vetting their stories. It has affected the authenticity of the majority of the pending lawsuits. 

In short, the fraudsters took advantage of the system and thought they could get away by cheating the government. 

What Made Attorneys Skeptical About Some Lawsuits?

A firm in Texas with over 6,000 Camp Lejeune cases was the first to smell something fishy. Hence, they did an internal audit. Upon investigating, they determined that hundreds of those lawsuits were bogus and the referrals were fake. These plaintiffs were scammers who faked medical records and created fictional disease reports to trick the system.

Similarly, a Virginia-based firm also rejected suspicious claims. These lawyers found that some of the plaintiffs had listed fake home addresses that actually belonged to a local chapel. 

Moreover, these individuals offered illogical or confusing responses to routine questions asked by the attorneys. Some lawyers believed that all their answers seemed scripted and similar. Due to this, their cases were dismissed.

These scammers wanted to illegally gain sympathy by taking advantage of public injury litigation. As a result, it made the authenticity and legitimacy of the Camp Lejeune cases vulnerable.

What Can Be Done to Solve This?

The good thing is that the Camp Lejeune attorneys have caught wind of this fraudulent operation. They know that some criminals are trying to rip off the government. But how can this issue be solved?

Well, for starters, the Navy can vet all new claims before they reach court. Attorneys should also perform thorough background checks through a review process to determine potential fraud. Similarly, anyone unable to provide medical records or proof of residence should be immediately discarded. 

Other than that, lawyers should reduce their dependence on lead generation companies to find Camp Lejeune victims. It will help them weed out bogus claims and focus on legitimate victims. 

Summing Up

The Camp Lejeune bogus claims are just an example of the negativity the world has fallen into. The scammers’ intervention has slowed down the litigation and affected the overall outcome of the case.

Unfortunately, the actual victims of the Camp Lejeune water contamination incident cannot do anything to solve this issue. All they can do is wait for closure for as long as it takes.