(UPDATE: Though we’ve not yet had a chance to review it, here is a PDF copy of the official complaint – not yet including exhibits.)
(UPDATE II: Complaint now also available for download with exhibits)
While we’re working to obtain a copy of the official complaint, here’s what we know so far:
- On July 4, 2009, Laura J. Jones, through her attorneys, filed a lawsuit against the the federal government claiming that her health problems, including non-hodgkins lymphoma, resulted from toxic water at Camp Lejeune. A nice touch, we think, filing suit against the government on Independence Day.
- The suit was filed under authority of the Federal Tort Claims Act. The act allows citizens to sue the federal government in court for money based on “personal injury or death caused by caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of any employee of the Government.” (28 U.S.C.A. ยง 1346(b))
- The official title of the case is Laura J. Jones v. United States of America, case number 7:2009cv00106 7:09-cv-00106-BO.
- The case was filed in the Eastern District Court of North Carolina and was assigned to Judge Terrence W. Boyle.
- The case is filed on behalf of Jones as a single plaintiff with additional cases expected to be filed in the future. No news on whether a class action filing is expected.
- According to a news report from NBC17 in North Carolina:
The suit says the government knew for at least five years that chemicals such as tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, dicloroethylene, vinyl chloride and benzene contaminated the water supply in high doses, but let the wells stay open.
Lawyers say the toxic water led to cancer and other health problems.
[...]
The suit contends that if the military had followed its own regulations that had been in place since the 1950s, the contamination would not have happened.
- According to a CBS News 9 report, Jones lived on the base from 1980 to 1983 and was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma 20 years later.
- Jones’s case will rely, in part, on military documents that outline the military’s policy for maintaining a safe water supply.
- Jones currently lives in Iowa and suffers from fibromyalgia and immune disorders. She was not well enough to attend the Monday’s press conference announcing the lawsuit.
Below is a video containing excerpts from the press conference, provided courtesy of NBC17:
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