Federal Court Seeks Evidence Order in Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Litigation

A federal court in North Carolina is seeking a Lone Pine order, which would require individuals suing over toxic drinking water exposure to provide additional evidence, potentially including costly medical reports. This request comes as Congress passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act in 2022, which allows people exposed to contaminated water at the base to seek compensation from the federal government. Over 408,000 administrative claims have been filed under this Act.

The Justice Department argues the order will help the court manage the large volume of litigation and determine which claims have sufficient evidence. However, the Plaintiffs' Leadership Group argues that the proposal would dramatically increase costs for victims and prolong the legal process.