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Latest News
Judge refuses to dismiss Camp Lejeune water exposure lawsuit
WASHINGTON — In a case being followed closely by some Marine veterans and their families, a federal judge has denied the Navy's request to dismiss a civil case regarding an Iowa woman's exposure to contaminated water at Marines Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.
The Department of the Navy had argued that Laura Jones' claim should have been dismissed because she didn't file within a 10-year statute of repose — similar to a statute of limitation — that should have limited the time available for her to file suit.
In his decision, U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle pointed out that her non-Hodgkin's lymphoma hadn't even been diagnosed by then, and he quotes congressional testimony in pointing out that cancer related to toxic exposure might not appear for 10 to 15 years.
"To summarily bar such claims from entering the courthouse would be a profound miscarriage of justice," wrote Boyle, who represents the U.S. Eastern District of North Carolina.
He turned down the Navy's request to dismiss the case, and he also denied the government's request to make its arguments at a hearing.
Although the case is being heard in North Carolina, Marine veterans and their families across the country are paying close attention. Boyle wrote in his decision that half a million Marines and their family members were exposed to toxic substances during the time of the contamination, from the mid-1950s to the mid-1980s.
Boyle made note of the other potential victims in his decision.
"To apply the statute of repose in this case would bar all potential claims from the over 500,000 Marines and their families affected," he wrote. "Indeed, it would bar the overwhelming majority of claims involving any cancer."
Jones lived at Camp Lejeune as a Marine spouse from 1980-81. She was diagnosed two decades later with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, but she didn't learn until 2005 that Lejeune's water had been contaminated with tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, vinyl chloride and benzene.
She filed suit in 2009.
The Navy had argued that a North Carolina state law prohibited tort claims more than 10 years after a defendant's alleged culpable conduct — even if harm to the plaintiff had not manifested itself.
Boyle said the state law had an exception for "latent diseases," including the cancer from which Jones is suffering.
"The court cannot fathom a law that would require hundreds of thousands of plaintiffs to bring their claims before they even had opportunity to know they were harmed," Boyle wrote.
This was the second time Boyle has denied a request by the Navy to dismiss the case.
Department of Veterans Affairs fact sheet on Camp Lejeune water contamination
Department of Veterans Affairs benefits website
The Few, The Proud, The Forgotten: Camp Lejeune Toxic Water
Camp Lejeune Historic Drinking Water
Judge: Lejeune ex-resident can move ahead with injury claim
VA slow to find link between Lejeune's toxic water, illnesses
House hearing to probe Camp Lejeune water contamination
Victims of toxic Camp Lejeune water are holding meet-ups
Documents: Tanks leaked fuel near Camp Lejeune well
VA quietly giving benefits to Marines exposed to toxic water
Congress pushes military to release data on Camp Lejeune water
Warnings about Lejeune's tainted water unheeded for years
Lejeune water probe: Did Marine Corps hide benzene data?
Marine base's residents, many ill, only now learning of toxic water
Toxins in Camp Lejeune water 30 years ago still a problem
Follow the latest politics news at McClatchy's Planet Washington
(e-mail: bbarrett(at)mcclatchydc.com) < <


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New Vitara confirmed for Australia
Introducting the new Vitara
Our iconic compact SUV is now more advanced than ever. With enhanced tech and safety features, the new Suzuki Vitara will add even more convenience and excitement to your drive. To stay up to speed with all of the latest announcements, register your details below.

subset: commoncrawl


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EverGreen Recreational Vehicles LLC. , Middlebury, Ind., has announced that Terrytown Travel Center has added the eco-friendly, all-composite Ever-Lite travel trailers to its line of recreational vehicles at its Grand Rapids, Mich., dealership
"From the first time we saw an EverGreen Ever-Lite travel tailer we were excited to introduce it to Michigan," stated Matt Kortman, Terry Town sales manager. "The look and story behind the Ever-Lite is like nothing else in the industry. Our customers love these trailers because they are so well-built, have a green story and they are lightweight without sacrificing size, features or livability"
EverGreen entered the market as a startup 10 months ago and has revolutionized the industry with its eco-friendly Ever-Lite travel trailers. These lightweight, recyclable trailers are the first to use all sustainable ComposiTek construction in the floors, walls and roofs to drastically reduce out-gassing of formaldehyde.
ComposiTek construction makes Ever-Lite railers 20% or 1,000 to 1,200 pounds lighter than conventionally built RVs without reducing essential equipment and luxury like other brands. Standard features include power awnings, large queen pillow-top mattresses made from recycled material, high output power fans in the bedr0om, convection/microwave ovens and black tank flushes not available on other ultra -light products.
EverGreen eliminated 50 sheets of Lauan, a hardwood veneer made from old growth trees from tropical rain forests, from each trailer it builds. With virtually no wood in the box construction, the Ever-Lite travel trailers nearly eliminate harmful VOC out-gassing. Plus the composites are impervious to water and cannot rot, mold, mildew or dry rot. To further help the environment, for every unit sold to the public, EverGreen plants a tree in the customer's name.
"We are proud to partner with Terrytown Camping Center," said Kevin C. Slater, EveGreen vice president of sales. "They have been successful in the RV business for over 36 years and understand how to present and market these trailers. The team at Terrytown are true professionals, they really get it. I know we will do very well together.
"With our commitment to changing the industry by utilizing higher quality eco-friendly materials, we're still focused on servicing our dealer partners with EverGreen quality, value and security. We are very pleased to have Terrytown Travel Center carrying the Ever-Lite. These are exciting times as 'greener,' lighter weight, more fuel-efficient products become available across the country," concluded President of Evergreen, Doug Lantz.


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BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - On Friday the Ohio Valley Conference
announced that Tennessee Tech University is the recipient of the
2009-10 Team Sportsmanship Award for women's soccer.
Voted on by the student-athletes and coaches of the respective sports, the team awards are bestowed upon the Conference squads deemed to have best exhibited the standards of sportsmanship and ethical behavior as outlined by the OVC and NCAA. Included in the areas for evaluation are the conduct of student-athletes, coaches, staff and administrators and fans.
"Without sportsmanship there are truly no meaningful victories," said Beth DeBauche, OVC Commissioner. "The recipients of the OVC Team Sportsmanship awards should accept this award with great pride for their fellow competitors have made it clear their teams exemplify the best in intercollegiate athletics. In receiving this prestigious honor other competitors are saying these student-athletes compete with class, respect their opponents and value fair play. That is quite a compliment as those are all traits that will lead to true victories throughout the course of life."
The 2009-10 school year marks the fifth year the team sportsmanship honors have been awarded. This marks the first award for the Tennessee Tech soccer program.
Tennessee Tech finished the 2009 season with a 7-12-3 overall record and 3-3-2 in the OVC. The Golden Eagles, the No. 4 seed in the OVC Tournament, won two games at the event and advanced to the Championship match before losing to Murray State in the finals.
"We are extremely honored to have been awarded the Team Sportsmanship Award this year," said Becky Fletcher, Tennessee Tech head soccer coach. "Our goal for our young ladies is to set a standard on and off the field. We couldn't be more pleased to be recognized by our fellow OVC coaches."
Implemented in August 2005, the team honors are the most recent addition to an awards program that recognizes and celebrates sportsmanship within the Conference. In 1998, the league established the Steve Hamilton Sportsmanship Award, presented annually to a male or female student-athlete of junior or senior status who best exemplifies the characteristics of the late Morehead State student-athlete, coach and administrator. Five years later, the Conference added the OVC Sportsmanship Award, presented annually to the member institution selected by its peers to have best exhibited the standards of sportsmanship and ethical behavior as outlined by the OVC and NCAA.
In 1995, the Ohio Valley Conference implemented a first-of-its-kind "Sportsmanship Statement," a policy promoting principles of fair play, ethical conduct and respect for one's opponent. The statement answered the challenge of the NCAA Presidents Commission to improve sportsmanship in collegiate athletics, and has become a model for others to follow across the nation.
Golden Eagles win OVC soccer Sportsmanship Award
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - On Friday the Ohio Valley Conference
announced that Tennessee Tech University is the recipient of the
2009-10 Team Sportsmanship Award for women's soccer.