While the Track 1 Camp Lejeune trials continue to move forward, the discovery process is experiencing major turbulence behind the scenes. With nearly 3,000 lawsuits pending and more than 410,000 administrative claims filed, momentum is building, but fairness concerns are also stacking up fast.
Damages Data Arrives Months Late
The government recently produced key damages-related records—VA disability, Medicare, and TRICARE files—that their experts are now using to argue for offsets. The problem? These records were produced roughly eight months after the discovery deadline, long after plaintiffs’ expert reports were completed. Plaintiffs are evaluating options to challenge the use of this late data, which could dramatically reduce award calculations if left unchallenged.
Expert Laptop Controversy Raises New Flags
Tensions rose sharply during the deposition of one of the government’s key expert witnesses, Dr. Peter Shields. He showed up with a DOJ-issued laptop containing linked materials used to support his opinions. Plaintiffs, however, were never given an accessible version of these files in advance. When a copy was finally sent the night before the deposition, most of the hyperlinks were broken or nonfunctional. The deposition proceeded anyway, without plaintiffs having a working version of the expert’s reference materials which is ridiculous. The deposition remains open, and further challenges are expected.
Plaintiffs Press for Withheld Evidence
Delays and missing documents continue to cause problems and frustration. The government has yet to produce compensation records from a key consulting firm related to earlier Camp Lejeune work. There are also disputes over expert notes, contract versions, and disclosures that are critical to understanding the scope of expert involvement. These issues are not isolated—they point to a broader pattern of obstruction that undermines transparency and erodes trust.
What’s Next:
- Rebuttal expert deadlines continue into mid-June, with Parkinson’s cases closing last.
- Plaintiffs are preparing motions to exclude late-produced offset evidence and may seek additional deposition time for affected experts.
- The first Track 1 trials are on the horizon, but unresolved discovery fights could delay proceedings.
