But this law established a two-year window in which to bring otherwise-barred lawsuits. That is one reason for the “hurry up” messaging in those personal injury lawyer ads seeking out plaintiffs. In fact, the advertising campaign kicked off long before the law was even adopted, meaning that personal injury lawyers were soliciting clients to bring lawsuits that were not even viable at the time the ads were running.

In 1964, U.S. Marine Peter Optekar, stationed at Camp Lejeune military base in North Carolina, met the woman of his dreams.