You could have come into contact with toxic drinking water if you served, resided, or worked at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station in North Carolina. You may be eligible for the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit if you worked or resided at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or more between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987.
Camp Lejeune has drawn attention in recent years for a troubling set of circumstances that date back to 1953. Two important water sources, Hadnot Point Treatment Plant and Tarawa Terrace Treatment Plant, were shut down after becoming contaminated with very harmful substances between 1953 and 1987.
It is believed that the Camp Lejeune water pollution problem started in 1953 and persisted until at least 1987. Around a million individuals may have been exposed to these toxins throughout that time, according to estimates. Toxic substances were specifically introduced into the base’s water supply by:
- leakage in storage tanks
- improper hazardous waste disposal
- subterranean pipeline leaks
What Chemicals Were Discovered in Camp Lejeune’s Drinking Water?
Tests have revealed that the water at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, was practically a deadly soup and included some of the most hazardous substances known to man, including:
Vinyl chloride
Vinyl chloride is a hazardous chemical used in the manufacturing of PVC material.
Trichloroethylene (TCE)
TCE is a degreaser utilized in the metalworking sector.
Benzene
This hazardous toxin is a major component in gasoline and industrial solvents.
Perchloroethylene (PCE)
PCE is a degreasing and dry-cleaning solvent. As a nearby dry-cleaning shop is suspected to be the source of the pollution, PCE is likely to be the primary pollutant in Camp Lejeune.
Other compounds
The extremely harmful substances listed above have been found to cause severe injuries, tumors, and, in some cases, death.
You can sue for exposure to these chemicals.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which was established by the US Congress, enables eligible people to file lawsuits and seek compensation for injuries they suffered as a result of being exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. Notwithstanding the fact that the U.S. government is generally immune from lawsuits, this measure forbids it from claiming a specific immunity in response to a claim of exposure to tainted water at Camp Lejeune.
How to Be Eligible for a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit Claim
Your claim is supported by evidence showing that being exposed to the water at Camp Lejeune caused you or a loved one health problems. It will be necessary to get medical records, military records, and other pertinent documentation to back up your claim.
Camp Lejeune applicants will need to be able to present verifiable proof to demonstrate the following under the new law, which is subject to change:
- They worked, lived, or were otherwise exposed to Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station New River water for not less than 30 total days;
- They have not gotten a dishonorable discharge.
- They were exposed between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987; and
- They sustained toxin-related injuries, including but not exclusive to:
-
- Adult Leukemia
- Breast cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Infertility in women
- Miscarriage
- Fatty liver disease (Hepatic steatosis)
- Disorder affecting blood cell production (Myelodysplastic syndromes)
- Psychological effects (anxiety, depression)
- Toxic kidneys (Renal toxicity)
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- inflamed, hard skin (Scleroderma)
- Kidney cancer
- Lung cancer
- Plasma cell cancer (Multiple myeloma)
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act
Benefits for Marines who were stationed at the site during the contamination period started to be offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in 2012. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act was enacted on August 10, 2022, opening up a far more thorough and significant avenue for benefit recovery.
Veterans and civilians alike can now seek compensation from the government thanks to the new law. According to the CLJA, specific ailments are recognized as being presumably connected to the exposure and among other benefits, out-of-pocket medical expenditures are reimbursed.
If your loved one met the qualifying standards above even though they died many years ago, you may file a Camp Lejeune wrongful death claim on their behalf.
You are still allowed to pursue a claim even if you can’t find the necessary supporting documentation. Nonetheless, it will be more difficult to demonstrate eligibility without the required paperwork. We can assist you in locating any missing documents.
Nepa & McGraw can help you with a claim.
Our Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit lawyers at Nepa & McGraw can provide legal aid if you feel you have a solid claim for a class action lawsuit.
Contact us to find out how we can assist you and your family if you think you or a family member may be eligible for benefits as a consequence of exposure to polluted water at Camp Lejeune.
To learn more about your options, call us right away at (570) 282-7050 for a free consultation.