Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Lawsuit

Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit

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Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Lawsuit

For decades, government officials were aware of toxic water contamination at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, but those in power ignored the issue and denied victims their right to seek justice.

Between August 1953 and December 1987, service members and their families stationed at Camp Lejeune consumed and bathed in water that contained high levels of toxic chemicals. Many of these individuals have gone on to experience severe health issues as a consequence of the exposure.

If you served, lived, or worked at Camp Lejeune between August 1953 and December 1987 and/or had a claim for disability denied by Veterans Affairs, you may be entitled to compensation.

Find out now if you are owed a payout for Camp Lejeune water contamination and whether you can recover a potential settlement.

Update:

The U.S. Navy recently announced that it will offer a preset payment option to Camp Lejeune claimants, as it seeks to speed up the processing of more than 93,000 claims. The voluntary elective option would pay victims between $100,000 and $450,000, depending on their illnesses and the amount of time they spent at Camp Lejeune. Choosing to accept the elective option will have no impact on an individual’s VA benefits. For more information, contact Morgan & Morgan to learn about your options for free.

 

About the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination 

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act is aimed at improving disability benefits for veterans exposed to toxins.This bill allows injured Marines and their families to finally be able to seek justice for exposure to toxic water at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987.

During that time period, veterans, their spouses, their children, and even workers living off-base at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, were unknowingly exposed to toxic chemicals that have been scientifically linked to serious health concerns.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act finally recognizes that military families consumed contaminated drinking water for decades at Camp Lejeune. Runoff from storage tanks, treatment plants, and a nearby dry cleaner put trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride into the camp’s water supply. All of these harmful chemicals are classified by federal agencies as causes of cancers and other deadly diseases.

Veterans and their families began filing suits against the U.S. government in 2005, alleging harm from exposure to contaminated drinking water. In 2016, all claims were dismissed. The court determined that such claims were barred by both federal and North Carolina law. Under the Feres doctrine, service members may not sue the U.S. government for injuries incurred “incident to military service.” Under the North Carolina statute of repose, a plaintiff is barred from bringing a suit more than 10 years after the contamination occurs.

Symptoms and Medical Conditions Caused by Camp Lejeune Water Contamination

Camp Lejeune water contamination has been linked to the serious health issues of veterans and their families, including:

  • Aplastic Anemia
  • Birth defects
  • Bladder Cancer
  • Brain Cancer
  • Breast Cancer
  • Cardiac Defect
  • Cervical cancer
  • Dental issues
  • End-Stage Renal Disease
  • Epilepsy
  • Esophageal Cancer
  • Female Infertility
  • Hepatic Steatosis (Fatty Liver Disease)
  • Hodgkin’s Disease
  • Intestinal Cancer
  • Kidney Cancer
  • Kidney Disease
  • Larynx Cancer
  • Leukemia
  • Liver Cancer
  • Lung Cancer
  • Miscarriage or fetal death
  • Multiple Myeloma
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes
  • Neurobehavioral Effects
  • Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
  • Pancreatic Cancer
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Prostate cancer
  • Renal Toxicity
  • Sarcoma
  • Scleroderma
  • Thyroid Cancer

Who Qualifies to File a Claim for Camp Lejeune Water Contamination

To qualify for disability compensation, you must provide evidence for three things: 

  • A current disability;
  • An in-service injury or illness; and 
  • A link between the in-service injury or illness and the current disability.

Under the Veterans Affairs rules regarding Camp Lejeune water contamination, veterans with certain service experience do not need to prove an in-service injury or illness the same way they would for other claims — instead, the exposure to contaminated water is presumed if the veteran:

  • Received a discharge under conditions other than dishonorable from active duty, reserve, or National Guard service; and
  • Served at Camp Lejeune (or MCAS New River) for a total of at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987.

If you are uncertain if you qualify for compensation based on the above criteria, reach out to Morgan & Morgan today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation to learn more about your claim.

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  • What happened with the Camp Lejeune water contamination?

    For decades, officials were aware of Camp Lejeune water contamination but never addressed the problem. From 1953 to 1987, service members, who lived, worked, or spent time on the base, cooked with, bathed in, and drank the contaminated water, which led many to suffer lifelong health complications or worse.

    This contamination was due to the mismanaged runoff of multiple plants, storage tanks, and even a nearby dry cleaner. The affected water supply wells were not closed by the government until 1985. Until recently, disability claims for the consequences of this water contamination had been denied.

  • What toxins were in the water at Camp Lejeune?

    Trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride were all detected in the Camp Lejeune water supply. Multiple federal agencies identified all of these chemicals as cancer-causing or otherwise deadly.

  • What are the symptoms of the Camp Lejeune water contamination?

    As stated above, victims of the Camp Lejeune water contamination have reported numerous health complications, such as adult leukemia, aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Parkinson's disease, neurobehavioral effects, and other serious issues.

  • What are the neurobehavioral effects of Camp Lejeune water contamination?

    The term “neurobehavioral effects” refers to conditions related to the relationship between the action of the nervous system and bodily behaviors. 

    Symptoms of neurobehavioral effects include headaches, lack of coordination, sensory disturbances, confusion, depression, tension, trouble concentrating, reduced reaction time, weakened motor functions and coordination, and contrast sensitivity. It also includes some learning or behavioral disorders.

  • How do I file a claim for Camp Lejeune water contamination?

    If you or a loved one have suffered due to exposure to Camp Lejeune water contamination, speak with the experts at Morgan & Morgan for more information regarding your claim. Our fee is free until we win your case. We understand the hardships caused by others’ negligence, and that’s why we tirelessly fight “For the People.” Reach out today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation to see if you qualify for a case.

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