Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit (2024)

You deserve fair compensation for your illnesses and other financial losses. The Joel Bieber Firm wants to help you pursue the justice you need with a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit. Our attorneys are ready to hear your story.

American citizens greatly respect veterans and members of the military. However, the government has often failed to protect service members the way they deserve to be protected — the Camp Lejeune water contamination issue is a prime example.

If you or a loved one lived in Camp Lejeune inNorth Carolinabetween the 1950s and the 1980s, you might have been exposed to harmful contaminated water. The toxic chemicals in the water at Camp Lejeune led to countless victims receiving life-altering diagnoses for multiple types of severe medical conditions.

Background on the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination

In 1941, the U.S. Marine Corps BaseCamp Lejeunewas established. From the early 1950s to the late 1980s, the tap water at the base was contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOC).

Service members and their families drank, cooked with, and bathed in the contaminated water, with no knowledge that the water they used and consumed was toxic and harmful.

After such significant exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, service members and their families began to fall ill, developing various severe ailments. Aside from other physical illnesses, one of the telling signs of something going awry was the dental issues from Camp Lejeune water contamination.

Years later, the government stepped in to investigate the issue and take action. Unfortunately, many continue to live with serious illnesses as a result of the water contamination at Camp Lejeune, and many lives have been lost.

Numerous victims are still receiving devastating news regarding their health to this day. The effects of the water contamination tragedy at Camp Lejeune have been felt for years and will continue for years to come.

Toxic Chemicals Found in the Water at Camp Lejeune

Multiple water treatment plants at Camp Lejeune contained harmful chemicals at dangerous concentrations of 300 times or more above the levels permitted by safety standards.

Perchloroethylene (PCE)

Also known as tetrachlorethylene, the uses of PCE include dry cleaning and metal degreasing.Recent studieshave shown this toxic chemical increases the risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, bladder cancer, and multiple myeloma. It may also contribute to neurobehavioral difficulties.

Trichloroethylene (TCE)

TCE is often used as a degreaser for metal machinery. TheNational Cancer Institutehas positively linked TCE to kidney cancer and has found potential links to other types of cancers.

Benzene

Benzene is used to make other chemicals that are needed to manufacture plastics, resins, synthetic fibers, and nylon. The chemical is also utilized in making dyes, drugs, and pesticides. Benzene is linked tocertain cancers, including leukemia.

Vinyl Chloride (VC)

VC is a colorless gas with many uses, including producing plastic products. In the past, VC was used in everyday products, like makeup.This gas can causea rare form of liver cancer, along with lung, brain, and other types of cancers.

The sources of chemical contamination at Camp Lejeune varied. Some of the contamination came from improper waste disposal practices, leaking underground storage tanks, and industrial area spills.

Compensable Illnesses in Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit

Those who repeatedly used and consumed the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune unknowingly put themselves at risk for illness. Among themany kinds of illnessesproduced by the use and consumption of the contaminated water, some of the most common include the following:

  • Leukemia
  • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
  • Bladder cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Brain cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Cervical cancer
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Rectal cancer
  • Cardiac defects
  • Renal disease
  • Neurological effects
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Camp Lejeune water contamination heart disease

Ingesting toxic chemicals can affect almost any organ. Camp Lejeune water contamination thyroid issues are also prominent. Problems with the thyroid can indicate other, more serious illnesses.

Symptoms of Camp Lejeune water contamination generally depend on the type of medical condition a victim faces. In the most unfortunate cases, water contamination has led to deaths.

If you have suffered illnesses and injuries due to contaminated Camp Lejeune drinking water, contact The Joel Bieber Firm today. Our attorneys may be able to secure compensation from a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit on your behalf.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act

In recent years, the government has tried to implement ways for victims of Camp Lejeune to pursue justice for their harm.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Actwas introduced in 2021. The act allows individuals to sue the government for harm suffered from Camp Lejeune water contamination between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. Victims can only sue the government under the act if they were exposed to the contaminated water for at least 30 days.

Victims who sue under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act are prohibited from bringing a separate tort action against the government. The lawsuit under the act is the exclusive legal remedy.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act is the latest news on Camp Lejeune water contamination 2022. The act will likely go into effect this year.

Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Compensation for Injuries and Illnesses Resulting from Contaminated Water

You can pursue financial recovery by suing for your water contamination-related illness. Compensatory damages serve to compensate you for your tangible and intangible losses.

Camp Lejeune lawsuit settlement amounts depend on the details of each situation. You could be eligible to receive damages for the following:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost earnings
  • Loss of earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Permanent disability

The type of damages and the value of your case will depend on certain factors, such as:

  • The type of illness and severity
  • Your past, present, and future medical expenses
  • Lost wages from your inability to work
  • How long you were exposed to the contaminated water

Your water contamination attorney will examine the details of your situation to help establish the value of your case. While financial compensation cannot erase years of hardship and trauma, it can ease some of the monetary burdens your illness and losses have caused.

GET FREE CAMP LEJEUNE CASE EVALUATION

Evidence to Prove Your Illness and Losses in a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit

Evidence is crucial in any lawsuit, including one for contaminated water exposure illnesses.

During your lawsuit, your water contamination lawyer will work with you to gather relevant evidence to strengthen your case. This evidence might include:

  • Proof that you resided at Camp Lejeune during the specified period
  • Medical bills
  • Medical records establishing your diagnosis
  • Records detailing VA disability benefits

For example, if you believe that due to Camp Lejeune water contamination, diabetes developed, you’d need to have enough medical evidence to back up your claim.

Your attorney will use these and other pieces of evidence to build a substantial case on your behalf.

Camp Lejeune Lawsuit and Eligibility for VA Benefits

There’s some positive news if you’re a service member affected by the Camp Lejeune water contamination: If you receive compensation under a lawsuit, that won’t hinder your ability to receive benefits from VA programs.

If you served in Camp Lejeune, you might be eligible for VA benefits. To qualify, you must meet all of the following requirements:

  • You served at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1953 and December 1987
  • You were not dishonorably discharged from the military
  • You must have received a diagnosis for one or more Camp Lejeune water contamination presumptive illnesses

The VA might provide benefits and support for the following illnesses

  • Adult leukemia
  • Kidney cancer
  • Bladder cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Aplastic anemia or other myelodysplastic syndromes

Veterans and their families may qualify to receive healthcare benefits with the same requirements. These conditions will also be considered:

  • Breast cancer
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Miscarriage
  • Female infertility
  • Hepatic steatosis
  • Neurobehavioral effects
  • Scleroderma
  • Renal toxicity

If you and your family are covered by the VA and qualify, make sure to apply for disability compensation.

Statute of Limitations for a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit

A statute of limitations is a legal time restriction placed on an individual’s ability to file a lawsuit. Like any other type of claim, victims of Camp Lejeune water contamination will have a limited amount of time to file their lawsuit.

There are two deadlines when filing a lawsuit under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.

Victims who have already developed a condition or illness have two years from the date the act goes into effect to file their claim.

If an individual has not yet developed a medical condition at the time the act becomes effective, they will have two years from the date of diagnosis to file their claim.

It is imperative you keep the statute of limitations in mind. Failing to file your claim within the prescribed amount of time will result in the loss of your right to pursue compensation for your illness and losses.

Figuring out a statute of limitations is always challenging — especially when your lawsuit involves the government. Speak with your water contamination lawyer as soon as possible to ensure your case is handled timely and properly.

Consult with a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Attorney

At the Joel Bieber Firm, we’re dedicated to helping injured clients seek justice and obtain the financial recovery they rightly deserve. Our firm’s attorneys have over 400+ years of collective experience. We use our knowledge, skills, and resources to protect our clients’ rights and fight for a fair resolution on their behalf.

Getting you the recovery you need is what keeps us going.

We understand the positive impact a favorable settlement can have on your life and circ*mstances.Contactour firm today to schedule a free case evaluation with a water contamination lawyer.

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