Camp LeJeune Lawsuits
The Camp Lejeune water contamination problem is by far one of the worst cases of public drinking water contamination in our country’s history – probably worse even than the East Palestine, OH train wreck situation which is now an environmental disaster. The Camp Lejeune catastrophe affected close to a million people, many of whom have died or developed serious diseases as a result of being exposed to contaminated water.
If you or any of your family members have been affected as a result of the water contamination problem at Camp Lejeune, you might be entitled to financial damages. At Fox Injury Law, we are currently receiving claims from individuals who were affected by the contaminated water at the Camp.
Contact us today to discuss your case with one of our attorneys.
Camp Lejeune Water Contamination – What Really Happened
From 1953 to 1987, the drinking water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with a large number of toxic substances. During that time period, the service members and their families who stayed there were unknowingly exposed to the contaminated water.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) states that the drinking water at Camp Lejeune contained a number of toxic chemicals including:
- Trichloroethylene
- Tetrachloroethylene
- Vinyl chloride
- Benzene
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
- Heavy metals
Experts say that the supply wells at Camp Lejeune were contaminated by multiple sources including industrial spills, negligent waste disposal practices by businesses in the locality, and leakages in underground storage tanks. The amount of volatile organic compounds and other toxic substances present in the drinking water was anywhere from 200 to 3,000 times higher than the maximum contaminant levels set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Diseases Linked to Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
The ATSDR states that the health effects of exposure to the aforementioned substances depend on a number of factors including:
- How often you were exposed to.
- How long you were exposed to.
- How you were exposed to (breathing in, ingesting, or skin contact).
- Whether you have any underlying conditions.
- Your overall health condition.
Given below is a brief list of the diseases that are linked to Camp Lejeune water contamination.
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Lung cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Breast cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Leukemia
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma
- Renal failure
- Parkinson’s disease
- Birth defects
The full list of health problems that are liked to Camp Lejeune water contamination can be found here.
The Legal Basis for Filing a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit
In August 2022, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act was passed to allow people who were affected by the contaminated water to sue the federal government and recover monetary relief for the losses they have suffered.
The act allows all individuals – including veterans, staff members at the camp, family members of veterans, and others – who stayed at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1st, 1953, and December 31st, 1987 to file a tort claim and recover monetary damages.
The act also allows family members of individuals who have died as a result of exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune to file a claim on their loved ones’ behalf and recover compensatory damages.
Up until the act was passed, individuals who were affected by the contaminated water could not sue the government, as North Carolina’s statute of repose prohibits people from filing tort claims if more than 10 years have passed since an accident or negligence even occurred. These legal hurdles have been eliminated by the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which has made it possible for victims of water contamination to get the justice they deserve.
One of the most notable aspects of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act is that it has established a presumptive service connection between certain diseases and the water contamination problem. As a result, plaintiffs are not required to prove that their health problems were caused by exposure to contaminated water.
You are only required to prove the following elements in order to recover damages.
- You resided at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1953 and December 1987.
- You have developed one or more of the health problems that are linked to the contaminated water.
Deadline for Filing a Camp LeJuene Claim
The deadline for filing a claim is two years – starting from August 10th, 2022, which is when the Camp LeJuene Justice Act was passed.
Recoverable Damages in a Camp LeJuene Claim
The damages you can recover include:
- Past, current, and future medical expenses
- Lost earnings
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Diminished quality of life
It should be noted that veterans and their family members who have been affected by the contaminated water are eligible to receive health care benefits under the Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012.
Even if you have already received VA disability and health benefits, you are still eligible to file a claim against the government and recover damages. The amount of compensation awarded to you will be reduced in proportion to the amount of VA benefits you have received so far.
For example, if you have received $50,000 in VA benefits, and if you are awarded a sum of $200,000 as compensation, you will only receive $150,000.
We are Determined to Protect the Rights of Camp Lejeune Injury Victims: Contact Our Experienced Georgia Personal Injury Lawyers Today
If you have lost a loved one or have been personally affected by the Camp Lejeune water contamination problem, you deserve to be compensated for your losses.
At Fox Injury Law, we are fully committed to helping the victims of water contamination obtain the justice and restitution they deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys.