Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit

On August 10, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act into law as part of the broader Honoring Our PACT Act. It marks the culmination of a decades-long fight for justice. Military veterans and others who were harmed by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 can now sue the United States government for compensation. Those impacted will have two years from the statute’s date of enactment to file a claim.

Even those who have received health benefits from the Veterans Administration (VA) related to the contamination at Camp Lejeune can now file a claim for their injuries, emotional harm, loss of quality of life, and any other applicable damages. 

If you or a loved one has been harmed by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, don’t wait. Time is limited to file a claim. Our experienced personal injury attorneys will help you determine whether you have a case. There’s no cost to speak with us. 

What Is the Camp Lejeune Justice Act?

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 establishes a two-year timeframe from the date of the law’s enactment during which veterans, their families, and others exposed to contaminated drinking water while working or living at Camp Lejeune may take legal action.

This window is critical because it removes legal technicalities, like North Carolina’s statute of repose, that have barred claimants from receiving compensation in the past, despite having both a history of exposure and a relevant medical diagnosis.

Now that the law has passed as part of the Honoring Our PACT Act, veterans and their families can finally move forward with a claim for the compensation they deserve.

Call 1-800-748-7115 for a free case evaluation today.

Who Can File a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit?

You may be eligible to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit if you or a loved one were exposed to contaminated drinking water for at least 30 days between August 1, 1952 and December 31, 1987.

To be eligible, you must also have suffered harm linked to the toxic chemicals that contaminated the water at the military base, such as cancer or other health issues.

It’s important to know that the law not only applies to veterans, but also to:

• Exposed family members who were present at the base
• Non-military (civilian) workers
• Contractors
• Other exposed civilians 

The History Behind Camp Lejeune’s Contaminated Drinking Water 

In 1982, the U.S. government found dangerous chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Camp Lejeune’s groundwater. For decades, the contamination affected the water workers drank, bathed in, and used for cooking and other purposes.

According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the contamination began in 1953 and continued to expose civilian workers, veterans, and their families until 1987.

In response to heavy pressure from veterans and advocacy groups, the most contaminated wells were removed in 1985. But there were signs of contamination much earlier than that, according to government watchdogs. Yet, little was done to address the issue.

In all, nearly a million civilian workers, military service members, and others were potentially exposed to dangerous and potentially lethal chemicals in Camp Lejeune’s water from 1953 to 1987.

Government watchdogs and environmental advocates have called the situation at Camp Lejeune one of the worst and largest cases of drinking water contamination in U.S. history. 

Chemicals Found in Camp Lejeune’s Contaminated Water

Tests from routine water treatment plant sampling and samples of water supply wells identified that trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), vinyl chloride (VC), and benzene contaminated some drinking water sources at Camp Lejeune. They are all colorless chemicals.

• Benzene is a liquid chemical used as a raw material to make other materials, including plastics, resins, nylon, and synthetic fibers.
• TCE is a solvent used for cleaning metal parts. It is also found in some consumer products, such as paint and spot removers, glues, and wood cleaners.
• PCE is used for dry cleaning and metal degreasing.
• TCE and PCE degrade to become VC, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

Exposure to TCE has been linked to kidney cancer, cardiac defects, and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Exposure to PCE has been associated with bladder cancer, while liver cancer has been linked to exposure to vinyl chloride.

If you or a loved one suffered health conditions or cancer from contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you may be eligible for compensation. 

Call 1-800-748-7115 for a free case review today.

Diseases Presumed to Be Connected to Military Service

The VA previously established a “presumption of service connection” for certain diseases associated with contaminants found at Camp Lejeune.

If you served at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987, you should automatically be eligible for disability benefits if you later developed one of the following eight health conditions:  

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

The presumption of service connection rule applies to former Reservists and National Guard members who were discharged on conditions other than dishonorable.

Even if you have already received disability benefits through the VA for one of these conditions, with the passage of the Honor Our PACT Act, you may now be eligible for compensation for loss of quality of life, pain and suffering, and medical expenses.

Other conditions that may also be linked to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune include (but are not limited to):

• Breast cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Scleroderma
• Miscarriage
• Female infertility
• Renal toxicity 

If you or a loved one lived or worked at Camp Lejeune and suffered these or other health issues, you may be eligible to sue for your injuries, loss of quality of life, and pain and suffering.  

We Can Help You File a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit

The experienced personal injury lawyers at Saunders & Walker are ready to fight for you. Our attorneys are committed to representing service members and their families who have suffered because of toxic chemical exposure at Camp Lejeune.

To file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit, you must have been exposed to contaminated water while living or working at Camp Lejeune base, and you must have suffered harm linked to exposure to toxic chemicals in the water. We will help you determine whether you have a claim. 

Our law firm has years of experience with toxic exposure cases including contaminated groundwater cases. We have the skills and the determination to get you and your family justice.

Call us for a free consultation. Our fees are a percentage of recovery. We only charge a fee if you receive a recovery.

Time is limited to take legal action. Don’t wait, call us at 1-800-748-7115 for a free case evaluation today.