If you have turned on the television or radio lately, you have probably seen or heard references to water contamination at Camp Lejeune. You may also be wondering if there is a class-action lawsuit about it. Here is a closer look at the topic.
The Background on Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune
Evidence shows that the water at Camp Lejeune, a North Carolina Marine Corps base, was contaminated through industrial sources. The pollution began in the 1950s and continued until the most contaminated wells were shut down in 1985.
Some people who drank, cooked with, or bathed in the water later developed diseases. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, a federal public health agency, began evaluating the health risks associated with Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water in the late 1980s. Since then, medical and scientific evidence has linked contaminant exposure with some diseases.
The ATSDR estimates that the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune may have affected as many as one million military personnel, civilians and their family members.
Chemicals Found in the Drinking Water at Camp Lejeune
Water testing revealed that tetrachloroethylene, also called perchloroethylene or PCE, was the main contaminant.
Tests and water samples also found:
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Vinyl chloride (VC)
- Benzene
Health Conditions Associated With Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water
Research has linked many health conditions and diseases with the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, including:
- Scleroderma/systemic sclerosis
- Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS or aplastic anemia)
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple myeloma
- Bladder cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Breast cancer
- Colon cancer
- Lung cancer
- Kidney disease or cancer
- Laryngeal cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Rectal cancer
- Leukemia
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
The ATSDR explains that the effects of chemical exposure can vary. It depends on what life stage you were exposed to them (during infancy, for example), how much or how long you were exposed, and the type of exposure (drinking, bathing, etc.).
Not everyone who used the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during the specified period develops health problems. If you aren’t sure you got sick from the water at Camp Lejeune, talk to an attorney who can investigate your case.
Lawsuits Related to Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water
If you think the water at Camp Lejeune made you or a loved one sick, you may have recourse. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021 allows some people exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune to sue and recover damages for the harm the exposure may have caused.
The action is available to people who used the contaminated water for at least 30 cumulative days from August 1953 through December 1987. You can also qualify if your mother was pregnant with you then and meets the criteria.
Is There a Class-Action Lawsuit Against Camp Lejeune?
There are no class-action lawsuits related to water contamination at Camp Lejeune at this time. However, the United States Marine Corps is accepting claims against the government from individuals who meet the criteria and believe the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune made them sick.
Call an Attorney if You Think You Qualify
Sometimes, diseases caused by water contamination don’t show up right away. They may take years to develop. Therefore, you might not realize your illness resulted from using the water at Camp Lejeune.
If you spent time at Camp Lejeune during the covered period and think you may qualify for filing a claim, it’s a good idea to call an attorney. The legal team at Jason Stone Injury Lawyers can look into your situation and see if your circumstances qualify.
Time Limit To File a Claim
President Biden signed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act into law on August 10, 2022. The law gives people two years to file a claim under the CLJA. This means that if you think you have a claim, you need to file it before August 10, 2024.
Forms and Records Needed
You will need certain documents to prove your eligibility to file a claim:
- Military Service Record (DD Form 214): A document of your military service, enlistment dates and places, date and type of separation, and more
- Housing records: Your housing record is not listed in the DD Form 214. You will need leasing agreements to show that you lived at Camp Lejeune during the specified period.
- Medical records: These documents show that you suffered harm after exposure to the water at Camp Lejeune during the specified period. They can include prescribed medicines, test results, surgeries, treatments and diagnoses.
You can bring the documents to your legal team. They can review the paperwork to determine if you qualify for filing a claim.
What Compensation You May Receive
Although a North Carolina law once prohibited people from receiving compensation due to Camp Lejeune’s toxic water exposure, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act overrides that law.
You may now be eligible for compensation for expenses such as:
- Medical costs related to the illness or injury
- Permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Caregiver expenses
You may also be eligible for compensation related to detrimental effects on your relationships or losing your ability to enjoy life as you did before your illness.
Not everyone who files a claim will receive the same amount. It depends on the severity of your illness and how much it affects your life. Talk to your attorney if you have questions.
VA Benefits for Military Personnel and Family Members
Filing a claim under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act does not affect your VA medical, widow or disability benefits. However, if you receive VA disability or Medicare/Medicaid benefits related to the illness that caused you to file a CLJA claim, they may be offset from any settlement or award you receive. This is also true for any other injury lawsuit.
VA Disability Benefits
Veterans, reservists and guardsmen who served at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 cumulative days during the specified period, and were not dishonorably discharged, may receive disability benefits. The benefits include compensation and health care.
Covered Conditions for Veterans, Guardsmen and Reservists
The individual must have a diagnosis of one of the following conditions:
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Adult leukemia
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Parkinson’s disease
Health Care for Veterans and Family Members
The government may pay back veterans and their families for out-of-pocket healthcare expenses if they used the contaminated water for more than 30 cumulative days during the specified period.
Covered conditions for Veterans and Family Members
Fifteen conditions are covered:
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Female infertility
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Renal toxicity
- Scleroderma
- Lung cancer
- Miscarriage
- Multiple myeloma
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Hepatic steatosis
- Kidney cancer
- Leukemia
Get Help With Your Camp Lejeune Claim From Jason Stone Injury Lawyers
Health care costs can be a significant financial burden on you and your family. That’s why Jason Stone Injury Lawyers require no upfront fee. There’s No Obligation, Just Information (R).
If you think you have a claim against the U.S. government for your illness after exposure to water at Camp Lejeune, call Jason Stone Injury Lawyers. You have our Stone Cold Guarantee: We only get paid after you get paid.
Remember, you only have until August 10, 2024, to file your claim, so call today and let the team at Jason Stone Injury Lawyers assist you.
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