Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit
Lawsuits against the federal government for the harm inflicted on thousands of American military members and civilians who worked and lived at Camp Lejeune will move forward now that the PACT Act has passed the Senate.
This page has been written and edited by a team of experienced legal writers . This page was approved by Managing Partner, Michael Saile who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
This page has been written and edited by a team of experienced legal writers . This page was approved by Managing Partner, Michael Saile who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
- Last Modified:
- September 28, 2024
The 153,439-acre military Marine base in North Carolina was home to nearly one million military and civilian staff and family members from August 1953 to December 1987. Camp Lejeune was also the site of contaminated water treatment plants that contained high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during that 34-year period.
The August 10 passing of the Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 has provided opportunities for those who were affected by the Camp Lejeune water contamination to finally receive justice.
The award-winning legal team at Cordisco & Saile offers a free legal consultation during which one of our experienced attorneys will gather preliminary information about your case and discuss your legal options with you. If you decide to file a claim, we will fight tirelessly for your financial well-being.
- Causes of the Water Contamination
- Injuries Attributed to Toxic Water at Camp Lejeune
- Are my symptoms related to Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water?
- Who Is Eligible for Compensation in a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit?
- How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
- Filing a Lawsuit After Receiving VA Benefits
- Let Cordisco & Saile LLC Fight for You
Causes of the Water Contamination
According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the chemicals that contaminated the water from the Tarawa Terrace treatment plant came from an off-base dry-cleaner.
The Hadnot Point water treatment plant was contaminated by “leaking underground storage tanks, industrial area spills, and waste disposal sites.”
Chemicals Found in the Water Supply
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Perchloroethylene (PCE)
- Benzene
- Vinyl chloride
Injuries Attributed to Toxic Water at Camp Lejeune
The ATSDR’s Camp Lejeune study findings identified specific illnesses for which there is “sufficient evidence for causation in people exposed occupationally or environmentally to the chemicals [TCE, PCE, vinyl chloride and benzene] detected in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune.”
Health Effects with Evidence for Causation
- Kidney cancer (TCE)
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (TCE)
- Cardiac defects (TCE)
- Bladder cancer (PCE)
- Leukemias (benzene)
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (benzene)
- Liver cancer (vinyl chloride)
In addition to those diseases that have been causally linked, the ATSDR has identified other health effects that can be linked to exposure to the chemicals in the Camp Lejeune contaminated water but lack the research to “definitively conclude that exposure causes the health effect.”
Health Effects with Evidence of a Relationship
- Leukemia (TCE)
- Liver cancer (TCE)
- Multiple myeloma (TCE)
- End-stage renal disease (TCE)
- Parkinson’s disease (TCE)
- Scleroderma (TCE)
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (PCE)
- End-stage renal disease (PCE)
- Multiple myeloma (benzene)
Studies of unrelated water contamination have shown links between the VOCs found in the Camp Lejeune water supply and other health effects, ranging from miscarriages and birth defects to various cancers to neurological disorders.
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Are my symptoms related to Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water?
The wide range of health effects that may have been caused by exposure to Camp Lejeune water makes it difficult to pinpoint specific symptoms that any one person may experience.
It’s crucial for people who know they were exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune to pay close attention to any signs of serious illness — such as symptoms related to cancer, heart or liver disease, kidney failure, or neurological disorders — and report them to their doctor immediately.
Who Is Eligible for Compensation in a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit?
Military personnel and civilians who were exposed to the contaminated water supply at Camp Lejeune between August 1953 and December 1987 and who later developed a related illness may qualify for compensation.
Children born during 1968–1985 to mothers who were exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune during pregnancy may also be eligible to recover damages.
In all cases, the exposure must have lasted for at least 30 days.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, which waives North Carolina’s statute of repose, the deadline to file a claim against the U.S. government for injuries caused by the contaminated water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is “two years after the date of enactment of this Act.”
Filing a Lawsuit After Receiving VA Benefits
Veterans who have received VA disability benefits may still file a lawsuit to recover damages — such as lost wages and pain and suffering — to which they may be entitled.
According to the new legislation, any compensation awarded to a Camp Leguene plaintiff will be “offset by the amount of any disability award, payment, or benefit provided to the individual or legal representative.”
Let Cordisco & Saile LLC Fight for You
At Cordisco & Saile, we believe our military men and women deserve more than our gratitude and respect. We owe our very lives to those who are willing to die for our freedom. If you or a loved one served at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and have been diagnosed with a condition related to the toxic water on the base, let us fight for you.
Our attorneys are ready to defend the rights of Marines and civilians alike, using every resource at their disposal to get you the justice to which you’re entitled. Our results reflect our commitment to uncovering every detail of every case to obtain the maximum compensation for our clients.
Contact us immediately to speak with a knowledgeable legal representative about your case. The consultation is free and confidential.
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