What Is the Camp Lejeune Justice Act?
From 1953 to 1987, about 1 million people were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina. This included Marines, their family members, and civilian staff working on the base. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act was introduced to help those injured by water contamination. If you or a loved one lived or worked at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between 1953 and 1987 and suffered an injury or illness, you may have a Camp Lejeune claim. Find out if you can file a claim today.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022
The government usually has immunity from being sued by military service members for injuries related to their service. However, the new Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 could allow victims and their loved ones to seek financial compensation for their injuries and illnesses.
What Happened at Camp Lejeune?
In the early 1980s, two of Camp Lejeune’s eight water treatment plants – Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point – were contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
According to federal reports, Camp Lejeune’s water may have been contaminated by these harmful chemicals for as long as 60 years. Marines and Navy personnel, civilian workers, and their families were exposed during this time.
Since the late 1980s, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has been evaluating the health risks of Camp Lejeune’s water.
According to ATSDR’s research and numerous other studies conducted over the past decades, people who lived or worked on the base during this time were put at risk for cancer, congenital disorders (also known as birth defects), and other serious health conditions. Those at greatest risk are people who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days.
What Was in the Water at Camp Lejeune?
Camp Lejeune water contamination is believed to be caused by VOCs released into the groundwater and pumped into the base through the Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point wells.
ATSDR determined that the Camp Lejeune water wells contained:
- Benzene
- Dichloroethylene (DCE)
- Tetrachloroethylene – also known as perchloroethylene (PCE)
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Vinyl chloride
- Other compounds
If you are unsure where your loved one was living or working at Camp Lejeune, please do not wait. Our skilled Camp Lejeune water attorneys can help you figure it out.
Camp Lejeune Health Issues
According to reports released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people living and working at Camp Lejeune when the water was contaminated were more likely to develop health issues.
Camp Lejeune water contamination illnesses may include:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease
- Aplastic anemia
- Birth defects
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Cardiac defects
- Cervical cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Lung cancer
- Lymphomas
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Pancreatic cancer
- Parkinson’s disease
- Prostate cancer
- Rectal cancer
- Sarcoma
- Scleroderma
Additionally, babies whose mothers were exposed to Camp Lejeune water during pregnancy were at a greater risk for certain birth defects, certain types of cancer, and neural tube defects.
If you or a loved one developed a health condition after living or working at Camp Lejeune, new laws may make you newly eligible to file a legal claim. Do not wait. Find out if you are now eligible to take legal action by contacting the Camp Lejeune Claims Center for a free consultation.
Justice for Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Victims
The federal government is usually protected from being sued by service members for injuries related to their military service. This means Camp Lejeune water contamination victims were referred to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to seek disability benefits, which were often insufficient. Many victims had their claims denied altogether.
Thankfully, after decades of pushing back, the time may finally be here for the victims of Camp Lejeune water contamination to get the justice they deserve. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 could allow victims to pursue financial compensation through a Camp Lejeune lawsuit, no matter how far back they were exposed. Contact us today for your free case evaluation.
