If you were stationed at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, you and your loved ones who lived on-base may be entitled to compensation.
Camp Lejeune was a Marine Corps base camp located in Jacksonville, North Carolina. It was the location where new recruits were sent for basic training throughout the years. This camp also had living quarters for Marine Corps families stationed there. Camp Lejeune has now been exposed for having a toxic water supply for over 30 years; containing chemicals that are extremely dangerous to humans. These chemicals have been known to cause birth defects, miscarriages, fetal demise, and numerous types of cancer in individuals who have been exposed to them.
Over 1,000,000 people resided at Camp Lejeune during the 30 year period of heavy contamination (1953-1987). Because the chemicals were in the base's water supply, most likely every single one of those people have been exposed to PCE (perchloroethylene) and TCE (tetrachloroethylene). These chemicals originated from an off base dry cleaning company and their improper waste disposal practices. PCE can harm the nervous system and negatively impact visual memory, color vision, the ability to process information, and has been known to cause countless types of cancer, miscarriages, fetal demise, and birth defects. The following are diseases and conditions that have been causally linked to PCE and TCE exposure:
TCE (Trichloroethylene) and PCE (Tetrachloroethylene) are well known for causing numerous types of diseases. Once these chemicals are ingested or inhaled, the effects vary from person to person. Initially, you might feel dizzy or nauseous. However, long term, these chemicals have the potential to wreak havoc on your central nervous system along with your immune system. Additionally, human exposure to TCE and PCE can cause specific gene mutations at the cellular level, which, in turn, can lead to the development of different types of cancer. Researchers at Boston University found that exposure is most harmful when humans are in their early stages of life. This is why miscarriages are extremely common and infant mortality rates are at their highest when pregnant women are exposed to these chemicals. This is also why fetuses and infants who have developing organs are at extremely high risk of negative outcomes when they are exposed to these chemicals. Camp Lejeune had such a high infant mortality rate that it had its own cemetery for the infants referred to as “Baby Heaven.”
As part of the Honoring the PACT Act 2022 (PACT Act), the Camp Lejeune Justice Act was signed into law on Wednesday, August 10, 2022. This legislation is significant in that it allows veterans, their families, and civilians who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune for more than 30 days from the period of 1953 to 1987 and subsequently developed the aforementioned health conditions to receive compensation from the Federal Government for their damages. Those who have lost a loved one as a result of an illness linked to the toxins in Camp Lejeune’s water may also be able to file a lawsuit. It is also important to note that now there is a statute of limitations for Camp Lejeune settlements, meaning that existing cases need to be filed before August 8th of 2024. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has already set aside $6.1 billion to distribute to all Camp Lejeune victims and their families. The CBO has also already estimated that $200,000,000 will most likely be paid out within a 12 month span.
Potential Camp Lejeune water contamination settlement amounts may be influenced by a variety of different factors in each case including:
Holder Law Group, LLP is working with Marine Corps. Veterans and their families and loved ones to evaluate potential claims involving Camp Lejeune water contamination cases. Evaluations are free of charge. Please contact Betsy Holder at 217-840-2652 or betsy@holderlawllp.com for more information or visit the link below for more information about camp Lejeune.
Sources: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/faq_chemicals.html
Legal Research and Content : Avi Rhodes
Updated August 18, 2022
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