If you’re a military veteran or part of a military family, you may have heard about water contamination at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. This discovery isn’t new; the Department of Defense discovered the contaminated drinking water in 1982. But until recently, veterans and active duty service members had little recourse.
What Was Wrong with the Water at Camp Lejeune?
In the 1980s, the DoD discovered that drinking water at U.S. Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune contained “volatile organic compounds,” including perchloroethylene (PCE) or tetrachloroethylene (TCE). Nearby industrial spills, waste disposal sites, leaking underground storage tanks, and an off-base dry-cleaning firm are believed to be the sources of the contamination. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the contamination likely affected people on base between the 1950s through February 1985.
What’s the Problem with Volatile Organic Compounds?
Long-term exposure to VOC-contaminated water can cause chronic health conditions like:
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs maintains a list of more than 40 health conditions that may qualify for compensation.
How Many People Were Affected by Camp Lejeune’s Contaminated Water?
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry believes that as many as one million people may have been exposed to the contaminated water at Camp LeJeune between 1953 and 1987. The government expects to field more than half a million claims as a result.
What are the Symptoms to Watch for Resulting from Exposure to the Contaminated Water?
Symptoms of exposure to water containing volatile organic compounds can include:
If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms, knowing whether the symptoms are related to VOC exposure in contaminated water can be challenging. But if you suspect your symptoms may be related, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. If you think you qualify to file a claim, an experienced attorney like those at the Madeksho Law Firm can help you get started. Call us at 888-910-6376. There’s neve a charge to talk with us.
In 1982, the U.S. Department of Defense discovered contaminated drinking water at Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune. The government believes that volatile organic compounds from nearby disposal sites and contaminated leaking storage tanks entered the water, potentially harming people on base from the mid-1950s through 1987. People exposed include active duty service members, family members, veterans, and contractors on the base for more than 30 years.
Can People Harmed by the Government Sue?
Unfortunately, until recently, a legal doctrine known as the Feres Doctrine prevented many people exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune from recovering anything for their damages. Named after a Supreme Court case from 1950, the Feres Doctrine keeps veterans and active duty service members from suing the U.S. Government for injuries they sustained in the line of duty. The Feres Doctrine also prevented family members harmed by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune from suing the government.
Can Veterans Sue the Department of Defense Now?
Fortunately, in 2022, Congress passed the Honoring our PACT Act, which contains the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act allows injured veterans to file suit to recover for damages caused by exposure to contaminated water. Family members are also eligible to file a claim for compensation.
How Does the Camp Lejeune Justice Act Work?
To file a claim under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, you must meet some of the criteria listed in the statute. You may file if:
How Many People Have Filed Suit?
According to Reuters, people filed more than 5,000 claims with the Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Navy’s Tort Claims Unit in Norfolk, Virginia, between August and September of 2022 after the law went into effect.
After notice to the government, filing suit under the statute is the first step for veterans and their families to recover compensation related to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. If you believe you qualify, an experienced attorney like those at the Madeksho Law Firm can help. Call us at 888-910-6376 for a free, no obligation consultation.
In the early 1980s, the U.S. Department of Defense discovered that military service members and their families had been exposed to contaminated drinking water at Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune for decades. Beginning in the mid-1950s, nearby industrial spills, chemical disposal sites, leaking underground storage tanks, and runoff of chemicals from a dry-cleaning business resulted in drinking water contaminated by volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The chemicals in the water included perchloroethylene (PCE) and tetrachloroethylene (TCE). Exposure to VOCs can result in many chronic health conditions, including cancer.
Who May File a Claim?
You can file a claim under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 if you meet the statutory requirements, including:
This means that service members and their families stationed at Camp Lejeune during the qualifying dates may file suit under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.
What Conditions are Eligible for Compensation?
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has a list of more than 40 health conditions that qualify for compensation, including:
What if I’m Not Sure My Health Condition is Related to Contaminated Water?
Even if you know you were exposed to the drinking water at Camp Lejeune, it can be challenging to know whether any of your current health conditions are related. In some cases, even if exposure to Camp Lejeune’s water didn’t cause your condition, it may have exacerbated an existing health condition. Check the VA’s list of more than 40 qualifying health conditions and consult with your doctor to see if your exposure may be related.
What Can I Claim in My Suit?
You can claim health care expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering if you qualify for compensation. The VA will have a fund to pay for health care and benefits associated with exposure for at least two years. An experienced attorney like those at the Madeksho Law Firm can help you get started.
In 1982, the Department of Defense announced that contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune may have exposed service members and their families to volatile organic compounds for more than three decades. Unfortunately, some laws prevented veterans from recovering compensation for chronic health conditions potentially caused by their exposure to contaminated water. Finally, a new law passed by Congress in August of 2022 may help. The legislation, known as the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, is part of the Honoring our PACT Act.
What are the Criteria to File Suit?
To make a claim, you must qualify under the legislative criteria listed in the new law.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs maintains a list of qualifying health conditions.
How Do I File a Suit?
To claim compensation related to Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water exposure, you’ll need to file a claim for disability compensation and provide supporting evidence, including:
If the VA denies your claim, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit seeking recovery. Some early court orders related to Camp Lejeune litigation indicate that, even if you filed an earlier claim denied by the government, you might need to provide the VA with notice of your claim again under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.
What Can I Claim in My Suit?
If you qualify, you can request medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering in your Camp Lejeune Justice Act claim. Under the statute, the VA will provide a two-year fund to cover health care costs and other benefits related to contaminated water exposure. If you believe you qualify, it’s essential to seek an experienced attorney like those at the Madeksho Law Firm right away. Call us at 888-910-6376 for a free consultation.
If you are facing a chronic health condition after exposure to drinking water contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at Camp Lejeune, you may be entitled to file a claim with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
What are the Symptoms of Contaminated Water Exposure?
Symptoms of exposure to VOCs can include many signs that are also related to chronic health conditions that qualify for compensation. Symptoms of VOC exposure can include:
What Medical Conditions Can Contaminated Water Exposure Cause?
According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the contaminants in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune may increase “the risk of cancers (kidney, multiple myeloma, leukemias, and others), adverse birth outcomes, and other adverse health effects of residents (including infants and children), civilian workers, Marines, and Naval personnel at Camp Lejeune.” The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has an extensive list of medical conditions that may qualify for compensation related to exposure to Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water. The list contains more than 40 health conditions.
How Can a Lawyer Help Me?
Veterans and family members stationed at Camp Lejeune from the mid-1950s to 1987 may be entitled to file a claim for compensation related to health conditions caused by exposure to the contaminated water. The claims, allowed under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 as part of the Honoring our PACT Act, have specific notice requirements. You must follow the administrative procedures listed in the legislation and navigate your way through a bureaucratic quagmire to ensure the VA won’t reject your claim. But this isn’t something you need to do alone. An experienced tort litigator, like the attorneys at the Madeksho Law Firm, can help.
You Need an Experienced Lawyer To Help You with Your Claim
If you or a loved one were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, and you have a related health condition, call us to see if you qualify to file a claim for compensation. Call the Madeksho Law Firm at 1-888-910-6376 or contact us online. Your consultation is free.
You may have heard quite a bit lately about contaminated water at Camp Lejeune that made millions of military service members and their families sick. Although the Department of Defense discovered the contaminated water in 1982, military families and veterans had little recourse until recent legislation gave them the right to file claims for health care, disability, and other damages. But how did this happen?
Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune
In 1982, the Department of Defense discovered several drinking water sources at U.S. Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune contained “volatile organic compounds.” The VOCs in the water included several known carcinogens, including:
The government discovered that nearby underground storage tanks, industrial spills, waste disposal sites, and an off-base dry-cleaning firm contributed to contaminated groundwater and waterways near Camp Lejeune. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the contaminated water most likely affected people on base between August 1953 to February 1985. They believe that as many as one million people were exposed to contaminated water.
How Volatile Organic Compounds Harm People
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are solid or liquid chemicals that can quickly end up in water or evaporate into gases in our environment. VOCs are a significant source of environmental pollution and are often found in groundwater near industrial businesses like gas stations and dry cleaners. Some VOCs like benzene, PCE, and TCE can increase your risk of cancer if ingested or inhaled, and children are even more vulnerable because of their developing brains and small size.
Exposure to VOC-contaminated water over the long term can lead to many chronic health conditions, including:
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs maintains a list of qualifying health conditions, including:
If you have a qualifying health condition and were exposed to Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water for at least 30 days, a skilled attorney from the Madeksho Law Firm can help.
In the early 1980s, the U.S. Department of Defense discovered that military service members and their families were exposed to contaminated drinking water at Marine Base Camp Lejeune. The government believes that nearly industrial spills, waste disposal, leaking underwater storage tanks, and an off-base dry cleaner all contributed to contaminated groundwater near the base. As a result, several drinking water sources on base exposed up to a million service members and their families for more than 30 years.
After waiting decades, veterans and their families exposed to Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water may finally get compensation for their related illnesses. The change comes after Congress passed the Honoring Our PACT Act in 2022, which also contains the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. The legislation created a fund to compensate sick veterans and their families.
What Does the Camp Lejeune Justice Act Change?
For most of us, if the actions of the U.S. Government harm us, we can sue for compensation under the Federal Tort Claims Act. But military service members are generally prohibited from suing the government for injuries they sustain in the line of duty under a legal doctrine called the Feres Doctrine. The Feres Doctrine resulted from a Supreme Court case in 1950 and now prevents service members and their families from suing the government for compensation.
In August of 2022, Congress passed the Honoring our PACT Act, which contains the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022. The legislation now expressly allows veterans and family members to file claims for illnesses related to exposure to Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water. Separate federal legislation, the Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012, also allows families to seek coverage for health care related to health conditions resulting from contaminated water exposure.
How Does the Camp Lejeune Justice Act Work?
You may qualify to file a claim under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act if:
If you or a loved one were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, and you have a related health condition, call us to see if you qualify to file a claim for compensation. Call the Madeksho Law Firm at 1-888-910-6376 or contact us online. Your consultation is free.
