Camp Lejeune Water Contamination -
What You Need to Know:
In 1982, the Department of Defense discovered contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune. The Marine Corps discovered that some of the water treatment plants providing drinking water to the base contained volatile organic compounds," including perchloroethylene (PCE) or tetrachloroethylene (TCE). The DoD believes the contaminants came from leaking underground storage tanks, industrial spills and waste disposal sites in the area, and an off-base dry-cleaning firm.
Can Veterans Sue the Department of Defense?
Unfortunately, service members and veterans had no recourse for many years because of the Feres Doctrine. This legal doctrine prevents service members and veterans from suing the U.S. government for injuries sustained while serving, including lawsuits from veterans over Camp Lejeune's contaminated water. However, Congress recently passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 as part of the Honoring our PACT Act, which allows injured veterans to file suit.
What is the Camp Lejeune Justice Act?
Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, you may be able to file a claim related to Camp Lejeune's contaminated water if you or a loved one were stationed, lived, or worked at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or more between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, and if you have one of the many medical diagnoses related to contaminated water exposure or if a loved one has died as a result of one of these diseases and qualifies.The medical diagnoses include but are not limited to:
- Liver Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Bladder Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Leukemia
- Miscarriage
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Lung Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Skin Cancer
- Brain Tumor
- Brain Cancer
- Cervical Cancer
- Kidney Failure
- Thyroid Cancer
- Death
According to Reuters, more than 5,000 claims were filed with the Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Navy's Tort Claims Unit in Norfolk, Virginia. These claims are the first step for service members and their families to recover compensation for injuries related to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
How Many People Were Affected by Camp Lejeune's Contaminated Water?
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry estimates that as many as one million people were exposed to contaminated water between 1953 and 1987. Attorneys estimate that the government may face more than 500,000 claims.
Contact Us for Help with your Claim
If you were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and have a related health condition, call us for assistance filing your claim for compensation. Call 888-910-6376 or contact us online. Your consultation is free, and you won't pay anything unless we recover compensation for you.
