Camp Lejeune

Our Approach

As early as WWII, Military bases used and disposed of chemical degreasers and other toxic substances that were later determined to contaminate drinking water & pose multiple health risks.

Volatile organic compounds were detected at Camp Lejeune in 1982 and traced to drinking water coming from two of the eight water treatment plants on the base. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reports that from 1953 to 1985 the systems that supplied drinking water to two housing areas at Camp Lejeune were contaminated with industrial chemicals. During this period, close to 9,000,000 service members were potentially exposed to this harmful water, according to the VA, making Camp Lejeune one of the worst cases of water contamination in U.S. history.

Our law firm has partnered with Levin, Papantonio, Rafferty to evaluate cases and seek compensation for individuals who have been diagnosed with one or more of the following cancers:

AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia)

Bladder Cancer

Brain Cancer

Breast Cancer

Central Nervous
System Cancer

Cervical Cancer

Colon/Colorectal Cancer

Esophageal Cancer

Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Kidney Cancer

Leukemia

Liver Cancer

Lung Cancer

Multiple Myeloma

Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Ovarian Cancer

Prostate Cancer

Rectal Cancer

Thyroid Cancer

Or other serious diseases:

ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)

Aplastic Anemia

Cardiac birth defect

Epilepsy

Fatty Liver Disease

Female Infertility

Immune disorders

Kidney damage

Miscarriages

MS (Multiple Sclerosis)

Nerve damage

Neurobehavioral effects

Parkinson’s disease

Renal toxicity/disease

Scleroderma

 

Our Story

What do we know about the Camp Lejeune Lawsuit?

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, as part of a greater bill, Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022, which was passed in the Senate on June 16, 2022. This comprehensive bill addresses health care, presumption of service-connection, research, resources and other matters related to veterans that were potentially exposed to toxic chemicals during their time as military servicemen and women. Under Title VIII – Records and Other Matters, Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, states that any service members including their family to be able to bring a cause of action for financial relief from their injuries by the contaminated water at the military base in Camp Lejeune.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act covers in Sec. 804, “Individuals who resided, worked or were otherwise exposed (including in utero) for not less than 30 days to water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987.

During this time, many housing areas were affected by the contaminated water such as:

• Berkely Manor
• Hadnot Point
• Hospital Point
• Midway Park
• Paradise Point
• Tarawa Terrace
• Watkins Village
• Knox Trailer Park

What contaminates were in the water?

There were four major types of contaminates in the water which were trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), vinyl chloride (VC) and Benzen. TCE and PCE chemicals are found in fuels and solvents that easily evaporate. They are volatile organic compounds that are primarily used in dry cleaning facilities and also used cleaning metals on machines. Vinyl chloride was another contaminate found on the military base that forms as a colorless gas from the breakdown of TCE and PCE. This is then utilized to make products like packaging materials, plastic products and even pipes. The last contaminate is benzene which is used in such products as detergents, pesticides and lubricants. It is a chemical that is utilized in the production of synthetic fibers, nylons and plastics among others.

How did the water at Camp Lejeune become Contaminated?

The government first put the blame on an industrial waste source from a laundry facility, ABC Cleaners, in the Tarawa Terrace region, for leaking toxic chemicals in a spook and wheel-type distribution. A similar contamination was happening in Hadnot Point, but they couldn’t pinpoint it to the laundry facility as the chemicals were completely different. What they found in Hadnot Point was that the waste was coming from leaking fuel tanks from the military that were seeping into the water source.

What are the procedural steps if you were affected at Camp Lejeune?

We must file an administrative petition on behalf you or the injured party. We must submit a request to the Department of Navy stating that you or someone you loved was stationed on Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days or more, between the dates mentioned above, and have sustained these injuries because of it. The Department of Navy has six months to review the claim. If they don’t answer the claim in six months, a lawsuit will be filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina.

When must you act?

You have two years from the Date of Enactment, which was August 11, 2022, or six months from the date the Department of the Navy denies the claim.

How can you contact us to find out more or to file a Camp Lejeune claim?

Call us at 855-TOXWATER or 239-791-7950