Anyone who resided at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base between 1953 and 1987 might have suffered exposure to cancer-causing compounds in the water supply system.
Most of those who consumed the contaminated water developed severe health issues, including bladder cancer, liver cancer, congenital disabilities, and leukemia.
But despite years of harming individuals with carcinogenic compounds in drinking water, victims could not seek compensation for their injuries.
Fortunately, the recently enacted Camp Lejeune Justice Act allows veterans to file claims against the Marine Corps base.
If you or your loved one were affected, you could file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit. Read on to know whether you are eligible for compensation and the deadline for filing a lawsuit.
Allegations Against Camp Lejeune and the Camp Lejeune Justice Act
Until recently, the statute of repose in North Carolina never allowed victims to seek compensation for their damages.
The injured victims remained in the dark for years, not knowing that their drinking water was contaminated. For this reason, the statute of limitations passed without them filing their claims.
Marines exposed to the contaminated drinking water at the camp for 30 days or more were eligible to file claims and seek compensation following the enactment of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) in August 2022.
Former Marine Jerome M. Ensminger recently claimed that the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune was responsible for his daughter’s leukemia.
Jane Ensminger died at the age of nine from leukemia because of the harmful compounds in the drinking water, such as benzene, vinyl chloride, PCE, and TCE.
The newly passed law permits anyone who resided at Camp Lejeune and ultimately developed any health issues resulting from the contaminated water to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit on or before 10th August 2024.
Some lawsuits filed between 11th and 12th February 2023 stated that the water contamination at the base caused multiple congenital defects too.
How Many Camp Lejeune Lawsuits Will We See?
The JAG has received around 15,000 lawsuits since the enactment of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. Considering the current situation, how many Camp Lejeune lawsuits victims will file in the years ahead is a concern.
A Bloomberg report speculates that there could be as many as 200,000 Camp Lejeune lawsuits. But it is hard to know whether or not the prediction is accurate.
We know that between 1953 and 1987, a million veterans (and many other workers, civilians, and neighboring residents) suffered exposure to contaminated water.
The Camp Lejeune lawsuit is quite rare in the legal industry. Unlike other claims in which you cannot tell how many people took Tylenol, for example, there is a record of the number of people on the base because the military keeps such records.
Although we cannot tell how this crucial information will impact the Camp Lejeune lawsuit, it is unique and warrants attention.
Severe Health Problems and Defects Caused by the Contaminated Drinking Water
Tests conducted confirmed that the water supplied at the Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune from 1953 to 1987 contained pollutants. The chemicals found in the water include:
- Perchloroethylene (PCE)
- Tetrachloroethylene
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Benzene
- Vinyl chloride
The toxic compounds leaked into the ground and surrounding sewers due to an improper dry cleaning company’s wastewater disposal near the base.
The Marine Corps base would drain the water from these sewers into a treatment facility, then distribute it to the residents as safe water for drinking, cleaning, and other uses.
Health Issues Associated with Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
The Camp Lejeune contaminated water caused various severe health conditions, including:
- Congenital defects
- Female infertility
- Kidney cancer
- Lung cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Organ damage
- Renal disease
- Central nervous system damage
- Aplastic anemia
- Multiple sclerosis
- Leukemia
- Parkinson’s disease
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Brain tumor
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
The contaminated water could have harmed over a million veterans, according to a 2017 Department of Veterans Affairs estimate. The number of administrative lawsuits filed from December 2022 stands at roughly 15,000.
Like with many toxins, a victim’s degree of exposure to the contaminated water, the mode of contact (bathing, drinking, etc.), the duration of exposure, the age at which they got exposed, and any underlying medical issues all play a role in how severe their illness became.
A personal injury attorney can provide more information about your potential Camp Lejeune lawsuit if you or a loved one is among the numerous people afflicted by these cancer-causing substances.
Why Hire a Lawyer for Your Personal Injury Claim?
You deserve the highest compensation for your injuries after contracting severe illnesses due to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
Although it could be possible to defend yourself in a civil lawsuit, working with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney dramatically improves your likelihood of winning and getting the compensation you deserve.
A personal injury attorney would commit to you and your case as you focus on treatment. They would also provide expert advice on how to proceed with your case.
Contact Legal Giant for Help with Your Camp Lejeune Lawsuit
Even if your exposure to contaminated water was more than 50 years ago, you have the right to compensation. But the deadline for filing all Camp Lejeune lawsuits is 10th August 2024, so you must act fast.
Legal Giant can help by making the lawyer hiring process more efficient for you. We are a legal referral service that partners with experienced personal injury attorneys across all states.
Our partner attorneys can help you file a case, gather all evidence to prove your injuries, and get you the maximum compensation.
Contact us for a free consultation and evaluation of your case today.
