Camp Lejeune – Toxic Chemical Lawsuits

What and Where is Camp Lejeune?

Camp Lejuene is a United States Marine Corps training camp located in Jacksonville, North Carolina. It is located directly on 14 miles of beach on coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

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Water Contamination

From approximately 1953 – 1987, Marines and their families and other military and civilian personnel who were stationed or working at Camp Lejeune drank, bathed in and otherwise used and ingested tap water that had been contaminated with toxic chemicals due to solvents being dumped and buried near the base’s water wells. These chemicals included benzene, trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene, perchloroethylene (PCE), and vinyl chloride (VC), which are known to cause cancer in humans.

Sources of the contamination were many and may include solvents from a nearby, dry cleaning company located off the base, chemicals used to clean equipment on-base, and underground fuel storage tanks which had been leaking chemicals. The contaminated wells had been mostly closed by 1985, but those who were exposed to the contaminated water continued to suffer with chronic illnesses and develop cancer. Many people who were exposed have died from these toxic chemicals.

Legislation and Litigation

Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021

This was a bipartisan Bill introduced in the House of Representatives in March 2021. The Bill passed and became the Camp Lejeune Justice Act on March 3, 2022.

This Act allows for an individual who was exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between 8/1/1953 and 12/31/1987 or his or her legal representative to file a lawsuit seeking damages. The lawsuits filed will seek monetary compensation for harms caused by, associated with, or linked to exposure to the water.

To qualify to file a lawsuit, an individual must have been diagnosed with one of the following after being at Camp Lejeune:

• Bladder cancer
• Breast cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Liver cancer
• Lung cancer
• Adult leukemia
• Multiple myeloma
• Non-Hodgkins lymphoma
• Aplastic anemia
• Cardiac birth defects
• Fatty liver disease
• Miscarriage
• Parkinson’s disease
• Renal toxicity
• Scleroderma

Any type of cancer or serious injury not specifically listed, or people who were exposed to the water but who have no diagnoses of injury may still be eligible for lower levels of compensation including involvement in a class action lawsuit and medical monitoring.

If you were stationed or worked at Camp Lejuene from 1953 to 1987 and you are experiencing health issues, consult your doctor right away.

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Filing a Lawsuit

Per the legislative action, filing a lawsuit will have no effect on disability benefits. The deadline for filing a lawsuit is March 3, 2024. If you think you or a loved one qualifies to join the Camp Lejuene lawsuit, contact the Van Law Firm.

Van Law Firm has attorneys who are experienced with toxic chemical litigation such as that associated with Cap Lejuene. We can help you determine if you qualify to join the lawsuit. Call us today at (702) 900-9000. Consultations are always free.