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Were you, your spouse, or your parents assigned to Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987? Many armed services members and veterans who reside in Virginia spent time at Camp Lejeune. If you were at Lejeune for 30 days or longer and you have health issues that may be related to toxic chemicals in the Camp Lejeune water supply, our attorneys want to hear from you.
Marks & Harrison Is No Longer Accepting New Clients for Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Claims
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 is an important piece of bipartisan legislation moving through Congress and expected to be signed into law by President Biden. It would allow veterans and their families who have been exposed to toxic chemicals in the Lejeune drinking water to seek significant compensation for the harm they have suffered.
Investigators found that the Camp Lejeune water was contaminated for decades with highly toxic chemicals known to cause cancer, an increased risk of birth defects, and other health problems.
The personal injury lawyers of Marks & Harrison are reviewing Virginia Camp Lejeune water contamination cases in preparation for possible lawsuits. We anticipate thousands of people will file claims because of the extent of the contamination over decades. We have extensive experience in this area of the law and a true passion for demanding justice for the men and women who have worn the uniform of our nation.
Camp Lejeune Justice Act
The federal legislation, as written, allows anyone exposed to water for at least 30 days from August 1, 1953, through December 31, 1987, at Camp Lejeune to bring legal action in the United States District Court to seek appropriate relief for the harm caused by exposure to the contaminated water.
Veterans and others, including those who may have suffered in-utero exposure, may file claims for compensation.
With the numerous eligible veterans and family members who are likely to seek compensation, it is important to make sure your lawsuit is accurate and well supported.
Toxic Chemicals and Diseases Related to Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune
The U.S. Marine Corps discovered dangerous chemicals known as “volatile organic compounds” (VOCs) in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune in 1982. They include:
- Tetrachloroethylene, aka
Perchloroethylene (PCE): Used in dry cleaning and metal degreasing - Trichloroethylene (TCE): Used to clean metal parts
- Vinyl chloride (VC): TCE and PCE in groundwater degrade over time to become VC
- Benzene: Used to make other chemicals that are used to make plastics, resins, nylon, and other synthetic fibers
Benzene, TCE, and VC are known to be cancer-causing chemicals. PCE is classified as probably carcinogenic.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has determined that there is sufficient evidence that exposure to the chemicals detected in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune could cause such health effects as.
- Bladder Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Cervical Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Lung Cancer
- Ovarian Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- Miscarriage
- Multiple Myeloma and other Myelodysplastic Syndromes
- Adult Leukemia
- Aplastic Anemia and other Bone Marrow Conditions
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Renal Toxicity
- Neurobehavioral Effects
- Birth Defects and Birth Injuries, including low birth weight, oral cleft defects (including cleft lip, major malformations, and fetal death
You or a loved one of yours may have a claim for compensation if you lived at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune for 30 days or more from Aug. 1, 1953, to Dec. 31, 1987, and have been diagnosed with any of the health conditions listed above. You may also have a claim if your child, spouse, or parent developed a health condition and died from contamination in Camp Lejeune drinking water.
Who Can Sue for Injuries Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act?
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 provides that anyone who resided or worked at Camp Lejeune or was otherwise exposed to the water at Camp Lejeune within the time period cited may seek compensation for the harm that was caused by exposure to the water.
To be successful, evidence supporting a legal claim must show that a causal relationship between exposure to the water at Camp Lejeune and the harm the plaintiff claims exists.
A claim would require medical records, military service records, or other evidence of residency, such as driver’s license, tax records, financial statements, voter registration or court documents, as well as testimony.
What Forms of Compensation Are Available for a Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Claim?
Compensation for claims under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 is not specified. Typical compensation in similar claims includes:
- Reimbursement for past and current medical expenses
- An agreement to pay future medical expenses
- Reimbursement for lost income from being unable to work
- Restitution for the loss of a spouse’s companionship or a parent’s guidance in a wrongful death case.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Claim?
The deadline for filing a claim under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 is two years from the date it is enacted. Once the Senate and House resolve their differences over the versions of the bill passed by the two chambers, President Biden has pledged to sign the bill as part of the larger Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022, which addresses other service-related toxic exposures.
It will require time to gather the records necessary to support your Virginia Camp Lejeune water contamination case. You should contact an attorney now to understand your rights if you have been harmed by your or your loved one’s exposure to toxic water at Camp Lejeune and should be compensated for your losses.
Contact a Virginia Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit Lawyer Today
The personal injury attorneys Marks & Harrison in Richmond are currently reviewing potential claims on behalf of former military service members and others in Virginia who have been harmed by toxic drinking water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
Call or reach us online to set up a free, no-obligation legal consultation about your eligibility for compensation. Our goal is to protect our clients’ rights and recover the full compensation they deserve for unjust harm done to them. Contact us today.
