Camp Lejeune Compensation For Contaminated Water

An estimated one million people who were stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina from 1953 to 1987 may have been exposed to contaminated drinking water that can cause cancer, birth defects, miscarriages, and other serious health problems and are now eligible to be part of the Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit.

Anyone exposed to the drinking water at Camp Lejeune during this period is entitled to compensation for the injuries, illnesses, diseases, and health conditions caused by the contaminated water. However, there is a narrow time window to take advantage of new legislation that permits Camp Lejeune lawsuits. Filing a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit does not affect your VA benefits eligibility.

Milberg attorneys based locally in North Carolina are available to answer your questions and let you know if you qualify for legal action. To speak with a lawyer, please complete the contact us form or call (866) 488-5595

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act

It is not up for debate that, for more than three decades, roughly one million military service members, civilian staff, and their families might have been exposed to contaminated drinking water at the Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base.

Industrial solvents, including the carcinogens perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE), were discovered in the Camp Lejeune water supply in the early 1980s. In 1982, an analyst hired by the Marines confirmed the water contamination. But the water treatment plant causing the pollution wasn’t shut down until 1987.

All of this is admitted in government reports. However, it took decades for the government to provide a measure of justice addressing the health impacts of Camp Lejeune toxic water. In 2017—thirty years after the exposure ended—the Department of Veterans Affairs began providing disability benefits to veterans and their families.

But many felt that VA benefits were a half-measure that did not adequately compensate water contamination victims. This led to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act—a federal remedy that allows Camp Lejeune residents poisoned by water at the base to file a claim against the U.S. government and seek relief for the harm they suffered.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act became part of a larger bill (the Honoring our PACT Act) that addresses several types of service-related toxic exposure. The bill was signed into law by President Biden on August 10. 

What to Know About Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit

If you or a loved one—including a child in utero—were exposed to the water at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days during the period beginning on August 1, 1953 and ending on December 31, 1987, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. Veterans, civilian personnel, and their families who resided or worked at the base are all potentially eligible. Here are some important facts about Camp Lejeune toxic exposure lawsuits:

• The claim must be filed within two years from the day the Camp Lejeune Justice Act is signed into law (August 10, 2022).
• The lawsuit must be filed in United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
• Filing a lawsuit does not affect your eligibility for Camp Lejeune VA benefits, but if you choose to bring a claim, you cannot sue the government again in the future for toxic water exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The full text of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act can be found here. While it does not specify health conditions associated with contaminated drinking water, the VA has identified a number of health issues that are presumed to be related to the water at Camp Lejeune. They include:

• Aplastic anemia (and related syndromes)
• Bladder cancer
• Breast cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Female infertility
• Hepatic steatosis
• Kidney cancer
• Leukemia
• Liver cancer
• Lung cancer
• Miscarriage
• Multiple myeloma
• Myelodysplastic syndromes
• Neurobehavioral effects
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Parkinson’s disease
• Renal toxicity
• Scleroderma

This may not be an exhaustive list of the health conditions caused by Camp Lejeune toxic water. If you have questions about whether your condition qualifies for legal action, or how you can prove your case, you should talk to a lawyer who can assist with starting a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit.

Find Out if You Can File a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit

Unlike other law firms that will hand off your claim to another firm, our own attorneys are handling Camp Lejeune lawsuits. Our office in Raleigh is staffed by local North Carolina attorneys who have firsthand experience with the courts and judges that will oversee these cases. These attorneys are backed by Milberg’s Environmental and Toxic Torts practice, which has litigated toxic harm cases around the world. With Milberg, you get the best of both worlds: local attorneys and a team of global environmental lawyers with a proven track record in these types of lawsuits.

Justice is long overdue for those exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune, but the opportunity to hold the government accountable is limited. Don’t miss your chance to finally get compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other harms. Talk to an attorney at Milberg and start the claims process as soon as possible. Click here to Schedule your free consultation or call (866) 488-5595

Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune Lawsuit FAQs

Will veterans eligible for disability and VA healthcare lose those benefits if they sue the government and win?

• Under the new law, Veterans Affairs officials cannot deny pending disability claims or cut services simply for filing a lawsuit related to the Lejeune Justice Act.

How will a lawsuit affect my current VA benefits?

• Your current VA benefits will remain unaffected by a lawsuit or resulting reward related to exposure at Camp Lejeune. However, any award will be offset by the VA benefits provided in connection with healthcare or disability specifically related to exposure to contaminated water on Camp Lejeune. Benefits for unrelated illness and injury will remain the same and will not effect potential recovery.

Including potential attorney fees, could a lawsuit end up costing more than I receive

• Our firm has a no-fee guarantee. Unless we are successful in winning an award for you, we will not charge any fees. Additionally, we will advise you throughout the process on the potential recovery and total fees, ensuring the lawsuit won’t cost more than you receive.

If my administrative claim was denied, can I still file a lawsuit?

• If your administrative claim is unsatisfactorily resolved, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act provides the only avenue for those affected by the contamination to have their day in court. A lawsuit may be filed on your behalf. These suits must be filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina, where Milberg’s Raleigh attorneys have years of experience before the local judges.

Do I need an attorney to file my administrative claim?

• You do not have to be represented by an attorney to file the administrative claim with the Department of the Navy. However, that form provides opposing attorneys with information about your claim. Filing the form without consulting with an attorney could limit the amount and type of recovery available to you. The form will also become a critical component of any lawsuit filed on your behalf in this matter. Involving an attorney from the beginning provides you with the best opportunity to receive the recovery you are entitled to under the law. Our firm’s established team of attorneys know the claim process and are prepared to ensure you are well represented .

Can I recover on behalf of my loved one?

• Yes. If you are the personal representative of your deceased loved one, you can seek recovery on behalf of their estate. Any person, living or dead, who spent at least 30 days on Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, may be entitled to recovery. Do not hesitate to reach out to our team to discuss your options. A consultation with an attorney will assist in preparing your documents to illustrate your loved one’s exposure to the contamination and your position as their representative.

Should I take the time to do this now?

• If you believe you have a claim under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, Click here to Schedule your free consultation or call (866) 488-5595. Your administrative claim must be filed by August 10, 2024. There is no other avenue to recover for the impacts of the Camp Lejeune contamination and this avenue is only available for two years from the day it was signed into law.

Camp Lejeune Claim Seminars

Milberg will be hosting Camp Lejeune Claim Seminars in various cities across the country. The purpose of the seminars will be to inform, educate, and answer eligible claimants’ questions on the process for filing a claim and/or lawsuit regarding damages for injuries as a result of the water contamination at Camp Lejeune Marine Corp Base.

Seminars are free and open to the public.

Camp Lejeune Seminars Speakers

Patrick M. Wallace
Partner

Patrick has a long career going before federal judges in the Eastern District of North Carolina, pioneering groundbreaking strategies to provide justice for his clients and securing $150 million in recoveries. Given his vast experience in the federal court in which the denied claims will be filed, Patrick will be giving attendees of the seminar a detailed breakdown on what the litigation process will look like.

Kristian Rasmussen
Senior Partner

As a former JAG Officer practicing law for over 21 Years, Kristian has a unique understanding of the department that will be handling the initial claims. Using his insight, during the seminar, Kristian will be reviewing the claims process and what claimants could expect.

Specific dates, times, and locations will be updated below:

Upcoming Event

• Raleigh, NC – September 14th @ 6pm | Hilton Raleigh North Hills | RSVP NOW

To speak to our Camp Lejeune Claims Team, Schedule your free consultation below or call (866) 488-5595