Do You Have a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit? If So, Our Lawyers Can Help You Recover

If you or a family member served or worked at the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina between 1953 and 1987, you may have been exposed to contaminated drinking water. Multiple studies have concluded that the drinking water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated during this time, and many servicemembers, civil servants, contractors and family members suffered serious health consequences as a result.

Until recently, individuals and families who were impacted by the drinking water contamination at Camp Lejeune did not have a way to recover financial compensation. However, in August 2022, President Biden signed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act into law. Under this new law, individuals who were exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune now have the ability to file lawsuits in federal court.

Health Conditions Covered Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act

Tests conducted in 1982 of the drinking water at Camp Lejeune uncovered the presence of several volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that present known hazards to human health. Despite this, efforts to eliminate these VOCs were not undertaken for several years and were not completed until 1987. The VOCs found in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune included:

• Benzene – A chemical solvent used in gasoline and generated as a byproduct of various commercial and pharmaceutical processes. Benzene is a known carcinogen.
• Tetrachloroethylene – Another chemical solvent used in various commercial applications that is classified as a probable human carcinogen.
• Trichloroethylene – Another type of solvent used in commercial cleaning applications that, like benzene, is a known carcinogen.
• Vinyl Chloride – A byproduct of degraded tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene that is also known to cause cancer in humans.

Cancers linked to these chemicals include bladder cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer, leukemia, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

In addition to causing cancer, exposure to these chemicals through drinking water can cause several other health problems as well. For example, the contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune has also been linked to cases of:

• Birth defects
• Female infertility
• Hepatic steatosis
• Miscarriage
• Multiple myeloma
• Myelodysplastic syndromes
• Neurobehavioral effects
• Renal toxicity
• Scleroderma
• Parkinson’s disease

This list is not exhaustive. Other conditions have been linked to the contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune as well, and we encourage anyone who has been diagnosed with any health condition related to Camp Lejeune’s contaminated drinking water to speak with one of our attorneys about their legal rights.

Do You Have a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit?

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act establishes four primary requirements for filing a lawsuit. At Searcy Denney, we work closely with our clients to determine their eligibility, calculate the amount they are entitled to recover, and file successful claims for just compensation. You may be eligible to receive financial compensation for exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune if:

1. You Were Exposed During the Relevant Period

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act makes compensation available to individuals who were exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune for at least thirty (30) days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987. If you were stationed at Camp Lejeune during this time period, if a family member was stationed at Camp Lejeune during this time period, or if you or a family member was working as a civil servant or contractor at Camp Lejeune during this time, you may be eligible to file.

2. You Have a Medical Condition Linked to Contaminated Drinking Water Exposure

Filing a successful claim requires proof of a medical condition related to contaminated drinking water exposure (i.e., a condition linked to the consumption of benzene, tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene or vinyl chloride). This could be any of the cancers or other health conditions listed above or any other condition diagnosed as resulting from drinking contaminated water.

3. There is Sufficient Evidence to Establish a Causal Relationship

To establish their eligibility for financial compensation, claimants must have sufficient evidence of the link between their medical condition and exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune. The statute provides that claimants must present evidence that is either:

• “Sufficient to conclude that a causal relationship exists; or
• “Sufficient to conclude that a causal relationship is at least as likely as not.”

4. You Still Have Time to File a Lawsuit

Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, individuals who were affected by contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune only have a limited amount of time to file their claims. Claimants must file within two years of the law’s enactment or within 180 days of exhausting their administrative remedies (which is required before filing a lawsuit)—whichever comes later. Currently, all individuals who were exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune still have time to file.

We Help USMC Veterans and Other Individuals File Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuits

If you believe you may be entitled to financial compensation under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, our lawyers can help you assert your legal rights. When you choose Searcy Denney, our lawyers will:

• Determine Your Eligibility – We will determine your eligibility based on the timing of your exposure and your medical records.
• Calculate Your Losses – The law entitles affected individuals to “appropriate relief,” offset by any amounts they have received from the VA or other government programs. Our lawyers will fight for the full amount you are entitled to recover.
• Pursue Administrative Remedies – Before filing a lawsuit, eligible claimants must first exhaust their administrative remedies. Our lawyers will take your claim through this process and secure financial compensation without going to court if at all possible.
• File a Lawsuit on Your Behalf – If necessary, our lawyers will file a lawsuit on your behalf. Our lawyers will then rely on their centuries of combined relevant experience to help you win the compensation you deserve.

Speak with a Lawyer About Your Rights Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act

To speak with a water contamination lawyer about your rights under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, please contact us to arrange a free initial consultation. Call 800-780-8607 or tell us how we can reach you online to schedule an appointment today.