What is camp lejeune water contamination lawsuit?
The camp Lejeunejustice act, 2022, is under the limelight lately as it is going to offer relief to the victims of Camp Lejeune water contamination by enabling them to file lawsuits. Now, what is the Camp Lejeune lawsuit? Before diving into the act and understanding the technicalities associated with it, it’s important to know what is Camp Lejeune water contamination. The issue of Camp Lejeune dates back to the year 1953 and lingered until 1987 at Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune located in Jacksonville, North Carolina. The families and personnel of USMC living at the base during this time, consumed the tap water contaminated with harmful chemicals and later developed serious complications due to this.
Table of Contents
- Recent updates on Camp Lejeune water contamination Act, 2022
- What was in the water at Camp Lejeune?
- Effects of Camp Lejeune water contamination on human body
- Neurobehavioral effects of Camp Lejeune water contamination
- Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit
- Know how to file lawsuit and eligibility criteria
- How to find the best lawyers forCamp Lejeune lawsuit?
- Free Case Review
Recent updates on Camp Lejeune water contamination Act, 2022.
The camp Lejeune water contamination act, 2022, equips victims with the right to sue and entitles them to receive settlement depending upon the degree of exposure and complications. Now, victims or families of victims, including veterans whose claims were denied earlier by the VA, can file lawsuits in federal courts and seek a financial settlement for health and other damages. The president, Joe Biden, signed the bill into law this year in the month of August.
Since the new legislation was signed, there have been over 5,000 claims filed over contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, according to a spokeswoman for the JAG unit. With respect to the latest news on Camp Lejeune water contamination, the CDC made an announcement publicly to probe investigation into possible health risks from other contaminated military sites too.
What was in the water at Camp Lejeune?
The environmental testing on the water at Camp LeJeune revealed the toxicity of the water. It found that the water supply was highly contaminated with toxic chemicals that could potentially lead to fatal consequences upon use. Two such contaminants are,
- Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
These two chemicals have known to be highly carcinogenic and have serious effects on the human body. The contamination level was way higher than the EPA’S safety limit for PCE (5 ug/L). The contamination level at camp Lejeune reached crazy heights of 215 ug/L as registered by early testing. It is believed that the US government cloaked the knowledge of the presence of such chemicals in the well water system at Camp Lejeune which aggravated the gravity of the situation.
Effects of Camp Lejeune water contamination on the human body
There were a variety of health issues reported by the veterans and their family members residing on the base. Some fatal health conditions posed by Camp Lejeune water contamination are enlisted below:
- Multiple myeloma
- Non- Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Leukemia
- Liver cancer
- Lung cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Breast cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Liver cirrhosis
- Birth defects
- Miscarriage
- Childhood cancers
- Dental issues: Several people reported dental issues from Camp Lejeune water contamination such as tooth cracking and decaying.
The scientific evidence and study conducted by the Centres of Disease Control’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in 2013 concluded that women who were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune have higher chances to suffer birth defects like spina bifida. These children also developed serious health issues later in life.
Neurobehavioral effects of Camp Lejeune water contamination
The exposure to toxic chemicals has been known to cause neurobehavioral effects. The hazardous chemical in the water at Camp Lejeune interfered with the functioning of the nervous system leading to multiple challenges related to the learning and behaviour of an individual.
Symptoms of neurobehavioral effect:
- Depression
- Changes in mood
- Motor problems
- Poor attention
- Poor memory
- Insomnia
- Parkinson’s disease
- Headaches
Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit
The new law passed by Congress is finally giving an opportunity to those who served at Camp Lejeune or got exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, to take legal action for their sufferings. The veterans who were denied justice before due to North Carolina law can also now file a lawsuit.
Know how to file lawsuit and eligibility criteria
Hiring an attorney is absolutely the prime step in order to put your case together. It is important to understand that filing a lawsuit is not same as filling out a claim form and hence, an attorney is highly recommended. But before filing the lawsuit, keep the following things in mind:
- You or your loved ones must have worked/lived/have been present at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987 for at least 30 days.
- You should be able to present an evidence of physical harm due to Camp Lejeune water contamination.
- If your mother, while carrying you in her womb, lived or worked at the base, you too become eligible to file a lawsuit.
- Those who already have gone to VA and were denied claims are also eligible to file lawsuits.
Once you are ready with proofs and all necessary documentation, your attorney will file a complaint on your behalf with the United States District Court for the Eastern district of North Carolina. It is important to outline all necessary information in the complaint document i.e. the length of time at the base, work history, medical history and the means of exposure. There are a few administrative steps need to be taken by a claimants before filing suit with which their attorney can help.
How to find the best lawyers for Camp Lejeune lawsuit?
Camp Lejeune water contamination is a devastating case that compromised many lives. When it is a matter of the life of your loved ones, you must look out for the best options out there. We at Connect2attorney work with highly experienced and dedicated attorneys determined to protect the rights of the people we stand for. We provide the best lawyers for Camp Lejeune lawsuit. Once you have chosen us, it is our sole responsibility to ease out all the creases in your way and make the whole process smooth for you. If you or someone from your family is or ever was a victim of toxic water at Camp Lejeune, don’t think twice and contact our attorneys now. We are committed to providing top-class services and putting an end to your sufferings by bringing justice to your door. A better choice means a better future!