What is Camp Lejeune? The U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is located in North Carolina and was established in 1942. In 1982, volatile organic compounds were found in two of the eight water treatment plants that provided the drinking water at Camp Lejeune. Those exposed for longer periods of time to the toxic water were found to be more likely to develop a serious illness. Water from the Tarawa Terrace water treatment plant was primarily contaminated by PCE (tetrachloroethylene) from the nearby dry cleaners.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) analyzed the data to reconstruct historical contamination concentrations. They determined PCE concentrations significantly exceeded EPA’s maximum allowable contaminant levels of 5 ppb in drinking water between November 1957 and February 1987. Water from the Hadnot Point water treatment plant was primarily contaminated with TCE (trichloroethylene), but also had PCE, benzene, vinyl chloride, and DCE (dichloroethylene).

Who is Being Sued in a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit? Perhaps you brought a previous water contamination claim that was stopped by the NC statute of limitations. Following the passage of the PACT Act that was signed into law by President Biden on August 10, 2022, all those affected by Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water have two years in which to file a lawsuit for damages. Claims can be brought by those directly affected or by those who lost a loved one to a disease caused by the toxic water at Camp Lejeune. Your Camp Lejeune attorney will file a lawsuit on your behalf, using the administrative process which is a prerequisite to a civil lawsuit.

The Navy will use this process to identify valid claims, then will make an attempt to settle those claims equitably. Victims of the water contamination at Camp Lejeune can get a head start on their lawsuit by obtaining copies of documents that will prove they lived or worked at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987. Former marines will request their DD214, while civilians who worked on base can request copies of their SS work history. Your administrative claim will include proof of residence or employment at Camp Lejeune, the date of your diagnosis of a disease or health condition, medical treatments and outcomes, and the impact on the claimant’s life. The impact can include economic and mental impacts.

Your medical records must fully support your case, proving a specific, diagnosed injury and connecting that injury to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. VA medical records go back to the 1960s. It can be more difficult to obtain records from private healthcare providers. Your Camp Lejeune attorney can help you gather the necessary records. The CLJA is only requiring that plaintiffs present evidence that shows the relationship between Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water and their injuries is “at least as likely as not.”

What Are the Qualifications for a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit? The qualifications are relatively simple regarding the ability to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit:

• You or your loved one must have been stationed or employed at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987.
• You must have been at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days
• You must have developed an illness or disease that has been linked to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune or, if you are filing a wrongful death claim, your loved one must have been diagnosed with an illness or disease linked to the toxic water.

What Illnesses Are Included in a Camp Lejeune Settlement? The chemicals found in the Camp Lejeune contaminated water supply for four decades are known to be harmful to humans and animals. These toxins have been associated with:

• Neurological disorders
• Birth defects
• Liver cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Leukemia
• Multiple myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Esophageal cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Parkinson’s
• Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS)
• Breast cancer
• Renal cancer
• Hepatic Steatosis
• Infertility and miscarriage
• Scleroderma
• Plastic anemia and other bone marrow conditions

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) study looked at birth defect rates for women living at Camp Lejeune at some point during their pregnancy. They found a much higher rate of neural tube birth defects like spina bifida among these women—nearly five times higher than normal.

What Contaminants Were in Camp Lejeune Water? Two water supply systems at Camp Lejeune were found to be contaminated with the industrial solvents TCE (Trichloroethylene) and PCE (Tetrachloroethylene), as well as benzene and other toxic chemicals. Those living and working at Camp Lejeune were exposed to as much as 3,000 times the safe exposure limits of these toxic chemicals. The Department of Health and Human Services considers TCE and PCE to be a known human carcinogen. Exposure to PCE can harm the nervous system, negatively impacting cognitive abilities as well as memory and vision.

TCE is a solvent used primarily to clean metal parts as well as an extraction solvent for greases, oils, fats, waxes, and tars. TCE is also used to produce other chemicals like refrigerants. Paint removers, adhesives, rug-cleaning fluids, aerosol cleaning products, spray adhesives, and typewriter correction fluids all contain TCE. TCE results in neurological, lung, kidney, and heart effects as well as endocrine and immune system disruptions. Prolonged exposure to TCE is associated with liver cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. PCE is used for dry cleaning and metal degreasing. PCE travels easily through soil, making its way into underground wells. PCE exposure can result in kidney and liver damage.

Vinyl chloride is created when TCE and PCE degrade in groundwater. Vinyl chloride is primarily used to make PVC products and creates an increased risk of a rare form of liver cancer along with brain cancer, lung cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma. Benzene is used to make other chemicals and is used in the manufacture of dyes, rubbers, pesticides, drugs, detergents, and lubricants. Benzene causes human cells to stop working correctly, leading to blood diseases.

What is the PACT Act? The CLJA was combined with the PACT Act and signed into law by President Biden on August 10, 2022. This Act gives thousands of Camp Lejeune victims the right to file a civil lawsuit in federal court in North Carolina. As the bill is written, those who are filing a Camp Lejeune lawsuit have two years in which to do so. There are about $6.7 billion dollars set aside for victims of Camp Lejeune water contamination and the purpose of the bill is to ensure that victims get fair Camp Lejeune water settlement amounts as compensation for the suffering they’ve endured.

Those who file a lawsuit under the PACT Act must show they were exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, then developed one of the cancers or other health conditions linked to the water contamination. Those who can establish the basic requirements will be entitled to compensatory damages including past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Those receiving VA benefits related to the Camp Lejeune water contamination will have their settlement offset by those benefits.

What Will the Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Settlements Look Like? While it is difficult to precisely determine what your potential Camp Lejeune water contamination settlement might be, there are estimates. It is believed that the main injuries in these settlements will be liver cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, and kidney cancer. The cancer cases could have settlement amounts between $175,000 and $350.000, although they could be significantly higher. Parkinson’s disease settlements are estimated to be between $200,000 and $400,000, although they could be higher. Because there are few comparable class actions against the government, it is extremely difficult to accurately determine what your settlement will be.  

How Can a Camp Lejeune Lawyer Help? Having an experienced legal professional assist you with your Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit is essential. Your lawyer can help you pursue your claim under the PACT Act so you can receive reimbursement for your medical expenses to date, as well as compensation for future medical expenses, lost wages, future lost income, and pain and suffering. If you are filing on behalf of a loved one who died as a result of the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune you may also be entitled to receive reimbursement for funeral expenses, as well as compensation for the loss of services, guidance, and consortium.

Your Camp Lejeune lawyer will prepare all the paperwork for your civil lawsuit under the PACT Act, as well as help you prove you were at Camp Lejeune, either as a service member or the family of a service member or as an employee of the Camp. If your condition is one that is not considered presumptive, you will need to prove your illness resulted from the Camp Lejeune water contamination. Your attorney will be an invaluable resource in helping you gather all your medical records, consult with your physicians, and obtain evidence linking your disease with the on-base water contamination. Your attorney will help you understand your legal options and ensure you properly meet all the time constraints in place.

Why Should You Choose the Camp Lejeune Law Firm of Sullo & Sullo? At the Camp Lejeune law firm of Sullo & Sullo, we believe in helping those obtain the benefits they need and deserve after being exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. If you suffered harm, we will fight for your rights and your future. We only get paid when you receive a settlement. Reach out to the legal team at Sullo & Sullo today to discuss your Camp Lejeune claim.