Everything you need to understand in the Camp Lejeune lawsuit

Camp Lejeune is the Marine Corps base located in Jacksonville, North Carolina. It is one of the largest marine corps bases on the East Coast. Camp Lejeune has been the home to many military service members and their families. It was established in the 1941. Camp Lejeune lawsuit is one of the worst water contamination in US government's history. 

From 1953 to 1987, over one million military service members, civilian workers, and families lived on the base. In 1953, the contaminated water was distributed around the base. The contaminated water consists of 

• Oil
• Petrol 
• Toxin

The US government dumped harmful chemicals like degreasers and solvents into local drains. Some of the main reasons for the contaminated water are

• Buried fuel water leaks into the drinking water supply, which leads to water contamination in the drinking water.
• Another reason is that the chemicals flowed from the off-base dry cleaning along with the industrial solvents. It is used for cleaning the military equipment.

The people who consumed the water for the drinking and bathing process were suffering from critical health conditions. 

In the 1970s, the Environmental Protection Agency labeled the water tested in the base as a “major polluter” that water is mixed with chemicals at levels of 240 to 3400 times more than the safety standards. In 1974, the base was safely disposed of harmful solvents, and chemicals were dumped and buried near base wells for years. Even after the water contamination in 1980 was found, it continued with the water contamination. On the other hand, government officials agreed that illegal dumping for years and skirted attempts to reveal the truth. 

Experts have denoted that the Camp Lejeune Water contamination is the most highly contaminated one that has ever occurred in the U.S., According to the U.S. Department of Health and the Human Services Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATDSR). It is found that the levels of certain chemicals in the contaminated water can cause cancer and other serious illnesses for young children and pregnant women.  In this blog, we will discuss the Camp Legine lawsuit update in detail.

Chemicals involved in contaminated water

In Camp Legine, contaminated water contains other toxic substances.

• Benzene
• Trichloroethylene
• Vinyl chloride
• Tetrachloroethylene

These volatile organic compounds are known to be 

• Cancer-causing chemicals
• Exposure to them may cause harmful conditions
• Birth defects and miscarriages

Type of injuries for water contamination

• Birth defects 
• Bladder cancer
• Breast cancer
• Fatty liver
• Liver cancer
• Miscarriage
• Renal toxicity
• Multiple Myeloma

Tetrachloroethylene

Tetrachloroethylene is an industrial chemical which is used for the

• Industry fabrics
• Dry cleaning fabrics
• Degreasing metal machinery 
• Manufacturing other chemicals
• Producing paint

Exposure to trichloroethylene in the long term can cause Bladder cancer and other fatal health disorders.

Trichloroethylene

Trichloroethylene is a degreaser product for metal machinery

When trichloroethylene is consumed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin, it can lead to 

• Kidney cancer
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Cardiac diseases

Vinyl chloride

Vinyl chloride is an odorless gas that is used in the production of 

• Plastic Products
• PVC Pipes
• Wire Coatings

Exposure to vinyl chloride can lead to liver cancer.

Benzene

Benzene is an organic compound that is used for industrial chemical operations. According to the ATDSR assessment, consuming contaminated water with benzene can lead to

• Leukemia
• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Myeloma

How was the Camp Lejeune Act Introduced

The Agency for the Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATDSR) and the Department of Defense found that one million people in the camp line are drinking contaminated water, which has caused severe health effects.

However, in recent years people who have been exposed to contaminated water have started filing the Camp Lejeune lawsuit. Over 850 Camp Lejeune lawsuits were filed for the water contamination in multiple districts. Later, it was consolidated into Multiple district lawsuits. On the other hand, the Camp Lejune lawsuit for water contamination began more than three years after its filing.

The public outrage later involved in the Camp Lejeune Justice Act was introduced years later.  

Camp Lejune Justice Act

The new bill was filed for the Camp Lejeune Justice Act has taken a massive step for the 

• Qualifying service members
• Family members
• Worker members 

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act allows individuals to claim the US district court and the eastern district of North Carolina for the plaintiffs who are exposed to the contaminated water in Camp Lejeune Marine Corps between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987.

The Difference Between Camp Lejeune Justice Act differs from the other bills.

In 2012, congress passed 1627 to honor the veterans for getting compensation through the Camp Lejune Families Act, which has benefits if they meet certain standards. 

However, this bill provides healthcare benefits and VA compensation benefits. Also, congress in 2017 passed an additional statute that granted more benefits, and with that, new conditions were introduced. 

On the other hand, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act differs from the other bills in that it includes health care or disability benefits if it has the standards according to the act with certain standards.

Filing a claim for Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit

According to the Veterans Administration release, the individual should have resided on the base from August 1, 1953, to December 31, 1987 

To join the camp leucine settlement process, you should submit the documents that can be 

• Birth certificate 
• Driving license

Also, you should have served as the veteran duty for at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune between November 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987

In medical records you should have the 1 out of 15 covered health conditions. Also, that should include the date of your diagnosis and the date you got treated for the illness.

You should have the following conditions as mentioned below.

• Bladder cancer
• Breast cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Female infertility 
• Heoptic stenosis
• Kidney cancer
• Leukmania
• Lung cancer
• Miscarriage
• Multiple myeloma 
• Renal toxicity
• Scleroderma
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Myelodysplastic syndromes

How to claim a Camp Lejune water contamination lawsuit for individuals

As stated for the Veteran Administration release for the Camp Lejune Justice Act, you should reside on the marine base for at least 30 days from August 1, 1953, to December 31, 1987, to be eligible to file the claim.

This includes 

• Staff members
• Family members
• Living on the base
• Not military staff
• Families include deceased 
• Utero victims

On the other hand, if you are dishonorably discharged, you may not be eligible for disability benefits.

Estimated uncertainties in the settlements

Lawyers estimate that the Camp Lejune water settlement is over 21 billion. But the Camp Lejune settlement per person will vary from person to person

The lawsuit payments for the Camp Lejune settlement will be paid from $10000 to $ 1 million depending on the various factors that include

• Water exposure
• Illness
• Specific amount of damages

The predetermined compensation through this route typically ranges from $ 10,000 to $550,000. The amount awarded depends on the diagnosed illness and the duration of the residency at Camp Lejeune during the contamination period.

Filing a Camp Lejune water contamination lawsuit

Filing a camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit can be a daunting process. Appraching the the well experienced Camp lejune attorney who is involved in the camp lejune water contamination lawsuit.

Gathering evidence

Gathering evidence for the Camp Lejune lawsuit is crucial for the water contamination lawsuit.

The Camp Lejune water contamination lawsuit includes

• Documents proving residence at Camp Lejeune
• Medical records and diagnoses
• Medical bills
• Travel records
• Records on disability benefits, VA Compensation benefits

Hiring a Camp Lejune attorney for accessing damages

Hiring a Best Camp Lejune attorney will help you gather evidence to get maximum compensation and access damages.

Damages in the Camp Lejune lawsuit include

• Medical bills
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Disability benefits

Loss of companionship consortium enjoyment of life

• Earning capacity
• permanent disability

Determining liability

Camp Lejeune's attorney will help to determine the liability in the Camp Lejeune lawsuit. The liability includes

• Federal government
• The company is responsible for the contaminated water supply
• The group or individual responsible for the injury

Conclusion

The Camp Lejune lawsuit for water contamination is one of the largest cases in history. As of April 2024, over 1500 lawsuits have been filed. However, the trials for the people who are affected by leukemia are given priority first.

The legal process is still ongoing, so the Camp Lejune amount or the Camp Lejune settlement amount per person remains confidential. There is no proper information on when the Camp Lejune lawsuit will be settled. As for now, in the Camp Lejune lawsuit, the Camp Lejune settlement amount remains confidential. The camp Lejune attorneys are expecting the compensation amount for the plaintiff to be $10000 to $1 million. On the other hand, the predetermined compensation by the Camp Lejune attorney will be $100,000 to $550,000.As for the above-mentioned information, the camp Lejune updates are till now. If there are any further Camp Lejune updates, we will update you.