Toxic Water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Linked to Deadly Diseases
A Brief History
From at least 1953 to 1987, Marines and their families drank and bathed in water contaminated with toxins at concentrations of up to 3,400 times permitted by safety standards. In 1974, the base issued an order that required solvents be disposed of safely, as the improper disposal of them could cause water contamination. However, these solvents were continually dumped or buried near base drinking water wells. In 1982, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were found in the drinking water supply. Additionally, this information was not made public until two decades later, when the government was trying to identify those who were affected by the exposure. VOCs are know to cause birth defects and other illnesses in pregnant women.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act
Veterans and their families began filing lawsuits in 2005 that alleged they were harmed by contaminated water, but these lawsuits were dismissed in 2016 when the court determined they were barred by federal and North Carolina law. Under the Feres doctrine, service members may not sue the government for injuries they acquired during military service, and plaintiffs can only bring a suit within 10 years of the contaminating activity according to the North Carolina statute of repose.
However, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act passed the Senate in August of 2022 as part of a much broader bill aimed at improving benefits for veterans who were exposed to toxins called the Honoring Our PACT Act. President Joe Biden is expected to sign it into law. This bill would allow service members to sue and recover damages for harm from exposure to contaminated water for at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune from August 1, 1953 to December 31st, 1987.
Symptoms and Medical Conditions Caused by Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune
- Leukemia
- Aplastic Anemia and More Myelodysplastic
- Syndromes
- Birth Defects
- Bladder Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Female Infertility
- Kidney Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Lung Cancer
- Multiple Myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Renal Failure
- Death
- Scleroderma
- Appendix Cancer
- Brain Cancer
- Bile Duct Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer
- Gallbladder Cancer
- Intestinal Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Sinus Cancer
- Soft Tissue Sarcoma
- Spinal Cancer
- Thyroid Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Hepatic Steatosis (Fatty Liver Disease)
- Miscarriage
Do You Qualify For a Claim?
In order to file a claim you must meet these requirements:
- Served, worked, or lived at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987
- Suffered from at least one of the conditions listed above
If you or a loved one lived or worked at Camp Lejeune between August 1953 and December 1987 and have been diagnosed with at least one medical condition listed above, you may be entitled to compensation. Call or text us today at 214-210-2100 or complete the form below to request a free case review. The information you provide about your Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Claim will be reviewed, and if it is determined that you may be eligible for a settlement we can discuss moving forward with a potential lawsuit.
Contact us today to learn more about Forester Haynie and to arrange a no-obligation case review and free consultation :
