Attorneys Preparing for Wave of Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuits
If you or someone in your family served or lived at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina between the 1950s and 1980s, you may have been exposed to toxic chemicals in the water supply. With the passage of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, attorneys across the country are preparing for a wave of legal claims by former Marines and others who have suffered adverse health effects allegedly caused by exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune. These toxic chemicals have been linked to a host of serious health problems, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, cardiac issues, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, Parkinson’s disease, leukemia, liver cancer, and more. There is a time limit on Camp Lejeune water contamination claims, so don’t wait to speak to a Camp Lejeune attorney if you believe you have grounds for a claim. Contact Consumer Safety Watch today to learn how your legal options may have changed in light of the passage of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.
Exposure to Toxic Chemicals at Camp Lejeune Marine Base
More than one million people who lived and worked at Camp Lejeune between the 1950s and 1980s were potentially exposed to toxic chemicals in the water supplied by the Hadnot Point and Tarawa Terrace water treatment plants. These chemicals include trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, perchloroethylene, vinyl chloride, and benzene – all VOCs with the potential to cause serious and potentially life-threatening health effects in exposed individuals. Among the diseases and illnesses that have been linked to toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune are:
- Aplastic anemia
- Kidney cancer
- Leukemia
- Cardiac defects
- Bladder cancer
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Myelodysplastic syndrome
- Parkinson’s disease
- Systemic sclerosis/scleroderma
According to reports, the federal government knew about the water contamination at Camp Lejeune for decades yet took no action to warn servicemembers and their families about the issue. Unfortunately, because of a law in North Carolina that restricts legal claims after a certain amount of time has passed, former Marines and others who were exposed to the contaminated drinking water at the Marine base by drinking the water, bathing in it, or cooking or cleaning with it have been barred from pursuing lawsuits against the government and recovering compensation for the harm they have suffered. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which is on its way to becoming federal law, seeks to rectify that injustice.
What is the Status of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act?
Since the introduction of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 earlier this year, there have been questions about the status of the legislation, which would create a two-year window of time for veterans, their families, and others exposed to tainted drinking water at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days during the period between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, to pursue legal action against the federal government. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act is part of the larger Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022, a comprehensive bill that addresses the significant health impacts of exposure to toxic hazards among veterans and military personnel. The Honoring Our PACT Act, and with it the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, passed the House of Representatives in March 2022 and the Senate in June 2022. The final step needed for the Camp Lejeune Justice Act to become federal law is for President Joe Biden to sign it into law.
Contact Consumer Safety Watch As Soon as Possible
The passage of the Honoring Our PACT Act and the Camp Lejeune Justice Act represents a major victory for veterans and their families who have suffered because of the government’s failure to provide basic information about the safety of the water supply at the Marine base. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with kidney cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, bladder cancer, cardiac defects, or another serious medical condition, and you served or lived at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, contact us as soon as possible to find out how we can help. The situation with the Camp Lejeune Justice Act is developing, and we can ensure that you have the latest information on the bill and how it could affect you and your family.
