People who served, lived, and worked at Camp Lejeune were exposed for decades to water contaminated with dangerous toxins. Many who drank it, cooked with it, and bathed in it developed serious health conditions including cancers, Parkinson’s disease, and infertility. Some children who were exposed in the womb were born with birth defects.
Anyone who was at Camp Lejeune for 30 consecutive days or more from 1953 to 1987 and who has a health condition can now sue the federal government for harm caused by the water. Here are answers to some common questions about the Camp Lejeune lawsuit.
In this article about Camp Lejeune
- What chemicals were in the water at Camp Lejeune?
- What illnesses did exposure at Camp Lejeune cause?
- Who is eligible to file a lawsuit for exposure at Camp Lejeune?
- Is the Camp Lejeune lawsuit the same as a class action lawsuit?
- How will the Camp Lejeune lawsuit affect my VA disability compensation?
- How much will the Camp Lejeune payout be?
- How long do I have to join the Camp Lejeune lawsuit?
- How do I participate in the Camp Lejeune lawsuit?
How did chemicals get in the water at Camp Lejeune?
Camp Lejeune is a naval base built in 1941 on the coast of North Carolina. It spans 246 square miles and includes 14 miles of beach. In addition to military facilities, the base includes family housing, schools, and businesses.
From the 1950s through 1980s, two of the eight water systems on the base were contaminated by leaking underground storage tanks, industrial spills, and improper disposal of oil, fuel, and dry cleaning chemicals.
What chemicals were in the water at Camp Lejeune?
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry identified these hazardous chemicals in the water at Camp Lejeune:
- Benzene – a component found in crude oil and used to make other chemicals used in plastics, resins, nylon, and synthetic fibers
- Trichloroethylene (TCE) – a metal greasing solvent
- Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) – a dry cleaning solvent
- Vinyl chloride (VC) – a chemical that forms when TCE and PCE break down in ground water
What illnesses did exposure at Camp Lejeune cause?
People exposed to the chemicals in the water at Camp Lejeune have an increased risk of cancer and other serious illnesses.
Here is an incomplete list of health conditions that have been linked to the base:
Cancers | Other conditions or diseases |
---|---|
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) | Birth defects |
Bladder cancer | Cardiac defect |
Brain cancer | Epilepsy |
Breast cancer | Fatty liver disease (hepatic steatosis) |
Central Nervous System cancer (CNS) | Female infertility |
Cervical cancer | Kidney damage |
Esophageal cancer | Immune disorders |
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma | Nerve damage |
Kidney cancer | Miscarriage |
Leukemia | Myelodysplastic syndromes |
Liver cancer | Neurobehavioral effects |
Lung cancer | Parkinson’s disease |
Myelodysplastic syndrome | Renal toxicity/disease |
Multiple myeloma | Scleroderma |
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma | |
Ovarian cancer | |
Prostate cancer | |
Rectal cancer | |
Who is eligible to file a lawsuit for exposure at Camp Lejeune?
Congress passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act in August 2022 as part of a massive toxic exposures bill called the PACT Act. The new law allows anyone who served, lived, or worked at Camp Lejeune for 30 consecutive days or more between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987, to seek compensation for any illness likely caused by toxic water on the base. The lawsuits are also open to children who were exposed in the womb.
“Congress did not actually come up with a distinct list of conditions that are covered in this lawsuit,” Woods and Woods owner and president Neil Woods said. “What they did say is that anyone who was exposed to contaminated water for over 30 days and has health conditions from it is eligible for compensation.”
Is the Camp Lejeune lawsuit the same as a class action lawsuit?
In a class action lawsuit, one or more plaintiffs file on behalf of all injured parties. The Camp Lejeune lawsuit is not a class action. Each claimant files an individual lawsuit.
In each Camp Lejeune case, a judge from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina will determine if the individual’s toxic exposure was “at least as likely as not” the cause of the person’s health condition.
If the court decides in favor of the person, it will determine the size of the financial payout to be awarded on an individual basis.
“The court is more likely in these types of cases to give you what you deserve versus what other people in the class deserve,” Woods said.
Are veterans required to file a VA disability claim before joining the suit?
No. If you are a veteran, you do not have to file a claim before joining the Camp Lejeune lawsuit. You are able to pursue a Camp Lejeune settlement no matter if you are receiving VA disability benefits or are pursuing a claim.
How will the Camp Lejeune lawsuit affect my VA disability compensation?
“Joining the Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit is not going to affect your VA disability benefits,” Woods said. “But, your VA disability benefits can actually affect the outcome of the Camp Lejeune water contamination claim.”
If you have received VA compensation for conditions connected to Camp Lejeune or if Medicare or Medicaid has paid any related medical expenses, the amount you receive from the lawsuit will be adjusted based on the amount of those benefits. This is called an offset.
“It is still worthwhile for veterans to join this lawsuit,” Woods said.
How much will the Camp Lejeune payout be?
It is not possible to determine how much the potential financial settlements in these cases will be.
As previously stated, the judge will determine each award separately and based on each individual’s evidence. And, as mentioned above, the total payout will be adjusted if VA benefits, Medicare, or Medicaid have paid any medical expenses related to your Camp Lejeune conditions.
“The good news for veterans and their family members is there is no cost to join this lawsuit,” Woods said. “Don’t be afraid to call and join this lawsuit because you think that you can’t afford it or you can’t afford a lawyer.”
If you win your case, the fee will be a percentage of your award. If you don’t win your case, you pay nothing.
How long do I have to join the Camp Lejeune lawsuit?
Unfortunately, you can’t join this lawsuit whenever you want. There is an expiration date, as prescribed in the legal statute of limitations.
Individuals have two years from Aug. 10, 2022, the date the legislation was enacted, to join the Camp Lejeune lawsuit. Additional time may be allotted to individuals who file a Federal Tort Claims Act and are denied, depending on the date of the denial.
How do I participate in the Camp Lejeune lawsuit?
If you served, lived, or worked at Camp Lejeune in the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, or ‘80s and have a health condition, you deserve compensation. Contact Woods and Woods today for a free consultation. Our VA-accredited disability benefits attorneys have helped thousands of veterans receive the benefits they deserve.
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Use this form to let us know if you have any health conditions after your time at Camp Lejeune.