Camp Lejeune is a United States Marine Corps base located in Jacksonville, North Carolina. From 1953 to 1987, the camp’s drinking water was contaminated with toxic chemical compounds such as trichloroethylene (TCE), benzene, perchloroethylene (PCE), vinyl chloride, and others.
Estimates place the number of people affected by the water contamination at Camp Lejeune at more than 1 million over the course of more than 30 years. This includes members of the military and civilian employees on the base, as well as their families (including children and babies in utero).
For years, the federal government denied responsibility for the high rate of serious illnesses experienced by people who lived and worked at Camp Lejeune from the 1950s to the 1980s. The effects of the toxic exposure are still felt to this day, with veterans and former residents and employees at Camp Lejeune being diagnosed with cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and other diseases decades after the fact.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act Is Now Law
UPDATE: The Camp Lejeune Justice Act has been signed into law as part of the Honoring Our PACT Act. This legislation will circumvent unacceptable legal loopholes in North Carolina and provide individuals and families affected by the Camp Lejeune water contamination with long-overdue recourse for seeking justice.
Attorneys at the Whitley Law Firm have been closely monitoring federal legislation that will enable those impacted by water contamination at Camp Lejeune to pursue compensation. If you previously lived or worked at Camp Lejeune and were later diagnosed with an illness linked to toxic exposure at the base, please call (919) 785-5000 for a free case review.
The toxic chemicals that contaminated the water at Camp Lejeune have been linked to a number of serious health concerns. Multiple types of cancer are associated with these toxic chemicals, including:
Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water Linked To Cancer & Deaths
Although cancer is a major concern among those who suffered toxic exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, it is not the only illness that has been linked to toxic compounds found in the water at the base. Other potential health concerns linked to Camp Lejeune’s decades-long water contamination issues include:
Fertility issues and miscarriages have also been linked to the water contamination at Camp Lejeune. In-utero exposure to contaminated water has led to a wide range of birth defects and high rates of childhood cancer. Tragically, many children died very young due to the toxic effects of the chemicals found in the water at Camp Lejeune.
Historically, legal options for those harmed by the water contamination at Camp Lejeune have been limited. In 2008, the VA established a “presumptive service connection” for veterans stationed at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987. The VA only recognizes a presumptive service connection for eight conditions (Parkinson’s disease; non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma; MDS; adult leukemia; multiple myeloma; and cancers of the bladder, liver, and kidneys). Veterans suffering from other health complaints that may be linked to their service at Camp Lejeune are required to submit additional medical evidence.
Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Lawyer In Texas
In 2012, the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act created a mechanism for veterans and their families to receive care through the VA for select health issues associated with Camp Lejeune’s water contamination. Coverage of medical expenses was limited to certain “qualifying health conditions.”
Unfortunately, the VA denied many veterans’ claims for disability and medical services. What’s more, no provision was made for civilian employees and their families exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
To make matters worse, North Carolina law made it impossible for many victims of water contamination at Camp Lejeune to bring civil actions for diseases connected to toxic exposure on the base. North Carolina General Statutes § 1-52(16) states that “no cause of action shall accrue more than 10 years from the last act or omission of the defendant giving rise to the cause of action.”
How To Find The Right Camp Lejeune Lawyer
Known as the statute of repose, the law only gives plaintiffs up to 10 years to bring claims for diseases and other “latent injuries.” Although amended by the state legislature, the statute of repose does not apply retroactively. Considering the toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune began in the 1950s and ended in the 1980s, most claims related to the water contamination have been barred by the courts in North Carolina.
With the Camp Lejeune Justice Act signed into law, veterans and others who were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune can now bring claims for personal injury and wrongful death caused by toxic exposure. Claimants must show that they were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune for a minimum of 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, and that they and/or a member of their family suffered harm as a result.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act overrides the North Carolina statute of repose. As a result, the new law will enable Marine Corps veterans, former civilian employees at Camp Lejeune, and the families who resided at the base to finally have an opportunity to pursue the compensation they deserve.
How Long Did I Need To Be At Camp Lejeune To File A Lawsuit?
Claims must be brought in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. To satisfy the burden of proof, the claimant must produce evidence that is “sufficient to conclude that a causal relationship exists” or “sufficient to conclude that a causal relationship is at least as likely as not” between the Camp Lejeune water contamination and the harm sustained.
It is important to account for all of the damages you and/or the members of your family have suffered as a result of exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. You may be entitled to compensation for:
It is important to note individuals who were previously granted health and disability benefits for illnesses related to toxic water exposure at Camp Lejeune may have their ultimate compensation “offset”, or reduced, based on prior payments or awards received for toxic water disability.
Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
We are outraged by the harm done to servicemembers, civilian employees, and their families at Camp Lejeune. The health of multiple generations has been adversely affected by water contamination, and we intend to advocate fiercely for the rights of veterans, civilians, and their loved ones under the rights established by the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.
If you were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune between the years 1953 to 1987 and you or a member of your family was diagnosed with cancer or another serious medical condition, the Whitley Law Firm can help. Actions under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act must be filed in federal district court, and it is essential to work with experienced attorneys who are well-versed in the complex rules and procedures that will apply to your claim.
Please call the Whitley Law Firm at (919) 785-5000 today for a free case review. Our lawyers serve clients throughout North Carolina and nationwide from offices in Raleigh, Kinston, and New Bern.By submitting this form, you agree to receive telephone calls and text messages at anytime, which include hours outside of business hours (8:00 am PST – 9:00 pm PST). This is so that we may reach you as soon as possible in order to consult on your potential case.
What Documents Do I Need To Prove A Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit?
The Downtown LA Law Group is responsible for winning some of the largest case settlements in numerous areas of personal injury. Years of experience have allowed us to successfully litigate any claim we encounter.
The Los Angeles Personal Injury attorneys at Downtown L.A. Law Group are dedicated to protecting and serving the rights of individuals who have been injured in car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, dog bites and attacks, slip or trip and falls, or any other accident resulting from the negligence or wrongdoing of others.
Our Southern California legal team understands that the needs of each individual are different, and we pride ourselves in providing specialized legal services in all practice areas, including wrongful death, serious injuries, defective products, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, catastrophic injuries, birth injuries, and brain injuries. Unlike other personal injury law firms, we have each of our cases carefully assessed by our expert legal staff and allocated to a team of professionals trained in maximizing the amount of compensation you can receive. When you pick us, you get certain perks.
With A New Law, Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Victims Finally Have Legal Recourse
At Downtown L.A. Law Group, we handle a variety of personal injury cases. Our team of personal injury experts is prepared to handle your claim and help you recover the compensation that you deserve. We are proud to have experience handling a wide variety of claims, ensuring that all victims have access to reliable legal assistance.
California personal injury victims of motor vehicle accidents are entitled to compensation for all damages sustained to them, and it is our job to maximize the compensation. The value of a personal injury lawsuit is dependent on several factors, such as:
The Los Angeles injury attorneys at Downtown L.A. Law Group not only handle car accidents but also help with pedestrian injuries, bicyclist accidents, bus accidents, truck accidents, and single vehicle rollovers caused by defective manufacturing.
Steps To File A Claim For Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
The Downtown L.A. Law Group has been ranked the #1 rideshare accident firm in the nation. Over the years, our attorneys have fought hard for victims of rideshare accidents, both riders and drivers, and we have never come across a case we didn’t
0 comments
Post a Comment