Camp Lejeune is a 246-square-mile United States military training facility in Jacksonville, North Carolina. This Marine Corps base unknowingly harbored carcinogenic chemicals from the 1950s to the 1980s. It led to enormous cases of leukemia and other cancers among military personnel and their families who resided or worked there. Only recently have victims of this water contamination begun to be acknowledged and compensated for their medical conditions. If you or a loved one were exposed to the toxic chemicals in Camp Lejeune, you are eligible for financial compensation and disability benefits. Our attorney in IL. Phillips Law Office can assist you with the legal process and help you recover a fair amount.
Camp Lejeune Justice Act: Overview
Camp Lejeune has been the site of the worst water system contamination in American history. Sourced from the Tarawa Terrace Treatment Plant and the Hadnot Point Treatment Plant, they included volatile organic compounds. For instance, it contained benzene, perchloroethylene (PCE), and trichloroethylene (TCE). These were dangerously high levels of cancer-causing substances. For over 30 years, contamination adversely affected marines, sailors, their families, and civilian employees on base. The exposure happened by drinking water, bathing, using water for cleaning, and cooking with tainted water. Some of the resulting fatal diseases that came into notice are:
- Liver tumor
- Renal toxicity
- Breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Lung cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Leukemia
- Liver disorder
- Miscarriages
- Birth defects
- Infertility in women
The Department of Defense and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) reported that approximately one million campers at Camp Lejeune were victims. Due to the devastating health issues, several lawsuits were already filed over water contamination at Camp Lejeune years before their finding. Despite the consolidation of over 850 cases into an MDL, a North Carolina provision (known as the statute of repose) led to the dismissal of lawsuits. This statute dismissed any legal action because the purported water contamination took place more than three years before filing the lawsuit.
However, the ensuing public outrage resulted in the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA). Sufferers can sue and recover damages for their health conditions thanks to the CLJA. This ordinance applies only to individuals exposed to water contamination at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987.
How do I file a Camp Lejeune compensation claim?
There is now enough scientific evidence to prove that Camp Lejeune water contamination caused adverse health effects. If you are among those exposed to the contaminated water, you can go for the Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit. The new law would provide financial compensation to people stationed at the military base through a fund established by Congress. You are eligible for the Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit if you lived there for at least 30 days. As an evidence, you are supposed to show your military records, work documentation, or affidavits. Note that you are not eligible for the disability benefit if you received a dishonorable discharge when leaving the military.
For guidance, consult our well-experienced lawyers at IL. Phillips Law Office. We can help you navigate the process of filing the Camp Lejeune water lawsuit without any hassle. The attorney has to gather evidence, determine eligibility, and file an administrative claim for the verdict. They must clearly state the victim’s identity, how they were exposed, the illness suffered, and damage sustained due to toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune. After receiving the formal administrative claim, the government may accept or deny it within 180 days. To proceed further, lawyers will consider pleading a formal complaint in federal court. When the lawsuit begins, the parties exchange information. Proving exposure to water contamination and illness is the key to successfully resolving the claim.
 Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Settlement Amounts
The federal law gives victims of Camp Lejeune (North Carolina) a right to sue. Veterans will receive disability benefits from the Obama administration worth more than $2 billion. However, the settlement amounts vary depending on the severity of the contamination exposure and its effects. Treatment and cancer care are two additional healthcare benefits.
Till now, the settlement sum ranged from over $1 million to as low as $25,000. In 2021, the Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $1.1 million in benefits to a veteran who worked at Camp Lejeune in the 1980s and confronted bladder cancer. It was one of the first Camp Lejeune lawsuits to be resolved under the new disability compensation program for service members. The veteran had spent six years working at the base and had come into contact with tainted well water.
Another instance involved a former Marine service member receiving $100,000 in benefits from the VA in 2022. The victim had kidney cancer because of the tainted water while serving at the military base. Likewise, several victims pursuing toxic water claims received lucrative settlements depending on their economic loss and pain/suffering. Those enduring critical medical conditions like adult leukemia, brain tumor, or liver cancer obtained more compensation funds than victims with less severe medical issues.
Federal Tort Claims Act
Camp Lejeune was the home of a US Marine base in North Carolina. Unfortunately, the water on this base made people sick for decades. Now that former Camp Lejeune residents realize that their health deteriorated due to the contaminated water, they are suing the US government for losses. Over the years, many Camp Lejeune Water Contamination victims battled the federal government and Marine Corps for compensation. Recently, President Obama signed legislation to provide adequate medical care and health benefits to affected people. The problem is that many families continue to suffer from illness and economic hardship. Since they deserve fair treatment, more funds and support is necessary.
Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) is a federal provision that enables citizens to sue the government for financial compensation and disability benefits. It allows the victims to file administrative claims for injuries or losses incurred due to the negligence of a federal employee. The Camp Lejeune well water contamination is an unfortunate incident covered under FTCA. The Act is a discretionary function that defends the US government from any legal action based on proven negligence.
It enables individuals to file lawsuits against the federal government to seek damage by establishing negligence as the cause.
While some defense lawyers claim that no clear evidence of negligence was present, experts argue that nobody took action despite knowing the contaminated water was causing harm. Since negligence is proven in most cases, the Act gives assurance to victims seeking monetary recovery. They have the right to sue the government for injuries or losses brought on by a federal employee’s carelessness.
Hiring the best Camp Lejeune Attorneys
Records reveal that over one million people resided at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987. If you are among them, you may have been exposed to toxic substances in the water. Discuss your case during a free consultation with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys Chicago at Phillips Law Offices. Call us or fill out an online contact form to schedule your free case evaluation. Our legal advocates tend to fight for the rights of military service members and their families who experienced an injury while serving in the armed forces. We work hard to ensure clients receive a fair settlement for their Camp Lejeune injuries and wrongful death. You don’t have to pay any upfront fees unless our legal officers successfully negotiate a Camp Lejeune settlement or win your case at trial.
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