Over one million people, who were present at Camp Lejeune (North Carolina) between 1953 and 1987, may have been exposed to toxic substances in the water.
People who may have been exposed to water contamination at Camp Lejeune include:
Veterans
Family members
Workers
And others
You may be eligible to file a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit if you, a family member, or a loved one lived at Camp Lejeune and suffered health effects from water contamination.
Contact TorHoerman Law for a free, no-obligation case consultation to discuss your legal options and find out how filing a lawsuit for Camp Lejeune Water Contamination can help you or your family members.
Water contamination at Camp Lejeune was caused by spills or leaks from underground storage tanks, waste disposal sites, businesses, and more.
Because of this, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) were found in the water serving the base housing and a variety of other buildings.
These VOCs included:
Dry cleaning solvents
Degreasers
And almost seventy (70) other hazardous chemicals
The base is located in southeastern North Carolina in Onslow County – along the Atlantic Coast.
Camp Lejeune can be found in the city of Jacksonville, North Carolina.
Camp Lejeune is roughly 46 miles northeast of Wilmington, North Carolina.
In other words, it takes around one (1) hour to drive from Wilmington, NC to Camp Lejeune – and vice versa.
Charlotte, North Carolina is found roughly 240 miles west of Camp Lejeune.
In other words, it takes around four (4) hours to drive from Charlotte, NC to Camp Lejeune – and vice versa.
Albert J Ellis Airport (OAJ Airport) is roughly 20 miles northwest of Camp Lejeune.
In other words, it takes around thirty (30) minutes to drive from OAJ Airport to Camp Lejeune – and vice versa.
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point is found roughly 55 miles northeast of Camp Lejeune.
In other words, it takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes to drive from MCAS Cherry Point to Camp Lejeune – and vice versa.
Camp Geiger is actually part of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune – although, they are not geographically connected.
Camp Geiger can be found about 10 miles north of Camp Lejeune.
It takes roughly 15 minutes to drive from Camp Geiger to Camp Lejeune – and vice versa.
Marine Corps Air Station New River can be found roughly 9 miles north of Camp Lejeune, and directly west of Marine Corps Base Camp Geiger.
It takes roughly 15 minutes to drive from MCAS New River to Camp Lejeune – and vice versa.
Exposure to contaminated water can happen in many ways.
Four (4) ways you can be exposed to contaminated water are:
Drinking water
Bathing
Using contaminated water in cleaning
Attorneys are investigating the viability of claims to support a Camp Lejeune water contamination.
Potential plaintiff’s representatives are currently awaiting Congressional action that could help solve current issues of sovereign immunity, qualified injuries, statute of limitations and other concerns.
TorHoerman Law is currently accepting new potential clients who were injured as a result of the toxic water contamination at Military Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries relating to Camp Lejeune water contamination, you can use our chatbot to get a free, instant online case evaluation.
Our team will review the details of your case and reach out to you directly to discuss your potential legal options.
You can also contact us directly to receive a free, no-obligation case consultation today.
In 1982, toxic chemicals that can potentially cause cancer were found in drinking water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune on the coast of North Carolina.
According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other toxic chemicals were found in two (2) of the eight (8) water treatment plants that supplied the Marine Corps Base.
VOCs and other toxic chemicals were found in the following two (2) water treatment plants that supplied Camp Lejeune:
Tarawa Terrace Treatment Plant
Hadnot Point Treatment Plant
The chemicals found in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune can result in a number of health issues in people of all ages.
Drinking water contamination at Camp Lejeune has potentially affected upwards of one million people.
Disastrous health effects have been seen at high rates in the area surrounding Camp Lejeune.
A CDC study found that Children at Camp Lejeune had higher rates of birth defects and childhood diseases, such as:
Leukemia
Lymphoma
Neural tube defects
Another CDC study found that people stationed at the base had elevated risks for cancers of the kidney, liver, esophagus, cervix, multiple myeloma, ovaries, Hodgkin lymphoma, Parkinson's Disease, and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).
Health issues and certain diseases potentially related to Camp Lejeune water contamination include:
ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease)
Multiple Myeloma and other myelodysplastic syndromes
Aplastic anemia and other bone marrow conditions
Birth defects and birth injury
Miscarriage
Neurobehavioral effects
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced a list of presumptive conditions related to water contamination at Camp Lejeune.
The Veterans Administration allows members of the armed services to seek benefits for the conditions outlined on the aforementioned link.
Please Note:
Disability benefits secured through Veterans Affairs are available to only former military personnel, and not family members.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were found in the water serving the base housing and a variety of other buildings.
These VOCs included:
Dry cleaning solvents
Degreasers
And almost seventy (70) other hazardous chemicals
Scientific and medical evidence has linked these chemicals present in water to a number of serious health conditions.
The sources of contamination at Camp Lejeune are varied, but the sources of a few chemicals can be pinpointed.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), water from the Tarawa Terrace Treatment Plant was primarily contaminated by PCE (perchloroethylene or tetrachloroethylene), which reportedly originated from a dry cleaning business off-base.
The following four (4) chemicals were found in Camp Lejeune water sources:
Tetrachloroethylene is an industrial chemical used in:
Dry-cleaning fabrics
Degreasing metal machinery
Manufacturing other chemicals
Producing paint
And more
Exposure to Tetrachloroethylene can lead to bladder cancer and other health effects.
Trichloroethylene (TCE) is used as a degreaser product for metal machinery.
Ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin, exposure to Trichloroethylene (TCE) can potentially lead to:
Kidney Cancer
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Other cancers
Cardiac effects
Vinyl Chloride is an odorless gas used in the production of many plastic products including PVC pipes and wire coatings.
Vinyl Chloride was previously used in products like makeup, refrigerants, and household aerosols.
Vinyl chloride has been heavily linked to liver cancer and other cancers.
Benzene is an organic compound commonly used in industrial chemical operations.
In the ATSDR assessment, it was found that consuming water contaminated with Benzene is linked to Leukemias and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Benzene may also be linked to Multiple Myeloma.
A new law seeking to receive senate approval is currently in progress.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act is a massive step forward for qualifying service members, family, workers, and others affected by toxic water in recovering disability compensation for their ailments.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act would allow individuals to file a claim in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Northern Carolina and recover damages for harm from exposure to contaminated water at the Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987.
The bill would allow anyone exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune for 30 days to pursue legal action.
The 30-day threshold can be met in a non-continuous manner:
If a family member visited at various times totaling 30 days between 1953 and 1987 - they have a viable claim.
The bill also prohibits the United States Government from "asserting specified immunity from litigation in response to such a lawsuit."
It also overrides a North Carolina state law that has made actions such as this previously impossible.
In 2012, Congress passed H.R.1627 - Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act, which granted some benefits to those who were exposed (both veterans and family members) if they met certain standards.
This bill would provide health care benefits to a family member, not VA compensation benefits.
A veteran would be able to secure health care benefits and VA compensation benefits.
Then, in 2017, Congress passed an additional statute that granted more benefits and expanded upon the conditions associated with exposure at the base.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act is different than previous bills in that it does not only provide health care or disability benefits, it provides a legal route for affected individuals to seek compensation for their exposure-related medical issues.
Filing a lawsuit for your or your loved one's injuries or conditions can seem incredibly daunting.
With the help of experienced legal representation, the process can be simplified.
As stated in the Veterans Administration release and the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, anybody who resided at the marine corps base for at least thirty (30) days may be eligible to file a claim.
This includes active duty and former service members, family members living on base, non-military staff, families of deceased, and even in-utero victims who were not yet born when their mother was residing at Camp Lejeune.
It's important to note that if you were dishonorably discharged, you may not be eligible for disability benefits or disability compensation.
Families of dishonorably discharged military personnel are also not eligible to file suit or apply for benefits.
Quality evidence is the cornerstone of any successful personal injury or mass tort case.
Evidence relating to water contamination can include a number of documents relating to your or a loved one's time spent at the marine corps base.
Evidence in a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit may include:
Documents proving residence at Camp Lejeune
Military service records indicating dates and locations served
Medical records and diagnoses
Medical bills
Travel records
Health care information
Records on disability benefits or VA compensation benefits
When you have gathered pieces of key evidence, a lawyer will help you to refine your case and assess damages.
Damages are any losses, both physical and mental/emotional, that a person incurs as a result of an injury at no fault of their own.
Damages are the total amount the defendant is liable to pay to the plaintiff to compensate for the damage that they have caused.
Damages in a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit may include:
Medical bills
Pain and suffering
Lost wages
Disability benefits
Loss of companionship, consortium, enjoyment of life, and earning capacity
Permanent disability
Lawyers will also establish liability in the case.
In a Camp Lejeune contamination case, the liable parties or defendants may include, but are not limited to:
The federal government
Other governmental or regulatory agencies
Businesses that may have contributed to tainted water supplies
Any other person or group that acted in a negligent manner that contributed to an injury or diagnosis
TorHoerman Law is currently investigating the facts of the case and strategizing legal action against the defendants.
With over $4 billion won in monetary compensation for people injured at no fault of their own - our prior results speak to our expertise at TorHoerman Law.
Contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your legal options.
We understand the attorney client relationship and are here to help when you need it most.
July 13, 2021
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