New Law Opens Door to Justice for Victims of Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
Our Experienced New York Injury Attorney Can Help You Get Compensation for Exposure to Contaminated Drinking Water at Camp Lejeune
As the government has long known, the water at Camp Lejeune, a military training facility in Jacksonville, North Carolina, was contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals for decades. Finally, in June of 2022, Congress passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, promising compensation to individuals who were exposed to the contaminated water. If you are eligible to receive compensation under this new law, the experienced New York personal injury lawyer Leandros A. Vrionedes can help you get the benefits you are due under the law. Call our office at 1-800-634-8144 for a free consultation to answer your questions and get immediate assistance with your claim.
What Is This Water Contamination About?
Since the 1980s, it has been known that for decades, from the 1950s into the 1980s, the water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune was contaminated with harmful chemicals, including perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride. These chemicals are classified as “likely human carcinogens” and “known human carcinogens” by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and they were found to be present in levels and concentrations dozens if not thousands of times higher than allowable for safe drinking water.
What Are the Dangers of Being Exposed?
Considering the types of chemicals contaminating the water and the level of concentration of those chemicals, persons exposed could be susceptible to various types of cancer as well as neurological disorders and birth defects. A partial list of conditions linked to the chemicals known to contaminate the water at Camp Lejeune includes:
- Aplastic Anemia
- Appendix Cancer
- Bile Duct Cancer
- Birth Defects
- Bladder Cancer
- Brain Damage
- Breast Cancer
- Cardiac Defects
- Cervical Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer
- End-Stage Renal Disease
- Esophageal Cancer
- Fetal Death
- Gallbladder Cancer
- Hodgkin’s Disease
- Infertility
- Intestinal Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Leukemia
- Liver Cancer
- Lung Cancer
- Parkinson’s
- Miscarriage
- Multiple Myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Ovarian Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Renal Toxicity
- Soft Tissue Cancer
- Spinal Cancer
- Scleroderma
- Thyroid Cancer
Who Is Eligible for Compensation?
It is important to understand that even if you have not been diagnosed with one of the above medical conditions, you can still seek compensation under the law. According to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022:
An individual, including a veteran…or the legal representative of such an individual, who resided, worked, or was otherwise exposed (including in utero exposure) for not less than 30 days during the period beginning on August 1, 1953, and ending on December 31, 1987, to water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, that was supplied by, or on behalf of, the United States may bring an action in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina to obtain appropriate relief for harm that was caused by exposure to the water at Camp Lejeune.
In summary, if you:
- lived or worked at Camp Lejeune, including as a military member, veteran, employee, retiree, or family member of a soldier, veteran, employee, or retiree
- for 30 days or more
- between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987
- and were exposed to the water at Camp Lejeune (drinking, bathing, washing dishes, doing laundry, etc.)
then you are entitled to compensation for any harm you suffered due to exposure to the contaminated water.
How Do I Make a Claim?
The Camp Lejeune Social Justice Act makes it clear that a lawsuit under the Act is your sole recourse for compensation for harm suffered due to exposure to the bad water at Camp Lejeune. All claims must be brought in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, and you cannot bring any other lawsuit under the Federal Tort Claims Act elsewhere for this harm.
As the plaintiff in this litigation, the burden of proof will be on you to show one or more relationships between the water at Camp Lejeune and the harm you suffered. You must also produce evidence sufficient to conclude that a causal relationship exists between the contaminated water and your harm, or that a relationship between the bad water and your harm is at least as likely as not. This is a low burden to meet, and the government is prohibited under the law from asserting any kind of immunity from the lawsuit that it might otherwise have. However, you will still need to have a skilled and experienced injury lawyer on your side who knows the law and legal procedure and knows how to prepare a solid case proving the government’s liability. The law allows for jury trials, and the amount of compensation you can receive will depend on the strength of the case presented by your lawyer to the jury if the government doesn’t settle out of court beforehand.
Why Leandros A. Vrionedes, P.C.?
Our firm’s founder and leading attorney has over 35 years of experience and a long record of success in achieving top settlements and judgments on behalf of injury victims across the spectrum of personal injury law. Our firm practices exclusively in the area of plaintiff’s personal injury law and offers dedicated, personalized service to help you reach your goals. We’ll handle every aspect of your case and work diligently toward a successful result. You’ll make the right choice when you call Leandros A. Vrionedes, P.C. to help you with your Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit. Call 1-800-634-8144 for immediate assistance.
