For more than three decades, dangerous chemicals contaminated the water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. An estimated one million people drank or washed in tainted water linked to cancer, congenital disabilities, infant death, neurological problems, and other serious health conditions. Fortunately, a new law allows people harmed by the toxic water to seek compensation through a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit.
Individuals who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune between August 1953 and December 1987 and later developed certain illnesses may qualify to file a claim. Eligibility is not limited to military service members. Civilian employees, family members, and even those who suffered exposure in the womb may also have valid claims.
If you live in Georgia and believe you suffered harm from contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, reach out to the skilled attorneys at the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C. today. We are dedicated to the fierce pursuit of justice for the wrongfully injured. Call or contact us today to speak with a compassionate Camp Lejeune lawyer in Albany, GA.
What Happened at Camp Lejeune?
In 1982, the Marine Corps found the water at two water treatment plants at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with toxic chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the contamination in the first treatment plant came from improper waste disposal by an off-base dry cleaner. Contamination in the second plant came from multiple sources, including on-base industrial spills and leaks from underground storage tanks and drums at dumps and storage lots.
The Hadnot Point and Tarawa Terrace water treatment facilities served most of the base’s military barracks and family housing. Anyone who drank or bathed in that water may have developed illnesses due to toxic exposure.
Causes of Water Contamination
The treated water at Camp Lejeune contained four primary contaminants:
- Trichloroethylene (TCE) – A metal cleaner and degreaser, also used in making other chemicals like refrigerant
- Perchloroethylene (PCE) – A dry cleaning agent and metal degreasing solvent
- Benzene – Used in making plastics, resin, rubber, pesticides, nylon, and synthetic fibers
- Vinyl chloride – A chemical used to make PVC
TCE, PCE, and benzene are known to cause cancer. Exposure to vinyl chloride is linked to cardiovascular, liver, developmental, and immunological problems. All of these chemicals were found in concentrations hundreds to thousands of times higher than the allowable limits in drinking water.
Illnesses Linked to the Toxic Water
The people exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune may have experienced symptoms like:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Lack of coordination
- Confusion
- Loss of consciousness
- Circulation problems
- Nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain
- Tremors
- Seizures
However, many illnesses associated with exposure to the tainted water emerge over time. The ATSDR determined that the toxic water at Camp Lejeune could cause:
- Adult leukemia
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Aplastic anemia
- Esophageal cancer
- Lung cancer
- Female infertility and miscarriage
- Neural tube defects
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Birth defects
- Oral cleft defects
- Renal toxicity
- Cardiovascular disorders
- Hepatic steatosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Neurobehavioral changes
- Scleroderma
Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 
Historically, people seeking compensation for exposure to toxic water at Camp Lejeune ran into roadblocks because of laws granting immunity to the federal government.
In August 2022, Congress passed the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. Part of the act is the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which clears the way for people harmed by toxic water on the military base to seek financial relief without worrying about governmental immunity.
Pursuing compensation through the Camp Lejeune Justice Act is not the same as filing for disability benefits through the Veterans Administration. It is a legal channel that requires claimants to file a lawsuit demanding compensation for their losses.
Who is Eligible for Compensation from Camp Lejeune’s Water Contamination?
Anyone exposed to the contaminated groundwater at Camp Lejeune could be eligible to file a legal claim if:
- They were exposed between Aug. 1, 1953 and Dec. 31, 1987.
- The exposure lasted a month or more.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Toxic Water Claim?
You need to know about two deadlines regarding Camp Lejeune lawsuits.
- You must file a Camp Lejeune claim before Aug. 10, 2024. But before filing suit, you must submit a claim for administrative adjustment under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). Then, the Department of Defense (DOD) has six months to accept or deny the claim.
- You have 180 days from the time of denial to file a lawsuit in the Eastern District of North Carolina. Meeting this deadline is essential to maintain your right to compensation.
It’s impossible to predict whether the DOD will accept or deny your case. But the agency may offer Camp Lejeune settlements because the purpose of the new law is to give access to justice for innocent victims of groundwater contamination on the base. The Congressional Budget Office projects spending more than $6 billion between 2022 and 2031 on Camp Lejeune claims.
Can I File a Lawsuit for a Loved One?
In addition to those who suffered direct exposure to Camp Lejeune water, the survivors of people who died from toxic exposure or the parents of children born with congenital disabilities due to exposure can sue under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.
What Kinds of Compensation Can I Receive from a Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Lawsuit?
A successful Camp Lejeune contaminated water lawsuit could provide claimants with compensation for: 
- Past, current, and future medical bills
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral and burial expenses
Winning a claim requires proving that a causal relationship exists between the illness and toxic water exposure at Camp Lejeune, or showing that the chemicals increased the individual’s chances of developing the disease.
How Can an Attorney Help with the Lawsuit?
Building a strong Camp Lejeune claim requires solid proof and a thorough understanding of the intersection between the new federal law and personal injury claims. The accomplished attorneys at the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C. can help you file your claim for compensation through the appropriate federal channels. And because we prepare every case as if it is going to trial, we’ll be ready to file your lawsuit immediately if the DOD denies your claim.
Contact a Trusted Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawyer in Albany, GA
Compensation could be available if you suffer from health problems linked to toxic water at Camp Lejeune. Get the answers you need by talking to a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyer from the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C. Call or contact us today for a free consultation.
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