A Camp Lejeune lawsuit for water contamination is a serious matter. You need the best Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyer in the United States on your side fighting for you to get the most compensation possible. Why would you consult with a call center operator about your important legal rights when the call center will sell you to the highest bidder? Legal advice from an operator who doesn’t know anything about Camp Lejeune toxic water claims, does this make sense?
Speak directly with a Camp Lejeune lawsuit lawyer Right Away using our 24 hour hotline at 855-554-9179
Top ten Camp Lejeune Mistakes
*This post was updated by a lawyer on March 17th, 2024 to provide the most up-to-date information to our readers about Camp Lejeune water lawsuits.
Why would you hire a rinky-dink Camp Lejeune water lawsuit lawyer who purchased your potential lawsuit from a national call center? Why would you retain a fly by night law firm for such an important case when the law firm does not value you as a client and wont let you speak to a licensed attorney? At Slepkow law, Camp Lejeune victims get to speak to an experienced Camp Lejeune lawyer right away on his cell phone. All clients get a lawyer’s cell phone to call whenever they need a consultation. The Camp Lejeune attorney at Slepkow Law will tell you if you qualify for compensation and start the intake process as soon as possible. You will be on your way to getting your share of the over 7 billion dollars in compensation. Camp Lejeune water contamination settlement amounts are likely to be extremely lucrative, so you need to get the best Camp Lejeune water lawsuit lawyer. You can call us 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
10 mistakes that Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit victims can make
This post lists the top ten mistakes that Camp Lejeune contaminated water victims can make. It is very important that a victim does not miss the two-year deadline to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit. In order to obtain a high value Camp Lejeune settlement amount, you need to retain a top toxic water lawyer. You should retain the best Camp Lejeune attorney in the United States. Below you will find information on how to find the best Camp Lejeune lawyer. Most of these lawsuits are handled on a national basis, so it is not necessary to search for ‘Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyers near me.’
Victims who develop complications from Camp Lejeune contaminated water and meet all lawsuit qualifications set forth in the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 have the right to file a lawsuit against the United States.
Camp Lejeune water lawsuit FAQS
Prospective clients have plenty of questions about Camp Lejeune claims. The law passed by Congress is very new, and people are just learning about how it works. Here are some questions that we have frequently been asked and that we have been seeing others pose to personal injury lawyers.
Why am I seeing nonstop television advertisements that mention Camp Lejeune lawsuits?
In August 2022, Congress passed the PACT Act. This comprehensive veterans Health Care legislation also included a section entitled the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. For decades, Camp Lejeune veterans and their families could not sue for illnesses that they suffered due to being exposed to contaminated water on the base. Now, Congress added a new cause of action that allows people to file a claim against the federal government to recover financial compensation. Prior to August, injured service members and their families did not have any legal remedies. If you have been stationed at Camp Lejeune, you should evaluate your own health and determine whether you have a potential lawsuit. You have a limited amount of time to come forward before you lose the right.
What happened at Camp Lejeune?
For nearly thirty-five years, people on base were exposed to extremely hazardous levels of four different toxins in their water. They both drank and bathed in this water. An underground chemical dump was located dangerously near groundwater wells that fed one of the water treatment plants. Another water treatment plant received water from wells that were located down gradient from an off-base dry cleaner that had extremely poor chemical disposal practices. As a result, people who spent an extended period of time at Camp Lejeune have been diagnosed with a number of critical illnesses. Many have died of their condition.
I thought that I was not allowed to sue the military for a service-connected injury. Why can I sue now?
The specific law that Congress passed allowed a new cause of action. In the past, courts had applied the Feres Doctrine to keep injured service members from suing. This is a judicially created legal Doctrine that prevents lawsuits from injuries connected with military service. The new cause of action in the law takes precedence over any judicial doctrines.
How do I file a claim for compensation for my Camp Lejeune injuries?
The new law is similar to the Federal Tort Claims Act. When you have any claim against the federal government, you cannot sue them in court until you have been through the agency claims process first. Here, you would go through an internal Department of Defense with the United States Navy claims process in an attempt to reach a resolution of your issue. In a best-case scenario, the government would offer you a settlement of your claim that would fairly pay you for your injuries. It is only after you have tried and failed to reach a settlement with the federal government that you can take your case to court. According to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, exclusive jurisdiction for legal actions lies in Federal Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water linked to wrongful Deaths
The pollution of the water supply distribution system at Camp Lejeune marine base was revealed in the latter part of the 1980s. The United States government has paid for extensive scientific research studies to uncover how much damage the contaminated water caused marines and their families as well as workers at the marine base.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is an arm of the Center for Disease Control (The CDC). In a thirty-year span, the ATSDR has led many of the most extensive scientific studies of the health impact of the hazardous Camp Lejeune water. The ATSDR conducted an extensive morbidity study that looked into the death rates as well as the cause of death of scores of former marines, their families and residents of Camp Lejeune from 1953 through 1987.
The ATSDR Morbidity Study determined that victims who were subjected to the toxic Lejeune water suffered greater rates of particular cancers. The types of cancers and conditions most associated presumptively with Camp Lejeune contaminated water includes but is not limited to:
- Adult leukemia
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Parkinson’s disease
These studies found that thousands of former Camp Lejeune marines (their families), workers and employees died prematurely caused by diseases and cancers linked to the toxic water. Because the water pollution at Lejeune goes back to the early year of the 1950s, thousands of victims passed away decades ago.
Camp Lejeune Wrongful Death lawsuits Under the CLJA
When a victim’s death is caused by negligence, the decedent’s surviving family may be able to file a lawsuit against the tortfeasor who is negligent. This wrongful death lawsuit will seek compensation for the survivors such as a spouse, child or family member. This cause of action is widely known as a wrongful death lawsuit. The toxic chemicals that found their way into the Camp Lejeune were extremely damaging to victims. The contaminated water at Camp Lejeune caused thousands of premature deaths from cancers and diseases such as kidney cancer and Parkinson’s. There have been numerous studies that have established the causal relationship between deaths of water victims and the toxic water at Camp Lejeune
The pollution of the water supply system at Lejeune resulted from the malfeasance of the USMC. As a result, surviving family members of deceased victims can file a Camp Lejeune water lawsuit seeking compensation for their relative’s untimely death. In prior years, before the CLJA, many family members of deceased victims filed lawsuits against the United States as a result of the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. These family members were stymied by:
- The North Carolina Statute of Repose
- The Federal tort Claim Act
- The statute of limitations
- Sovereign immunity
Family members such as a spouse, child, father, uncle, niece, nephew or mother/ father of a victim will need to establish that their dead relative lived or worked at Camp Lejeune from 1953 through 1987 period and that their death was premature as a result of the water contamination. Relatives will also be able to file a survival lawsuit even if their loved ones death was not caused by the water contamination.
Camp Lejeune Wrongful Death Water Lawsuit FAQS
Below you will find some important FAQS concerning Camp Lejeune water lawsuits.
Can family members of deceased victim pursue a wrongful death lawsuit?
Pursuant to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 family members may file a Camp Lejeune wrongful death lawsuit against the United States government. A wrongful death lawsuit may be filed even if the victim passed away decades prior.
Can a family member file a Camp Lejeune wrongful death lawsuit if the victim died many years ago?
Yes. Pursuant to the PACT act (of which the Camp Lejeune Justice act is a significant portion) family members can file a wrongful death lawsuits decades after a victim’s death. Settlements may range between $500,000 to 1,000,000 or more for an untimely death.
What will be the average Camp Lejeune settlement amounts for a wrongful death claim?
Surviving spouses, children, parents (father and mother) and other family members such as cousins, uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews who file a Camp Lejeune water lawsuit can potentially win a settlement or jury verdict because of the death.
How much is my Camp Lejeune claim worth?
It is difficult to give an exact answer to this question without knowing more about your specific circumstances. We could give guidance based on other mass tort claims, assuming the government compensates you in the same way. However, since the Camp Lejeune lawsuits are a political matter, and the United States Government has determined that victims should be compensated, average Camp Lejeune settlement amounts should be lucrative
Birth defects linked to Camp Lejeune contaminated water
The toxic chemicals in the Camp Lejeune water have caused serious and severe medical conditions, including birth defects such as spina bifida, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as well as other severe injuries
Camp Lejeune Birth Defects
In the early 1980’s the Environmental Protection Agency determined that the Lejeune water was highly contaminated. In 2016 there was an influential study set forth by the by the Agency for Toxic Substance & Disease Registry. This study determined there was a correlation between the toxic water and birth defects at Camp Lejeune.
Women who were Pregnant and were exposed to the contaminated water were at a greater risk for particular types of birth defects. Sadly, these birth defects included: spina bifida. The toxic water was very harmful to unborn children at Camp Lejeune.
Volatile organic compounds otherwise known as (VOC) chemicals, include
- Perchloroethylene (PCE)
- Vinyl chloride
- Trichloroethylene (TCE).
- Benzene
The VOC contamination levels were incredibly and tragically high. In some cases it was way over 1000 times EPA limits and even as much as 2,000 times higher (or more).
The Centers for Disease Control statistics concerning Birth Defects at Camp Lejeune
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determined that the was causation between birth defects and contaminated water at Lejeune. The CDC presided over studies that established that pregnant women who consumed the water and bathed in the water had a higher likelihood to have a child with a birth defects.
The CDC issued reports that estimated that thousands of babies born on the Marine base were diagnosed with birth defects such as:
- oral clefts,
- cleft lip,
- neural tube birth defects
There is no doubt that Women who were exposed to the contaminated water at the military base in the midst of their pregnancy were subject to an increased risk of delivering a baby who suffers from a birth defect.
Injuries Caused by Contaminated Drinking Water
Below you will find a list of common birth defects associated with the tainted water at Camp Lejeune:”
- Spina bifida
- Childhood leukemia
- Brain cancer
- Childhood cancer
- Oral cleft defects, including cleft palate, oral clefts, and cleft lip
- Neural tube birth defects
- Assorted birth defects
What types of Damages will I get in a Camp Lejeune water lawsuit?
- Cost of Medical and surgical bills
- Cost of medical devices and home health care
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Disability benefits
- Loss of earning capacity, loss of income
- Permanent disability, partial disability
- Future medical costs
How long will my Camp Lejeune compensation claim take to resolve?
It is impossible to know at this early stage. Right now, the first claimants have filed their cases with the Department of Defense. They are awaiting a response from the agency, both whether the agency would make a settlement offer and how much they may pay. You may need to negotiate compensation with the agency if their offer is not high enough. Of course, there is the possibility that the agency could deny your claim, or you may never be able to reach a settlement agreement. In that case, you would take your case to federal court, and you may have a hearing. Then, your case could take years to resolve. Much remains to be seen at this early stage.
Will the federal government pay my attorney’s fees if I win my case?
No. The settlements would be treated the same as any other, in that your lawyer would be paid from the proceeds of your settlement. Federal law does place limits on the amount of your compensation that could be paid in fees to your lawyer. The good news is that you would not owe your attorney anything unless you win your case. They are only paid if you get a settlement or win your case at trial. You would not need to pay your attorney and a retainer, nor would they send you any bills while the trial is pending.
Who qualifies to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit?
Of course, injured veterans who were sick and while they were at the base or able to file a claim against the federal government. The legal right to sue does not just belong to veterans. Family members and civilian employees at Camp Lejeune were also sick and in large numbers. They can also file a claim. Anyone who was at Camp Lejeune for a 30-day period between the years of 1953 and 1987 can file a claim if they can meet the causation requirements in the statute.
How can I prove that a loved one’s illness was caused by Camp Lejeune water if they have died?
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act contained a somewhat reduced standard of causation that makes it easier for claimants to prove that they were sickened by the toxic water. You may simply need to show that your illness was made more likely by the exposure to water. Even if your loved one died years ago, you may be able to meet your burden of proof by citing medical studies that show a connection between toxic water and the illness from which your loved ones suffered. The law is intended to make it easier for injured people to recover financial compensation.
What happens if I’m already receiving veterans benefits for my Camp Lejeune-related disabilities?
The Camp Lejeune Justice act specifically says that obtaining Veterans Administration benefits will not impact whether you should get financial compensation for your injuries. In the same regard, getting a settlement check for your Camp Lejeune injury should not impact your future eligibility for benefits. You should still apply for disability benefits, even if you are already seeking financial compensation. The Veterans Administration promises to do better at processing these claims, as the agency has had structural issues and handling them in the past.
Are these cases the same as class action lawsuits where plaintiffs get little and lawyers get plenty?
No. You are filing an individual claim with the Department of Defense for your own unique and specific harm. You may be eligible for hundreds of thousands of dollars of financial compensation based on your individual illness. The Department of Defense will consider your own claim and circumstances before they make you a settlement offer. If you are not happy with the financial compensation offered to you, you may be able to file a lawsuit on your own against the federal government. In fact, some attorneys have tried to certify these cases as a class-action lawsuit, and they have not found a receptive audience in federal court.
Do I have to file a claim or lawsuit to get money?
Absolutely. The government is not trying to pay you unless you come forward and state that you are owed money for your damages. If the government had its way, it would be able to escape paying you what you deserve. The only way that the government will know that you have a legal case is if you file your claim. You may not like the litigation process, and you may not want to file a lawsuit, but that is the only possible way for you to get paid. While you may have to go through the legal process, there is no risk to you to hire a personal injury lawyer.
Prospective clients have plenty of questions about Camp Lejeune claims. The law passed by Congress is very new, and people are just learning about how it works. Here are some questions that we have frequently been asked and that we have been seeing others pose to personal injury lawyers.
Why am I seeing nonstop television advertisements that mention Camp Lejeune lawsuits? Why should this be important to me?
In August 2022, Congress passed the PACT Act. This comprehensive veterans Health Care legislation also included a section entitled the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. For decades, Camp Lejeune veterans and their families could not sue for illnesses that they suffered due to being exposed to contaminated water on the base. Now, Congress added a new cause of action that allows people to file a claim against the federal government to recover financial compensation. Prior to August, injured service members and their families did not have any legal remedies. If you have been stationed at Camp Lejeune, you should evaluate your own health and determine whether you have a potential lawsuit. You have a limited amount of time to come forward before you lose the right.
What happened at Camp Lejeune?
For nearly thirty-five years, people on base were exposed to extremely hazardous levels of four different toxins in their water. They both drank and bathed in this water. An underground chemical dump was located dangerously near groundwater wells that fed one of the water treatment plants. Another water treatment plant received water from wells that were located down gradient from an off-base dry cleaner that had extremely poor chemical disposal practices. As a result, people who spent an extended period of time at Camp Lejeune have been diagnosed with a number of critical illnesses. Many have died of their condition.
I thought that I was not allowed to sue the military for a service-connected injury. Why can I sue now?
The specific law that Congress passed allowed a new cause of action. In the past, courts had applied the Feres Doctrine to keep injured service members from suing. This is a judicially created legal Doctrine that prevents lawsuits from injuries connected with military service. The new cause of action in the law takes precedence over any judicial doctrines.
How do I file a claim for compensation for my Camp Lejeune injuries?
The new law is similar to the Federal Tort Claims Act. When you have any claim against the federal government, you cannot sue them in court until you have been through the agency claims process first. Here, you would go through an internal Department of Defense claims process in an attempt to reach a resolution of your issue. In a best-case scenario, the government would offer you a settlement of your claim that would fairly pay you for your injuries. It is only after you have tried and failed to reach a settlement with the federal government that you can take your case to court. According to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, exclusive jurisdiction for legal actions lies in the Eastern District of North Carolina.
How much is my Camp Lejeune claim worth?
It is difficult to give an exact answer to this question without knowing more about your specific circumstances. We could give guidance based on other mass tort claims, assuming the government compensates you in the same way. In other cases, Compensation for cancer illnesses can range from $250,000 to $500,000, with some cases reaching as high as $1 million. In other contexts, cases of Parkinson’s disease have resulted in settlements between $100,000 -$300,000.
How long will my Camp Lejeune compensation claim take to resolve?
It is impossible to know at this early stage. Right now, the first claimants have filed their cases with the Department of Defense. They are awaiting a response from the agency, both whether the agency would make a settlement offer and how much they may pay. You may need to negotiate compensation with the agency if their offer is not high enough. Of course, there is the possibility that the agency could deny your claim, or you may never be able to reach a settlement agreement. In that case, you would take your case to federal court, and you may have a hearing. Then, your case could take years to resolve. Much remains to be seen at this early stage.
Will the federal government pay my attorney’s fees if I win my case?
No. The settlements would be treated the same as any other, in that your lawyer would be paid from the proceeds of your settlement. Federal law does place limits on the amount of your compensation that could be paid in fees to your lawyer. The good news is that you would not owe your attorney anything unless you win your case. They are only paid if you get a settlement or win your case at trial. You would not need to pay your attorney and a retainer, nor would they send you any bills while the trial is pending.
Who qualifies to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit?
Of course, injured veterans who were sick and while they were at the base or able to file a claim against the federal government. The legal right to sue does not just belong to veterans. Family members and civilian employees at Camp Lejeune were also sick and in large numbers. They can also file a claim. Anyone who was at Camp Lejeune for a 30-day period between the years of 1953 and 1987 can file a claim if they can meet the causation requirements in the statute.
How can I prove that a loved one’s illness was caused by Camp Lejeune water if they have died?
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act contained a somewhat reduced standard of causation that makes it easier for claimants to prove that they were sickened by the toxic water. You may simply need to show that your illness was made more likely by the exposure to water. Even if your loved one died years ago, you may be able to meet your burden of proof by citing medical studies that show a connection between toxic water and the illness from which your loved ones suffered. The law is intended to make it easier for injured people to recover financial compensation.
What happens if I’m already receiving veterans benefits for my Camp Lejeune-related disabilities?
The Camp Lejeune Justice act specifically says that obtaining Veterans Administration benefits will not impact whether you should get financial compensation for your injuries. In the same regard, getting a settlement check for your Camp Lejeune injury should not impact your future eligibility for benefits. You should still apply for disability benefits, even if you are already seeking financial compensation. The Veterans Administration promises to do better at processing these claims, as the agency has had structural issues and handling them in the past.
Are these cases the same as class action lawsuits where plaintiffs get little and lawyers get plenty?
No. You are filing an individual claim with the Department of Defense for your own unique and specific harm. You may be eligible for hundreds of thousands of dollars of financial compensation based on your individual illness. The Department of Defense will consider your own claim and circumstances before they make you a settlement offer. If you are not happy with the financial compensation offered to you, you may be able to file a lawsuit on your own against the federal government. In fact, some attorneys have tried to certify these cases as a class-action lawsuit, and they have not found a receptive audience in federal court.
Do I have to file a claim or lawsuit to get money?
Absolutely. The government is not trying to pay you unless you come forward and state that you are owed money for your damages. If the government had its way, it would be able to escape paying you what you deserve. The only way that the government will know that you have a legal case is if you file your claim. You may not like the litigation process, and you may not want to file a lawsuit, but that is the only possible way for you to get paid. While you may have to go through the legal process, there is no risk to you to hire a personal injury lawyer.
Top Ten mistakes to avoid as a Camp Lejeune Victim
Here are the top 10 legal mistakes you need to avoid as a Camp Lejeune contaminated water victim:
Mistake #1: Hiring a law firm from a call center. (These call centers will sell you and your claim to a law firm settlement mill.)
We have all seen the non-stop television advertisements for Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuits. Avoid calling these numbers. These call centers are borderline scams. Most of these call centers are not law firms or operated by lawyers or law firms. These call centers typically sell you as a client to the highest bidder. In other words, a marketing company with deep pockets pays for the advertisements.
When you call the number from a TV ad seeking legal advice about your lucrative Camp Lejeune claim, you will speak with a call center operator. Many of these call center operators lack a high school education and are following a script. The call center operator will ask questions to see if you meet certain qualifications. If you meet the qualifications, you will be sold to a law firm. If you do not meet these scripted qualifications, they will dump you in a New York minute.
Many law firm who will buy you as a client are Camp Lejeune settlement mills. These lawyers take on tens of thousands of cases. You can never talk to a lawyer when you need legal advice. Your claim is just one of thousands on a conveyor belt. The goal of these law firms is to lure you in and settle your case fast as fast as possible. They are not interested in getting a top dollar Camp Lejeune settlement for you. They want to settle cases quickly and move on to the next victim. If you demand a jury trial, you will likely to be dumped because these firms are not equipped or able to litigate a jury trial in Federal Court in the Eastern District of North Carolina.
When you call us, you get to speak to an experienced lawyer on his cell phone with over 25 years of experience. You talk to a lawyer who gets to know you individually, consults with you about your legal rights and gets you started down the path to a lucrative Camp lejeune settlement amount or a jury trial in Federal Court.
Mistake 2: Hiring a Camp Lejeune lawsuit mill
You have a big case. Perhaps, you have a multimillion-dollar Camp Lejeune lawsuit. You want a high powered, top law firm who will know how to get you the highest possible Camp Lejeune settlement amount. In other words, you want the best Camp Lejeune lawsuit lawyer in the United States. Why would you hire a law firm who has thousands of cases and treats you like a number rather than a victim. Get the best Camp Lejeune lawyer in the United States!
Mistake 3: Hiring a traffic ticket lawyer rather than a high powered, big time toxic water law firm
If you needed a heart surgeon, would you hire a pediatrician who moonlights as a surgeon for some extra cash in their pockets? You need a deep pocket, high powered camp Lejeune lawsuit law firm- not a traffic ticket lawyer moonlighting as a toxic tort lawyer. Most important is deep pockets. The last thing you need is a traffic ticket lawyer settling for a quick buck so they can pay their monthly rent.
Mistake 4: Finding your law firm from a TV advertisement
Your case is very important. You have suffered from cancer, Parkinson’s disease or a serious disease as a result of years of wrongdoing at Camp Lejeune. Why would you call a call center operator who doesn’t know the difference between Camp Lejeune and the summer camp they went to as a CIT, a few years ago. Why is it ok that you can be sold to the highest bidder as if you are property? You have important questions you need answered. You should consult with a lawyer about your Camp Lejeune lawsuit.
When you call us, you always speak to an attorney right away who will calmly and patiently answer all your questions with great compassion and individual attention. You will be treated as a human being not just another potential lawsuit amongst tens of thousands of Camp Lejeune lawsuits.
Mistake #5: Missing a Camp Lejeune lawsuit deadline
It is better to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit claim as soon as possible. Before you file a lawsuit, you must file an administrative claim. It may take a couple of years after you file an individual Camp Lejeune contaminated water lawsuit compensation before you get a Camp Lejeune payout. There is no reason to add additional time before you get the settlement you are entitled to. Waiting too long can be disastrous. If you miss the Camp Lejeune deadline, you will be forever barred from compensation. After two years, you will be precluded from compensation based on:
- The North Carolina statute of repose;
- government immunity
- The statute of limitations
- The Federal Tort Claim Act
- Federal and State case law
Mistake #6: Hiring a local car crash lawyer to litigate your Camp Lejeune lawsuit
Steer clear of local lawyers with small firms and limited budgets. The last thing you need is a local attorney who lacks the gravitas and cash and will want to settle right away.
You need a white shoe law firm on YOUR side who has experience obtaining 7 and 8 figure million dollar judgments and settlements. This high powered law firm will help argue your case in court and prove that the government should give you millions as a result of the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. You need someone who has got what it takes to effectively present arguments on behalf of Camp Lejeune victims. Look for a Camp Lejeune law firm who has a lot of experience dealing with mass tort cases or other forms of toxic exposure.
Mistake #7: Failing to document your history at Camp Lejeune as well as toxic water Symptoms and Medical Treatments
You will have to prove that indeed you suffered serious injuries due to the defective and unsafe water at Camp lejeune. Your lawyer will also need proof of your injuries and complications to enable him to plan your case effectively. Make sure you record all the symptoms. You can jot down the symptoms somewhere or ask the doctor to give you a copy of the list of the symptoms. You should also have a document indicating the medications you were given and the number of days you spent at the hospital.
Mistake #8: Not understanding Camp Lejeune water contamination settlement amounts.
Experienced toxic tort lawyers will know when to accept a settlement and when to demand justice through a jury trial in Federal court. A top law firm will properly explain to victims what the best Camp Lejeune settlement amounts are.
Mistake #9: Hiring a Camp Lejeune lawyers near me
You don’t need a local character, a few years out of laws school, who needs to learn how to file in Federal Court. Camp Lejeune is not for local lawyers who do bankruptcies during the day and plays the part a toxic tort litigator at night. These lawsuits are for big time law firms who have fought the good fight and know how to win millions for victims. The best Camp Lejeune lawyers will command respect from government lawyers, right away. The government lawyers are likely to snicker under their breath when a local kid fresh out of law school tries to get a settlement.
Mistake #10: Not knowing what you need to Know before you file a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit
In the event that you have suffered cancer, diseases or other medical conditions from toxic Camp Lejeune water, your Camp Lejeune attorneys will bring a lawsuit in federal court seeking compensation. It is not unusual for the United States to try to throw some peanuts at all victims to make the problem go away. The government may pay billions but when it is divided by hundreds of thousands of victims, the settlement may be woefully inadequate. This is because in many of these deals, each individual claimant gets peanuts and the lawyers walk away with millions. A top law firm will go to the proverbial Mat against the United States Government to get the most money possible. It is important for victims to understand that this is not a class action. The Camp Lejeune cases are individual lawsuits to be filed in Federal court in the Eastern District of North Carolina and not filed as a Camp Lejeune class action suit.
Camp Lejeune water contamination settlement amounts
You need to get a Camp Lejeune attorney who will stand up and fight the United States and refuse a miserly Camp Lejeune settlement. Settling quickly may be a good way to solve a whiplash car crash case or a medical malpractice lawsuit. However, settling a Camp Lejeune lawsuit too quickly might not give you the compensation you deserve. The best Camp Lejeune law firms know the amount you deserve to get based on the severity of your injuries, complications and other damages you suffered. He or she will negotiate with the United States government to ensure you get the right compensation (Camp Lejeune payout) or will get you justice through a jury trial.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 was Passed By Congress after a lot of legislative wrangling. This innovative and long needed law will allow veterans, civilian workers and their families to file Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuits. For over 8 decades, Camp Lejeune Marine Base in North Carolina has been an active and busy Marine Corps base. At any particular time, there are over 100,000 Marines and family members on base, along with thousands of civilian workers. In other words, millions of workers, soldiers and others have passed through the base over the decades. Each of these individuals could be potential victims, exposed to toxins in the drinking water on base or exposed by bathing in the polluted water. The United States Navy has hid this news for many years, even as people exposed to these toxins developed cancer such as Liver Cancer, Kidney Cancer and Liver Cancer. Now, injured service members, civilian worker and their families can file claims against the government for financial compensation.
People at Camp Lejeune Were Exposed to Contaminated Water for Decades
Beginning in 1953, Camp Lejeune sadly depended on two water treatment facilities for much of its drinking water needs. Around that time, the United States Government constructed both the Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point water treatment facilities. These were two of the eight water treatment plants in operation at the time. Within a short period of time, the water from both of these facilities would become dangerously contaminated and hazardous to human health. Each of these two treatment facilities had its own sources of contamination:
Tarawa Terrace water was contaminated by chemicals that were discharged from off-base dry cleaners with poor waste disposal practices. Water from the Hadnot Point treatment was contaminated by numerous chemicals from leaking underground storage tanks, industrial area spills, and waste disposal sites
The Government Did Not Take Action or Notify Families for Years
The U.S. government was fully aware that these sources were contaminated for many years. Starting in 1980, water tests started to reveal high levels of toxicity in the base’s drinking and bathing water. Nonetheless, these water treatment plants continued to be utilized while the U.S. Marine Corps looked for the source and tried to determine the extent of the contamination. In other words, the Marine Corps did next to nothing while servicemembers and their families were exposed to toxic chemicals at high levels.
The Marine Corps did not maneuver to shut down the polluted and hazardous water sources until five years after beginning to realize that the water was hazardous. It was not until 1987 that the contaminated water sources were completely taken off line. Even still, the Marine took years more to inform families after their exposure to toxic chemicals. In 1999, the Marine Corps began to inform people that they may have been exposed to dangerous levels of chemicals on a sustained basis over a long period of time. This delay likely cost lives as former residents could not be treated for their health condition, knowing the substances with which they came into contact.
Cancers Associated with Contaminated Water Exposure
Those who were exposed to contaminated Camp Lejeune water have developed certain types of cancer at far greater rates than the general population. Here are some of the types of cancer with which they have been diagnosed:
- Kidney cancer
- Prostate cancer
- colorectal cancer
- Leukemia
- Bladder cancer
In addition, the exposure to toxic chemicals have also resulted in cases of Parkinson’s disease. This degenerative neurological condition is most often caused by exposures to toxins in the environment. These toxins lay dormant in the body and affect the brain after some time. There have been a growing number of reports of cases of Parkinson’s disease among people who spent time at Camp Lejeune.
What are the presumptive conditions caused by toxic water at camp Lejeune established by the veteran’s administration?
The VA presumes that these illnesses and cancers are caused by exposure to contaminated water at the Camp Lejeune Marine base. The VA will not require that veterans prove a medical nexus for these 8 conditions. There are eight presumptive Conditions that are Linked to Camp Lejeune Contaminated water:
- Adult leukemia
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Parkinson’s disease
Some people who have been exposed to these toxins have already died from their cases of cancer. At the time that they were sick, their families were not allowed to sue to obtain financial compensation. Others have been diagnosed with cancer and have gone through considerable pain and suffering while they battled the disease. In the meantime, their families racked up large medical bills.
Congress has Passed a Law Allowing People to Sue
In the past, before President Biden signed the 2022 Camp Lejeune Justice Act, it was difficult for service members and their families to file lawsuits to obtain financial compensation for their injuries. The claims would be filed in North Carolina, and the state has an old law on the books that imposes a ten-year statute of limitations on lawsuits for the water contamination. Since the exposure occurred between 1953 to 1987, it has largely barred such lawsuits.
Now, any person who lived , worked or was at Camp Lejeune for 30 days between 1953 and 1987 can file a lawsuit for any harm caused by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
What are the basics of a Camp Lejeune lawsuit?
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 (CLJA) passed congress and was signed by President Biden into law in August of 2022. This groundbreaking new law permits veterans, their family members and other victims who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina between 1953 to 1988 to pursue a claim by way of a lawsuit for compensation for the cancer, condition or illness caused by the Camp Lejeune contaminated water.
Some types of harm and illness caused by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune includes:
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,
- Aplastic anemia
- Leukemia
- Kidney cancer
- Parkinson’s
- Liver Cancer
- Other cancers
- Other harms
- Birth defects
Pursuant to the terms of the CLJA, all Camp Lejeune contaminated water lawsuits must be filed within 2 years of Biden signing the legislation. All lawsuits must be litigated in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Veterans who filed to get VA benefits can still pursue a lawsuit, even if they were denied benefits.
Representatives of a deceased victim can pursue a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of their deceased brother, child, sister, husband, wife, spouse or loved one. A representative of a victim who suffered harm from the toxic water can file a claim
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
“Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a type of cancer that begins in your lymphatic system, which is part of the body’s germ-fighting immune system. In non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, white blood cells called lymphocytes grow abnormally and can form growths (tumors) throughout the body. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a general category of lymphoma. There are many subtypes that fall in this category. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma are among the most common subtypes. The other general category of lymphoma is Hodgkin’s lymphoma.” Mayo Clinic
Aplastic anemia
“Aplastic anemia is a condition that occurs when your body stops producing enough new blood cells. The condition leaves you fatigued and more prone to infections and uncontrolled bleeding. A rare and serious condition, aplastic anemia can develop at any age. It can occur suddenly, or it can come on slowly and worsen over time. It can be mild or severe. Treatment for aplastic anemia might include medications, blood transfusions or a stem cell transplant, also known as a bone marrow transplant.” Mayo Clinic
Leukemia
“Leukemia is a broad term for cancers of the blood cells. The type of leukemia depends on the type of blood cell that becomes cancer and whether it grows quickly or slowly. Leukemia occurs most often in adults older than 55, but it is also the most common cancer in children younger than 15. Explore the links on this page to learn more about the types of leukemia plus treatment, statistics, research, and clinical trials.” Cancer.gov
Kidney Cancer
“Kidney cancer is cancer that begins in the kidneys. Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of your fist. They’re located behind your abdominal organs, with one kidney on each side of your spine. In adults, renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer. Other less common types of kidney cancer can occur. Young children are more likely to develop a kind of kidney cancer called Wilms’ tumor.” Mayo Clinic
Parkinson’s disease
“Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. Symptoms usually begin gradually and worsen over time. As the disease progresses, people may have difficulty walking and talking. They may also have mental and behavioral changes, sleep problems, depression, memory difficulties, and fatigue.” nia
The following victims who were exposed to the toxic water during the applicable time period can seek compensation:
- veteran service members,
- civilian contractors,
- Victims who worked at Camp Lejeune,
- The wife, child or family member of a veteran
- deceased victim who meets the qualifications while they were alive
What types of conditions does the Veterans Association associates with the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune?
The VA has listed 15 conditions and illnesses that they admit are associated with water exposure at theCamp Lejeune Marine base. The eight presumptive cancers and illnesses listed above are included in the list of 15 below.
- Bladder cancer
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Esophageal cancer
- ung cancer
- Breast cancer
- Female infertility
- Hepatic steatosis
- Kidney cancer
- Leukemia
- Miscarriage
- Multiple myeloma
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Renal toxicity
- Scleroderma
Does the 2022 camp Lejeune Justice lawsuit limit the types of harm you can file a lawsuit to the associated and presumptive conditions?
No.
What Health complications and illnesses are linked to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune?
- Adult leukemia
- Renal toxicity
- Angiosarcoma of the liver,
- Female infertility
- Aplastic anemia
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Miscarriage
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Parkinson’s disease
- acute myelogenous leukemia,
- Breast cancer
- soft tissue cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Hepatic steatosis
- Lung cancer
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Scleroderma
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Bladder cancer,
- Brain cancer,
- Cervix cancer,
- Rectum cancer,
- Colon cancer,
- Esophagus cancer,
- Larynx cancer,
- Liver cancer,
- oral cavity cancer,
- pancreas cancer,
- Prostate cancer,
- premature birth
What is the Camp Lejeune Benefit Coverage Area?
The Camp Lejeune benefit coverage areas include:
- Camp Lejeune Greater Sandy Run;
- Paradise Point;
- Stone Bay Rifle Range;
- Holcomb Boulevard;
- MC Air Station New River;
- Hadnot Point;
- Camp Geiger;
- Camp Johnson / Montford Point;
- Tarawa Terrace;
- Onslow Beach; and
- Camp Lejeune Military Reservation
What is the main reason the 2022 Camp Lejeune Justice act was passed into law?
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 precludes the U.S. from using the immunity defense in Camp Lejeune lawsuits when answering to polluted water claims asserted by victims and veterans who suffered serious harm from the Camp Lejeune water. The laws was passed to permit victim lawsuits for harm caused by the Camp Lejeune water.
Can veterans who were denied VA benefits still pursue a lawsuit?
Additionally, it’s important to cognizant that veterans who previously applied to the VA for benefits – are eligible to file a claim. Even veterans who had their claims denied – are eligible to pursue lawsuits pursuant to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. Even if you were awarded VA benefits in the past, it does not preclude you from filing a lawsuit. The legislation also expands the VA healthcare benefits and services that are available to the greater than 3 million veterans who were sadly exposed to toxic chemicals and hazardous materials during their military service. This legislation includes burn pits in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Can a victim’s family be compensated when their family member died decades ago?
The legal representative of a deceased victim who died many years ago or decades ago as a result of the contaminated water at Camp lejeune can receive compensation from a Cap Lejeune lawsuit by way of a wrongful death lawsuit. Obviously, the deceased toxic water victim must have lived or worked, at the Marine base for a minimum of 30 nonconsecutive days between August 1, 1953 to December 31, 1987.
Who can file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit for a deceased toxic water victim?
A personal representative of a victim who passed away can file a lawsuit. An executrix, executor or administrator of an estate may pursue a wrongful death claim for a Camp Lejeune victim who met all the eligibility guidelines while he or she was alive.
Does a victim’s death have to be caused by the toxic water to file a lawsuit?
Attorneys believe that the reason for a loved one’s death does not have to be caused by the Camp Lejeune water. In order for a victims’ family to pursue damages for their harm they endured as a result of the water while they were alive. In other words, a victim who had Kidney cancer caused by the toxic water but died in a car accident can get compensated in a Camp lejeune lawsuit.
Can a Camp Lejeune victim who was exposed to the camp Lejeune contaminated water in Utero get compensation?
A victim who endured in utero exposure to the hazardous water may pursue a Camp Lejeune lawsuit seeking damages. An unborn baby in a mother’s womb during the applicable time period set forth in the statute and the babies’ birth mother lived or worked at Camp Lejeune, may seek compensation for harm linked to the contaminated water
Can a toxic water victim who gets Veteran Administrative (VA) benefits file a claim for damages?
Yes. Even Veterans who are currently paid VA benefits as a result of the polluted water may pursue a Camp Lejeune lawsuit to get compensated as a result of the toxic water outrage at Camp Lejeune.
I was dishonorably discharged from the Marines, Can I file a claim to get a Camp Lejeune settlement amount?
No. The Camp Lejeune Justice act of 20222 precludes dishonorably discharged marines from filing a camp lejeune lawsuit. Anyone who was dishonorably discharged cannot file a toxic water lawsuit or receive a camp Lejeune settlement amount.
What Court will the Camp Lejeune contaminated water lawsuits be filed?
Pursuant to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, a camp Lejeune toxic water lawsuit must be filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
What type of chemicals were discovered in the contaminated water?
Many different chemical swere discovered in the water supply at Camp Lejeune. This was one of the worst water crises in United States history. Degreasers and a dry-cleaning Solvent were some of the most nefarious chemicals found in the water. Below is a list of some of the most hazardous chemicals that were in the Camp Lejeune water:
- Benzene
- Vinyl chloride
- Toluene
- Trichloroethylene
- Perchloroethylene
Attorney Helping Victims Harmed by Camp Lejeune Water in Rhode Island
The 2022 Camp Lejeune Justice act allow injured servicemembers and their families to file lawsuits. Similar to the sex abuse lawsuits against the Catholic Church, this law would allow a two-year time window for lawsuits, even if the statute of limitations has expired. The bill has been passed and signed into law by President Biden. Thousand of victims who were sickened and harmed by exposure to the contaminated water may now file a lawsuit.
Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit
According to the language of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, anyone who lived or worked at the base between 1953 and 1987 for at least 30 days and who was exposed to its contaminated water can file a claim against the U.S. government. In order to file a claim, you would need to have been diagnosed with some disease, cancer or harm that results from water toxicity. According to the terms of the bill, the government is not allowed to assert specific immunity in response to a claim. The United States Treasury has a Judgment Fund that is earmarked to pay claims against the United States Government. This would pay lawsuit settlements in these cases.
How Much Is My Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Worth?
It is difficult to say now what a Camp Lejeune water contamination settlement may pay. In other types of cancer lawsuits, a ballpark settlement amount may be over $200,000. However, these claims have not yet been settled. Parkinson’s lawsuit settlements may pay slightly less. Much depends on the situation of the person who was sickened and their family. The United States Government does not have limited resources to pay these settlements. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the total government expenditures on settlements will be $6.7 billion, but that is not a limitation.
If you or a loved one was sickened after being exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. You should contact an attorney to file your lawsuit against the federal government. Because of the way that the new law works, you have a limited amount of time to file your case.
How do you find the best Camp Lejeune Contaminated water lawsuit lawyer in the United States?
You need to evaluate numerous factors set forth below and find a high powered big time law firm. Avoid referrals from call centers and non lawyers. Over one million soldiers, personnel, family members, civilians and workers lived and / or worked at the Marine Base at Camp Lejeune. These people drank the water at the base. They used the water for cooking purposes. They bathed in the water. Years later, they found out that the water was toxic and contaminated. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and toxic chemicals such as Benzene were found in the Marine Base water supply. Those chemical were linked to severe medical problems, such as numerous types of cancers, birth defects, Parkinson’s disease, infertility, and kidney disease.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA), is incorporated with the Honoring Our PACT Act. This unique law was enacted when President Biden signed it on August 10, 2022. The CLJA’s requirements to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit; the victim must have:
• lived or worked at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between the dates of August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987,
• been exposed to contaminated water at the base
• Suffered harm such as cancer,
• Family members may file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of a family member who was exposed to the toxic water. The death need not be actually caused by the water as long as the deceased person suffered a harm from the water.
What to know about filing a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit
There’s a ton of information about Camp Lejeune lawsuits online. This information includes: how to find the best Camp Lejeune lawyer to represent you. Below you will find useful tips to find the best Camp Lejeune Contaminated water lawyer to represent you.
What factors to look at when retaining a Camp Lejeune lawsuit attorney
A Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit can get victims justice and compensation for the harm caused to them by the hazardous water. Victims can hold the United States accountable for the devastating harm caused by this outrage. The United States government did not disclose to victims the toxic water for many years despite knowledge of the contaminated water at the military base. The United States Government failed and refused to provide protection to soldiers and civilians who lived and worked at Camp Lejeune. The U.S. should have been aware of the extreme dangers of the reckless disposal of toxic chemicals as well as solvents and other pollutants. The United States did not properly take action when they received scientific information that toxins were discovered in the Camp Lejeune water.
It’s absolutely crucial that victims get their Camp Lejeune lawsuits filed as soon as possible. Victims of toxic water at the Marine Base have a two years window from the enactment of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 to file a lawsuit. It is crucial that victims hire the best Camp Lejeune lawyer in the United States to get the most compensation possible. Before retaining a Camp Lejeune law firm, there are numerous queries to ask your lawyer. There are numerous elements and factors to look into before retaining a top high powered law firm.
Free Consultation: The vast majority of Camp Lejeune lawyers provide free consultations. Utilize the free consultation that a lawyer provides to determine that you are comfortable and trust the attorney.
Write down numerous questions for the attorney and make sure that the lawyer answers the questions. Make sure that the law firm will properly communicate with you. Will you be updated and consulted with during the consultation process? Request from the lawyer, the type of information and documents you will be required to provide in order to establish a solid Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit.
Legal Fees: The Camp Lejeune lawyer should only be compensated if you are compensated. The Vast majority of Camp Lejeune lawyers typically take a percentage of any Camp Lejeune settlement amount or jury award. The retainer agreement should clearly set forth the percentage the law firm will be compensated.
Experience in Toxic tort lawsuits: There will be a massive influx of toxic water claims because the CLJA is now the law in the United States. The lawyers will have to establish that the toxins at the Marine base caused the victim’s cancer, illness or harm. The contaminated water lawyers will need to prove that the causal connection is “at least as likely as not” between the harm suffered by the victims and the cancer, medical condition or death. In order to do this properly, a victim must locate the best Camp Lejeune law firm who has experience litigating toxic tort cases in Federal Court.
All attorneys have certain areas of law that they concentrate in. This is normally referred to as the lawyer practice area. The attorney you retain to litigate a Camp Lejeune lawsuit must be experienced in contaminated water claims as well as wrongful death causes of action which relate to toxic exposure or contaminated water.
Camp Lejeune water lawsuits
Camp Lejeune contaminated water lawsuits require attorneys to be knowledgeable about the type of evidence that is required, including medical records and toxic tort expert witnesses. This testimony will back up the victims lawsuit allegations and make sure the victim is generously compensated. Water contamination causes of action and toxic water exposure are intricate and complex cases with hundreds of legal intricacies. The attorney going to battle for you in a Camp Lejeune water contamination claim should have a lot of experience litigating these types of claims. The lawyer and law firm should have multimillion dollar settlements or verdicts that demonstrate they are an elite litigation lawyer.
Trial experience is a major factor to look into when retaining a Camp Lejeune attorney. If the law firm is not known for multimillion dollar verdicts run for the hills. Many attorneys have never teed up a trial in front of a jury. Numerous attorneys have never litigated a complex tort claim in Federal Court .Your toxic tort lawsuit could end up in a jury trial with everything on the line. You need a big time high powered law firm with a history of multimillion dollar verdicts. If the matter is not settled to your satisfaction you need a top law firm with the confidence and experience to handle a claim in front of a jury.
One of the primary reasons to review the internet is you can see client reviews. You can review what other client experiences with the law firm have been. You can also look at individual lawyer reviews .
Camp Lejeune settlement
Timeline: There is only a two year window to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit. you need to make sure the lawyer you retain is ready to file a lawsuit forthwith.
Resources of the law firm: The law firm you retain must have deep pockets, very deep pockets to go head on with government lawyers. The law firm must retain top toxic water experts as well as medical experts if necessary.
Retainer agreement details: Ask the attorney you are interviewing to review the details of their fee agreement. The law firm should be very open to a meaningful discussion about their retainer agreement and answer all of your questions. The toxic water lawyers must be clear about the legal fees you will be responsible to pay. The best Camp Lejeune attorney will front all litigation costs and you do not pay unless you settle or win your case.
Compensation Amounts: A top lawyer will look at numerous factors to determine the Camp Lejeune water contamination settlement amounts you should request from the Government as a result of the polluted water.
Collecting Evidence For A Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit
Evidence is critically important for any lawsuit in Federal court. Gathering evidence is crucial for Camp Lejeune victims looking for top compensation.
Evidence for a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit may include:
- Medical and Surgical Records
- Medical billing records
- Military service documents such as a DD-214
- Evidence that establishes that you lived at Camp Lejeune or worked there such as pictures
- VA Benefit records
What is a DD-214?
“A Report of Separation is generally issued when a service member performs active duty or at least 90 consecutive days of active duty training. The Report of Separation contains information normally needed to verify military service for benefits, retirement, employment and membership in veterans’ organizations….The report of separation form issued in most recent years is the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. Before January 1, 1950, several similar forms were used by the military services, including the WD AGO 53, WD AGO 55, WD AGO 53-55, NAVPERS 553, NAVMC 78PD and the NAVCG 553.” Archives.gov
Seeking information about an ozempic lawsuit?