The Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which was passed as a part of the Keeping Our Pact Act and signed into law by President Joe Biden in August of 2022, provides a two-year window for those affected by water contamination at Camp Lejeune to file a claim. While a successful settlement can provide much-needed compensation to victims, the claims process can be complex. For that reason, anyone who experienced adverse health effects as a result of their service at Camp Lejeune should consult with an attorney before filing a claim.
What happened at Camp Lejeune?
Between 1953 and 1985, two of the wells that supplied drinking water to Camp Lejeune Marines Air Corps Base in North Carolina were contaminated with toxic chemicals. Those chemicals include trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), vinyl chloride, and others which have been linked to serious disease.
According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the most common effects of consuming the affected water include an increased risk of cancer (kidney, multiple myeloma, leukemias, and others), adverse birth outcomes, and others. Those who served at Camp Lejeune or lived on base may have developed these conditions as a result of consuming the water.
Who can file a claim?
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act provides a process to compensate for anyone who lived on base (including service members, contractors, and their families) or worked at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1953 and December 1987 and who developed any one of the following presumptive conditions:
- Adult and pediatric leukemia
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Parkinson’s disease
- Miscarriages
Other diseases may also be considered. The Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 included several additional qualifying conditions, including:
- Esophageal cancer
- Breast cancer
- Renal toxicity
- Female infertility
- Scleroderma
- Lung cancer
- Hepatic steatosis
What is the claims process?
Every claim made under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act is essentially a personal injury lawsuit. Showing that you meet the eligibility requirements isn’t enough to ensure you’ll receive compensation. You’ll also have to prove that the government acted negligently in its treatment of the wells.
You’ll need to provide records showing that you lived or worked on the base for at least 30 days and that you’ve developed one of the presumptive conditions. Your attorney will then need to prepare and file the lawsuit. Because the Act provides a specific window you’ll need to file your claim before August 2024.
As with any lawsuit, the settlement process may take months or even years to complete, especially with many claims being filed. More experienced attorneys are likely to file more complete and effective suits, which can reduce the time it takes to resolve the case.
What should I do next?
If you qualify for compensation under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act’s requirements, your first step should be to hire an attorney to work with you on your claim.