For decades, toxic substances leached into the drinking water at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in North Carolina, causing harm to servicemembers and residents. Now that the PACT Act has become law, veterans and families who developed cancers and other illnesses after toxic exposure can seek compensation for their injuries through a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit.
If you suffered an illness or lost a loved one due to the negligent conditions at Camp Lejeune, Wool Trial Law can help. Our legal team is investigating water contamination injury claims and working to protect affected servicemembers and their families. When you meet with us, you will work directly with an experienced mass tort attorney who will fight to help you recover just compensation. Contact our office today to learn how we can help. Our firm represents clients nationwide.
How Did Camp Lejeune’s Water Become Contaminated?
Service members, contractors, and military families were repeatedly exposed to toxic chemicals in the water supply from approximately 1953 to 1987. Two water treatment facilities – the Tawara Water Terrace Facility and Hadnot Point Facility – contaminated the water at the base.
The Tarawa facility began operating in 1952, and subsequent studies revealed contamination with perchloroethylene (PCE), an industrial solvent identified as a volatile organic compound and known carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency. The source was a nearby dry cleaning business that used PCE to clean fabrics. PCEs leached into adjacent groundwater, the water treatment facility, and distributed to Camp Lejeune.
Trichloroethylene (TCE) contaminated the Hadnot Point water well. TCE is a toxic substance that seeped into the water supply from waste disposal sites and damaged underground storage containers. Also, an oil spill at Hadnot Point Fuel Farm in 1979 dumped thousands of gallons of oil into the groundwater, contaminating the well and the drinking water at the base.
A recent CDC investigation identified PCE, TCE, and other harmful chemicals such as benzene and vinyl chloride, as the primary sources of contamination in water at Camp Lejeune used for drinking, bathing, and cooking. Toxic exposure began as early as 1953; however, the U.S. Navy hid this information from service members and residents.
Illnesses and Injuries Due to Toxic Exposure at Camp Lejeune
PCE, TCE, and other toxins are absorbed through the skin, ingestion, and inhalation. Once the body absorbs PCE, it disperses through the bloodstream, causing injuries to organs and the central nervous system, including bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and kidney failure.
TCE is a known carcinogen linked to leukemia, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, kidney disease, Parkison’s disease, and scleroderma. Exposure to PCE and TCE can cause other medical conditions, such as:
- Breast cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Rectal cancer
TCE can also be harmful to unborn babies, causing deformities and life-threatening medical conditions, including:
- Eye defects
- Low birth weight
- Neural tube defects (e.g. Spinal Bifida, anencephaly)
- Oral cleft defect
- Neurobehavioral performance deficit
- Miscarriage
- Fetal death
At Wool Trial Law, we are committed to helping victims of toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune obtain just compensation.
What Is the PACT Act?
On August 10, 2022, President Biden signed the “Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act” (PACT Act) into law. The law provides military veterans, civil servants, contractors, and their families with the necessary healthcare for exposure to toxins such as burn bits and contaminated water.
The PACT Act expands screenings, lab testing, and medical treatment for veterans exposed to toxic substances at the base. The law also codifies specific cancers and illnesses, removing barriers to receiving VA disability benefits. In addition, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act is incorporated into the law, allowing victims to file a civil lawsuit to recover damages for injuries and losses resulting from toxic exposure.
If you or a family member lived or worked at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, and have an illness or cancer, you may have grounds for a claim. At Wool Trial Law, we believe the U.S. Navy and the federal government must be held accountable for failing to prevent toxic exposure at the base and not warning victims of the danger.
How Our Firm Can Help
Given the potential number of victims, Camp Lejeune lawsuits will likely become a class action. So it is essential to work with our experienced mass tort attorney. By collaborating with medical and scientific experts, we will work to prove that your illness, or the death of a loved one, was caused by toxic exposure at the base. While it is too early to determine the range of settlements available to victims of toxic exposure, you may be entitled to significant compensation, including economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages will cover actual financial losses, including:
- Medical expenses – past and future
- Rehabilitative care
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning potential
Non-economic damages compensate you for intangible losses, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability/disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
If a family member has died from toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune, you may have a valid wrongful death claim. We will fight to help you recover damages such as final medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, and loss of companionship, guidance, and support.
Although the illnesses and injuries resulted from toxic exposure decades ago, the PACT Act will help service members and their families whose pleas to the federal government have gone unanswered until now. It is essential to consult an experienced mass tort attorney as soon as possible to determine if you are eligible to participate in a Camp Lejeune injury claim.
Contact Our Dedicated Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawyer
At Wool Trial Law, we have extensive experience handling mass torts and an impressive track record of success, having recovered millions of dollars for victims of toxic exposure. Once you become our client, we will fight to protect your rights and help you recover the maximum compensation for your injuries and losses. Contact our office today for a no-cost, confidential consultation.