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Camp Lejeune Justice Act: An Inside Look at How the PACT Act Will Help Veterans Exposed to Toxic Chemicals

Veterans and their families living and working on the base at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina were exposed to toxic chemicals in the water. Contaminated water has been associated with the development of several conditions. Our Camp Lejeune injury lawyer represents veterans and their families seeking compensation for damages. 

What is the Honoring Our PACT Act?

President Biden signed the Honoring Our PACT Act into law on August 10, 2022. The PACT Act provides veterans with medical care, counseling, and mental health services if they:

  • Participated in a toxic exposure activity
  • Served during specific dates in specific locations
  • Deployed in support of a specific contingency operation 

The PACT Act includes the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which specifically addresses exposure to toxic chemicals while at Camp Lejeune. In addition, the PACT Act provides additional benefits that veterans did not have if they were exposed to toxic substances at other locations in the United States and worldwide. 

What Is the Camp Lejeune Justice Act?

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act is included in the PACT Act. The bill specifically refers to individuals who developed adverse health conditions because of contaminated water at the base. 

Eligible individuals had to be at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or longer between August 1, 9953, and December 31, 1987. Individuals eligible to file a claim under this law include veterans, family members, civilian contractors, and other people exposed to the contaminated water on base during the specified dates.

Multiple toxic chemicals contaminated the water on the base during the 34-year period. Some of the volatile organic compounds found in the water supply include:

  • Benzene 
  • Tetrachloroethylene 
  • Vinyl chloride 
  • Trichloroethylene 

Individuals on base were exposed to the toxic chemicals by drinking, cooking, and bathing with the contaminated water. Unfortunately for the victims, very little was done to compensate them for damages, even though the military was aware of the contamination. In many cases, the contamination was covered up and information about the risks and dangers was withheld from victims.

An estimated one million people were exposed to the toxic chemicals in the water at Camp Lejeune. With the passage of the PACT Act and the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, victims and their families can take legal action against the military and the United States Government. Veterans and other victims harmed by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune can seek compensation for their medical bills, emotional harm, physical injuries, and other damages. 

Conditions Associated With the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination 

Several conditions have been associated with the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Those conditions include:

  • Kidney cancer
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Adult leukemia
  • Liver cancer
  • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
  • Aplastic anemia
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Other myelodysplastic syndromes
  • Bladder cancer

If you served at Camp Lejeune or worked on base and have developed any of the above conditions, contact a Camp Lejeune lawsuit attorney immediately. You could be entitled to compensation for damages caused by exposure to contaminated and toxic water at the base. 

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Colorado Toxic Torts Attorney 

Contact our toxic torts attorney about a Camp Lejeune water contamination claim. We will fight to get you the money you deserve. Get in touch with our office today for legal help, we offer a free consultation.