Camp Lejeune is a Marine Corps base located in Jacksonville, North Carolina. It is one of the largest military training facilities in the United States. Unfortunately, many military members and their families who have lived and worked at the base camp were exposed to drinking water contaminated with various toxic chemicals, including trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), which are known carcinogens.

Research indicates that the water at the base was unsafe to drink from 1953 through 1987. The water carried toxins that cause deadly cancers, Parkinson's disease, and other conditions. 

On June 16, 2022, the United States Senate passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which was signed into law by the Biden Administration in August 2022 as part of the Honoring Our PACT Act. This allows military members and their families harmed by the contaminated water to pursue compensation through administrative claims – and ultimately, lawsuits. The 2022 Camp Lejeune Justice Act is intended to cover all types of compensatory damages, including permanent injury, emotional losses, disability, and wrongful death.

Who is Eligible to File a Camp Lejeune lawsuit?

Under the law, anyone who “resided, worked, or was otherwise exposed” to Camp Lejeune drinking water for 30 days or more between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, may be eligible to file a damages claim. This group includes: 

• Military veterans who served at Camp Lejeune during the aforementioned period 

• Family members of veterans who live on the base

• Civilians workers who lived or worked on the base 

Qualifying Injuries Caused by Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune

A wide range of illnesses is covered under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. Here is a non-exhaustive list of conditions that may currently be accepted:

• Aplastic anemia 

• Birth defects

• Hepatic steatosis 

• Various types of cancer (adult leukemia, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, and liver cancer)

• Heart disease

• Myelodysplastic syndromes 

• Parkinson’s disease

• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

• Renal toxicity 

• Scleroderma 

• Additionally, pregnant women who lived on the base or visited frequently were at greater risk for miscarriage or stillbirth. Others had problems with female infertility.

Get Help From a Camp Lejeune Justice Act Attorney in Columbia, SC

Individuals have two years from August 10, 2022 – the date the legislation was enacted – to join the Camp Lejeune lawsuit. If you or someone you love were stationed at Camp Lejeune between 1957 and 1987, it’s essential to understand your legal rights and options. 

The Camp Lejeune attorneys at HHP Law Group are legal advocates fighting for the rights of military service members and their families harmed while working and living at the base camp. We work to ensure you get the medical care you need and the compensation to which you are entitled. To determine if you are eligible for filing a claim, contact us to schedule a free consultation.