Camp Lejeune is an Atlantic Coast U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp located in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Between the early 1950s and late 1980s, water at the base camp was contaminated, exposing many people to various health risks for decades. Did you work, serve, or live at Camp Lejeune for over 30 days from 1953 to 1987?
If you did, you might have unknowingly consumed polluted water and later developed particular illnesses that may make you eligible for disability benefits. This eligibility for disability claims also applies to veterans whose disability claims were already denied by The Veterans Administration.
On August 2nd, 2022, the U.S. Senate passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act that makes sufferers of the Camp Lejeune water contamination tragedy capable of submitting a claim and securing a settlement for the damages they have endured.
At Injured CT, our team of personal injury attorneys has launched an initiative to help service members, contractors, and their families who may have suffered health issues as a result of Camp Lejuene water contamination obtain justice and fair compensation.
What Are the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Claims?
Camp Lejeune was established in 1942, and since then, it has been a permanent and temporary residence for thousands of service members, contractors, and their families. In the 1980s, random environmental testing at the base camp’s water supply was dangerously polluted.
Chemicals from dry cleaning companies like ABC One-Hour Cleaner and the base’s water treatment facilities, such as Hadnot Point and Tarawa Terrace water treatment plants, contaminated the water.
The contamination exposed residents of Camp Lejeune to over 3,000 times the Agency for Toxic Substances, and Disease Registry (ATSDR) recommended water safety limits for such chemicals. If you or a family member developed cancer or other chronic ailments years after living in Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, you can file a claim now and obtain reimbursement.
For a free legal consultation with a water contamination at camp lejeune lawyer serving Connecticut, call (855)-285-3425
What did They Find in the Water Contamination Testing at Camp Lejeune?
According to the ATSDR, there were more than 70 toxic chemicals in the base camp’s water supply. Some of these toxic chemicals are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which are ingredients in dry-cleaning solvents and degreasers.
Although the water supply contamination was first discovered in 1982, it took more than three years for the water supply at Camp Lejeune to be shut down. All documents relating to the incident were “buried.”
Not long ago, Jerry Ensminger, a retired Marine master sergeant, uncovered the buried documents and brought the Camp Lejeune water contamination problem to light. Jerry lost his nine-year-old daughter to cancer in 1985 after living in the camp with his family for several years.
Until 2012, The Veteran Administration had, for roughly two decades, denied illness and disability claims linked to water contamination at this base camp.
Connecticut Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune Lawyer Near Me (855)-285-3425
What Are the Causes of the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination?
Some of the toxic chemicals discovered in the base camp’s water supply linked to health problems included:
Trichloroethylene (TCE) and Perchloroethylene (PCE)
TCE is a primary chemical ingredient in the manufacture of hydrofluorocarbons and is commonly used as a solvent and degreaser on metal equipment.
The Hadnot Point was immensely polluted with PCE. Numerous studies have concluded that TCE and PCE increase the chances of developing various cancers, like kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, and cervical cancer. These toxic chemicals have also been linked to Hodgkin’s disease and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Benzene
Benzene is a well-known carcinogenic found in most strong cleaning products. Extended exposure to this chemical can result in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and myeloid leukemia. Benzene is also known to compromise the body’s immune system, opening a doorway for other ailments to attack more easily.
Vinyl Chloride
Vinyl chloride is highly carcinogenic and is a by-product of burning plastics like PVC pipes. This toxic chemical can cause various cancers, including angiosarcoma, colon, and testicular cancer. Extended exposure to vinyl chloride also amplifies the possibility of developing liver or lung cancer.
Toluene
Several studies have established that exposure to toluene can increase the likelihood of developing lung, breast, stomach, esophagus, and rectum cancer. Toluene exposure also increases the risk of developing Hodgkin’s lymphoma, lymphatic leukemia, and lymphosarcoma.
Other Contaminants
Other highly toxic contaminants observed in the water supply of Camp Lejuene are mercury and other heavy metals, pesticides, and diverse polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
If there are no studies linking your cancer to the contaminants listed, there may still be other ways to establish a connection. Reach out to our law firm for a free consultation so that our legal team can assess whether you have a valid case and help you file a Connecticut Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit.
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What Are the Side-Effects of the Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune?
A notable number of service members and their families who were at Camp Lejeune have been diagnosed with at least one severe health condition. The chemical contaminants found in Camp Lejeune water are the primary cause of these health conditions.
Reach out to us at Aeton Law to help you seek justice and your merited compensation if you have been diagnosed with one or more of the following health conditions:
- Esophageal cancer
- Lung cancer
- Breast cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Female infertility
- Renal toxicity
- Miscarriage
- Multiple myeloma
- Scleroderma
- Leukemia
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Myelodysplastic syndrome
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Hepatic steatosis
It can be costly or nearly impossible to recover from most of these health conditions. If your family members have to take care of you because you are sick from one more of these health conditions, the Camp Lejeune tragedy also affects them and their aspirations.
If you get your rightful compensation from The Veteran Administration, its likely things will get better for you and your family members. This is why we highly encourage you to hire one of our skilled water contamination lawyers in Connecticut to be in charge of your case.
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What Is the Janey Ensminger Act, and How Can It Help the Suffering Caused By the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination?
Soon after Jerry Ensminger blew the whistle on the Camp Lejeune water contamination tragedy, he started advocating for medical care and benefits for veterans and their families.
His efforts were successful as both the U.S. government and Marine top brass took action to offer healthcare benefits to victims of the horrible effects of the Camp Lejeune water contamination, including Jerry Ensminger.
Although it took numerous petitions, Jerry’s endless petitions led the U.S. Senate to pass the Janey Ensminger Act on July 18th, 2012. The House approved the bill barely two weeks later, and President Obama signed it on August 6th, 2012. The bill was named in honor of Jerry and his deceased daughter, Janey Ensminger.
What Is the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022?
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 is a bipartisan bill designed to help Camp Lejeune water contamination victims get compensation. The bill was co-sponsored by five Democrats and four Republicans and has evolved into the Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022.
This bill grants veterans and their families who lived at Camp Lejeune the right to seek compensation for injuries and damages they sustained due to exposure to chemical substances.
The act overrides all existing statutes of limitations for reimbursement placed on such cases. Veterans and their families now have a new deadline within which they can submit a lawsuit against the Camp Lejeune military base camp. Our esteemed water contamination attorneys can file your claim flawlessly before the new two-year deadline expires.
Who Can File for the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit?
Certain conditions and illnesses relating to the Camp Lejeune water contamination fall under the “presumptive service connection” in The Janey Ensminger Act. This implies that you aren’t required to prove that your condition was directly caused by exposure to toxins.
You only need to show that you stayed at Camp Lejeune for over 30 days and developed a health condition to be eligible to file a water contamination compensation lawsuit in Connecticut.
All people who lived at the base camp between 1953 and 1987, including children who were still in their mother’s womb, are eligible for medical care, hospital services, and nursing home care through The Veteran Administration.
These healthcare services cover any illnesses or conditions that may have resulted from exposure to contaminants. If you are unsure if you qualify for a Connecticut Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit, don’t hesitate to contact us for a free case evaluation.
Get a Reputable Water Contamination Lawyer for Your Camp Lejeune Lawsuit
Suppose you are suffering from ailments or conditions linked to the water contamination tragedy at Camp Lejeune. In this case, a competent water contamination lawyer can help ensure you access the medical care and disability benefits you are entitled to.
The experienced attorneys at Injured CT are ready to assist you through every step of your water contamination lawsuit, including any necessary appeals. Our lawyers will likely win you the maximum water contamination benefits possible for your claim case.
Call us to learn more about our legal assistance for your Connecticut Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit.
Call or text (855)-285-3425 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form