Maryland Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit Lawyer

From 1953 to 1985, the groundwater at Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina was highly contaminated with industrial chemicals. Several of these chemicals were found in concentrations as high as 240 to 3,400 times the levels deemed safe for human consumption.

Over the years, hundreds of thousands of individuals were exposed to the facility’s toxic water. From various cancers to infertility, many have since developed serious health consequences as a result. Further stoking public controversy, there have been a number of significant omissions and inaccuracies in government studies conducted at the site.

If you are among the thousands of individuals suffering from the long-term health consequences of exposure to the toxic waters at Camp Lejeune, you should consult with an attorney as soon as possible. A new law recently passed by Congress likely entitles you to compensation from the government.

Contact The Law Offices of Dr. Michael M. Wilson, M.D., J.D. & Associates today for a free consultation. As a doctor and physician, Dr. Wilson is uniquely qualified to handle your case. Read on to learn more about the contaminated water at Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and available routes to compensation.

How Did Camp Lejeune’s Groundwater Become Contaminated?

Established in 1942, Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune is a military training facility located in Jacksonville, North Carolina. For over three decades, the location was the site of massive groundwater contamination. The contamination originated at an off-site commercial dry cleaning facility, as well as leaking storage tanks and unsafe disposal practices within Camp Lejeune itself.

Camp Lejeune’s eight water treatment facilities pumped the toxic groundwater to supply the facility’s taps. Two of the eight treatment facilities were heavily affected by the contaminated groundwater. The treated tap water was piped to on-site housing, barracks, office buildings, schools, and recreational areas. Even an on-site hospital was impacted. The government estimates that upwards of one million individuals may have been exposed.

Since 1989, Camp Lejeune has been listed as a federal Superfund site. Cleanup is ongoing.

What Chemicals Were in the Contaminated Groundwater at Camp Lejeune?

In 1982, the Marine Corps discovered high levels of pollution in the tap water at Camp Lejeune. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) later identified multiple “volatile organic compounds” (VOCs) in the facility’s groundwater. The most highly concentrated chemicals were:

• Trichloroethylene (TCE) – Found in industrial solvents, grease removers, adhesives, paint removers, typewriter correction fluids, and spot removers.
• Perchloroethylene (PCE) – Used to dry clean fabrics, manufacture other chemicals, and degrease metal parts.
• Benzene – Found in coal- and petroleum-based products such as lubricants, plastics, rubbers, dyes, and other chemicals.
• Vinyl chloride – Used as a precursor to PVC, as well as in aerosol sprays and refrigerants.

What Health Conditions Can Result from Exposure to These Chemicals?

Individuals exposed to the concentration of chemicals found in the tap water at Camp Lejeune are at risk of developing many serious health consequences. Many of these consequences develop slowly over time. Eventually, they can be fatal. Among the long list of adverse health effects that may develop due to exposure to Camp Lejeune’s toxic tap water are:

• Bladder cancer
• Brain cancer
• Breast cancer
• Cardiac defects
• Cervical cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Infertility
• Kidney cancer
• Leukemia
• Liver cancer
• Lung cancer
• Miscarriage
• Multiple Myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Ovarian cancer
• Parkinson’s disease
• Renal toxicity
• Scleroderma

What is the Camp Lejeune Justice Act?

After years and years of activism by and on behalf of victims of the facility’s toxic water, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act was finally approved by Congress and signed into law in 2022. This new legislation removes many legal obstacles previously faced by individuals seeking compensation from the government for the negative health consequences caused by exposure to toxic tap water. Specifically, the law prohibits the federal government from claiming immunity to lawsuits seeking compensation.

Who May Bring a Lawsuit for Injuries Caused by Exposure to Camp Lejeune’s Toxic Tap Water?

Anyone “who resided, worked, or was otherwise exposed (including in utero exposure)” to Camp Lejeune’s toxic tap water may file a lawsuit pursuant to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. This includes service members, their family members, government employees and contractors, and anyone else who was exposed to the water.

However, to be eligible for compensation, exposed individuals must prove that a causal link exists between their illnesses and the contaminated water. Alternatively, they may also prove that a causal link “is at least as likely as not.” Further, only individuals exposed for 30 days or more between January 1, 1957, and December 31, 1987, are eligible.

What Compensation is Available from a Camp Lejeune Contaminated Groundwater Lawsuit Claim?

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the government will spend an estimated $6.1 billion compensating victims of Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water between 2022-2031. Eligible individuals may be compensated for:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning potential
• Permanent disfigurement and disability
• Pain and suffering
• Reduced quality of life
• Emotional distress
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Wrongful death

What is the Deadline for Filing a Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Lawsuit Claim?

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act was signed into law on August 10, 2022. The deadline for filing a claim is two years from that date. Alternatively, they may file their case within 180 days after their claim is denied by the appropriate federal agency.

The law provides the “exclusive remedy” available to victims of the facility’s toxic water. Therefore, failure to file your case before these deadlines will destroy your route to compensation through the court system. To avoid this, you should have your case reviewed by an attorney as soon as possible.

Contact a Maryland Camp Lejeune Contaminated Groundwater Lawyer Today

Countless individuals living and working at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina were unwittingly exposed to highly toxic tap water. Though the facility has been inoperative for over thirty years, victims continue to suffer the severe negative health consequences of handling and consuming the contaminated water.

If you were among the hundreds of thousands of individuals exposed to Camp Lejeune’s tap water and are now suffering health consequences as a result, you are likely entitled to compensation and should not hesitate to bring your case to an attorney. The Law Offices of Dr. Michael M. Wilson, M.D., J.D. & Associates is ready to handle your case. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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