Did you serve at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987? If so, you might be entitled to compensation related to exposure to contaminated water on site. If you have been diagnosed with adult leukemia, aplastic anemia, bladder or kidney cancer, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, or Parkinson’s disease, you might be able to take part in the Camp Lejeune lawsuit to seek compensation for your injuries.
Our skilled team has years of experience connecting clients to lawyers on Camp Lejeune-related cases to help you seek the compensation that you deserve for your injuries. The military has already acknowledged that the water at this location was contaminated over an extensive period of time. Why wait? Take the first steps toward joining the Camp Lejeune lawsuit today to secure the benefits you deserve related to the harm caused by this senseless tragedy.
Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
From the 1950s to the 1980s, those who lived at Camp Lejeune were exposed to contaminated drinking water laced with chemicals such as:
- Industrial solvents like trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Perchloroethylene (PCE) from dry cleaning waste
- Benzene from leaking underground fuel storage tanks on the base
- Vinyl chloride, a byproduct of TCE and PCE
Exposure to these chemicals via the Camp Lejeune water source caused a high number of former base residents and workers to develop serious health problems, including a variety of cancers.
Anyone who lived, worked, or served on the base during the period covered in the Camp Lejeune water lawsuit has a heightened potential to develop one of the various health issues named in the lawsuit. Veterans will receive additional benefits related to their ongoing healthcare needs when accessing care that is covered by their VA health insurance.
Qualifying health conditions include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Esophageal cancer
- Breast cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Renal toxicity
- Female infertility
- Scleroderma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Lung cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Leukemia
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Hepatic steatosis
- Miscarriage
- Birth Defects
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Other Health Conditions
If you have been diagnosed with any of these conditions and you lived, worked, or served on base in Camp Lejeune during the covered period, our team will help connect you to lawyers in our network already working on the Camp Lejeune lawsuit.
How Was The Camp Lejeune Water Source Contaminated?
Water contamination at Camp Lejeune primarily occurred from on-site sources. That means activities within the base caused most of the harmful contamination that led to serious health effects. In many cases, toxic chemicals like perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) were improperly disposed of, allowing them to leak into wells and water sources that supplied the base.
On-site contamination sources included:
- Underground storage tank leaks
- Industrial spills
- Chemical drum leaks at dumps and storage locations
- Unsecured storage pits
- Fire training areas
- Base dry cleaners
- Dumps and disposal areas
- Fuel tank sludge areas
Though most contamination was on-site, off-site contamination compounded the problem at Camp Lejeune. The main source of off-site contamination was a local dry cleaner called ABC One-Hour Cleaners, located just two miles from Camp Lejeune. Horrifyingly, staff members illegally disposed of PCE, a harmful solvent used in the company’s operations, by burying it outside and flushing it into the business’s septic tank. This caused the chemical to contaminate surrounding soil and groundwater, eventually leaking into wells that supplied water to Camp Lejeune residents.
How Did The Contamination Go Undetected?
Most of the dangerous water contamination at Camp Lejeune occurred between the 1950s and 1980s. Unfortunately, military bases were not legally required to conduct water testing for volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) like PCE and TCE until 1979. Further water testing for contaminants like benzene was not required until after 1989.
These lax requirements allowed the problem to go undetected for decades, leading to years of life-altering exposure for Camp Lejeune residents and workers. For many people, the harm had already been done by the time the contamination was officially discovered and addressed in the 1980s.
Even more disturbingly, critics allege that officials were alerted to possible contamination as early as the late 1970s but chose not to act. Contaminated wells remained in operation, and base residents were left in the dark about potential health risks. Some believe this alleged cover-up attempt was an effort to avoid legal and reputation problems—at the tragic expense of public health.
Camp Lejeune Water Contamination: A Survivor’s Story
Even before he was born at Camp Lejeune in 1968, Mike Partain was exposed to the base water’s toxic cocktail of chemicals while in the womb. As an infant, he consumed baby formula mixed with the seemingly innocuous liquid.
Partain struggled with relentless skin issues and other health problems as a child. Hailing from a Marine family, he had no reason to doubt the water’s safety or the military’s commitment to public health. He continued to drink, bathe in, and play in the Camp Lejeune water throughout his childhood.
At just 39 years old, Mike Partain received a shocking diagnosis after noticing a lump on his chest. He had breast cancer, exceedingly rare for a young male. More puzzling still, Partain carried no genetic markers that would increase his breast cancer risk. Everyone from his medical team to the local news was perplexed by how a young man developed this rare disease.
Shortly after his diagnosis, Partain became aware of the Camp Lejeune water crisis while watching a news special. “My knees buckled,” he recalled. “I grabbed the back of the couch and I sat there. I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is what happened.’”
Against the odds, Partain beat the disease and is now a breast cancer survivor. He continues to suffer from ongoing medical problems he believes were caused by years of exposure to VOCs, benzene, and other toxic chemicals in Camp Lejeune’s water.
Since learning of the contamination, Partain has become a staunch defender of those harmed by the military’s negligence. He’s helped spread awareness by identifying 83 other male breast cancer patients who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune. Partain frequently speaks and writes about the Camp Lejeune water contamination and has advocated for legislation that helps victims obtain justice for the tragedy.
How Do Class Action Lawsuits Work?
Class action lawsuits are legal proceedings where one or more plaintiffs present strong evidence of risk and harm against a larger group, company, or business. These types of cases statistically affect and include hundreds or thousands of people. When the lawsuit is completed, and a ruling has been made, all of those participating will be compensated for the health problems and other negative effects they have suffered and endured in relation to the case, like the Camp Lejeune water lawsuit.
While these cases can take years to complete, and payouts can take time to be received, being involved in a class action lawsuit can help force an entity to take action to make changes to prevent further damage to innocent people. Class action lawsuits are often the only way to compel corporations and other large businesses to take notice of the harm that they are causing consumers, employees, or other parties.
How Much Do I Have To Pay To Join The Lawsuit?
If you’re considering joining the Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit but have financial concerns, you’re not alone. Many qualified candidates put off joining a class action lawsuit for fear they won’t be able to afford legal representation.
Thankfully, lawyers in the OnlyClassActions network operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay a portion of your compensation only if you win your case. This makes it possible to retain top-quality legal counsel regardless of your economic situation, giving you the best chance at winning.
If you have other questions about fees and how they are paid, our team is happy to assist.
Helping Clients Seek Favorable Outcomes in the Camp Lejeune Lawsuit
We take pride in providing information for individuals seeking guidance regarding the Camp Lejeune lawsuit. We are familiar with the structure of this case, and we want to help you pursue the favorable outcome that you have been looking for related to your case.
Get in touch with us now and find out how you can start the process of seeking justice for your case. We’ll connect you with a lawyer in our network so you can explore your options.
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