Camp Lejeune Claims & Lawsuits

Camp Lejeune Claims & Lawsuits video

Between 1953 and 1987, military personnel who were stationed at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, were heavily exposed to numerous hazardous chemicals, such as vinyl chloride, PFAS, and benzene. The family members who lived with them on the military base also experienced toxic exposure. According to the VA, up to 1 million servicemen and women, as well as family members, were exposed to harmful substances over a period of 30 years. Today, Camp Lejeune toxic exposure victims can file injury claims and VA claims to obtain financial compensation and VA benefits for their unjust suffering. However, to be able to file a Camp Lejeune toxic water claim or lawsuit, they must have spent at least 30 consecutive days on the military base between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. There are other eligibility criteria, which is why we invite you to keep reading and contact us if you have any questions.

Claim Application

Eligibility to file a claim or lawsuit as a Camp Lejeune toxic exposure victim

PFAS contamination at Camp Lejeune

One of the most severely contaminated sites at Camp Lejeune was the Tarawa Terrace military housing area, where toxic chemicals improperly disposed of by ABC One-Hour Cleaners, a dry-cleaning firm, were lurking.

Furthermore, Hadnot Point was contaminated with dangerous chemicals from multiple sources, such as leaking underground storage tanks, industrial area spills, and leakage from a toxic waste dump.

According to researchers, the level of toxic chemicals polluting the environment of Camp Lejeune was between 240 and 3,400 times higher than the safe limit. Over one million military personnel and their family members were stationed at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, numerous of whom came to struggle with terrible health problems as a result of toxic exposure. Below are the eligibility criteria for veterans and the family members stationed with them at this military base.

We encourage veterans, reservists, and guardsmen who have been stationed at Camp Lejeune and developed a disease to contact our attorneys.

They will help file an injury claim and a VA claim so that you can receive the maximum financial compensation you are entitled to, as well as VA benefits.

However, to qualify for filing a Camp Lejeune toxic water claim or a Camp Lejeune lawsuit, you must meet the following eligibility criteria as a former military member:

  • you must have been stationed at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987
  • you must have spent at least 30 consecutive days at Camp Lejeune during that period
  • you must have one of the diagnoses on this page or one of the presumptive diagnoses below
  • you must retrieve your military records and your medical records, which will serve as evidence
  • you must not have received a dishonorable discharge from the military

At the moment, roughly 38,769 family members of military personnel live at Camp Lejeune. We know that money cannot offer a cure for the serious, often life-threatening health problems these people came to struggle with as a result of toxic exposure. Still, we advise family members to take legal action, too, as the financial compensation they can receive will make access to quality healthcare and treatment significantly easier. These are the eligibility criteria they must meet to file a Camp Lejeune toxic water claim or a VA claim:

  • you must have been stationed at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987
  • you must have spent at least 30 consecutive days at Camp Lejeune during that period
  • you must have one of the diagnoses on this page or one of the presumptive diagnoses below
  • you must retrieve your medical records, which must clearly explain the link between your diagnosis and toxic exposure
  • you must provide us with proof of having lived at Camp Lejeune, such as utility bills, base housing records, military orders, or tax forms
  • you must send our attorneys a document proving your relationship to the veteran whom you were stationed with, such as a marriage license, birth certificate, or adoption papers

These are the dangerous chemicals that were present at Camp Lejeune during the last century:

  • trichloroethylene (TCE)
  • perchloroethylene (PCE)
  • vinyl chloride
  • benzene
  • halogenated hydrocarbons
  • trihalomethanes
  • PFOA
  • PFOS
Camp Lejeune presumptive conditions

These are the presumptive diagnoses for which you can file a claim:

Diseases you can develop following toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune & estimated treatment costs

Camp Lejeune fatal disease risk

Because the chemicals at Camp Lejeune are highly toxic to the human body, people who were exposed are now at great risk of developing a serious, even fatal disease as a result of exposure.

If you notice a new onset of symptoms and were stationed at Camp Lejeune as a soldier or as a family member, please seek medical attention immediately, as you may have already developed a disease.

The following are the diseases and health issues associated with exposure to the toxic agents present at Camp Lejeune. Keep in mind that these are estimated costs, and thereby, you may have to pay more or less, depending on factors such as the severity of your disease. The list contains the presumptive diagnoses and other possible afflictions as well:

When it comes to cancer, misdiagnosis is very common, as the symptoms of the disease often resemble the signs of more common and less serious health problems. For this reason, we strongly advise you to seek a second opinion from a medical specialist, as you may have received a wrong diagnosis. Not only will a correct diagnosis qualify you for recovering compensation by filing a Camp Lejeune toxic water claim or lawsuit, but it will also help you receive timely and appropriate treatment for your health problem.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021

The bill known as the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021 was proposed by Congressman Matt Cartwright on March 26, 2021, to "provide for recovery by individuals who were stationed, lived, or worked at Camp Lejeune, for certain actions of omissions by the United States." On August 11, 2022, it was signed into law by President Joe Biden, allowing everyone who spent time at the military base between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, for at least 30 consecutive days to obtain financial compensation from the government. By virtue of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, veterans and civilians can now file a claim in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina to obtain adequate relief for harm which:

  • was caused by exposure to the water;
  • was associated with exposure to the water;
  • was linked to exposure to the water; or
  • exposure to the water increased the likelihood of harm.

Furthermore, the new law prevents the U.S. from asserting immunity from any lawsuit filed by people who lived at Camp Lejeune and have one of the qualifying diagnoses. It is also important to note that punitive damages cannot be awarded under this law and that veterans can seek compensation both from the VA and from the government. According to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, the statute of limitations to file a claim is 2 years from the moment the individual received their diagnosis. Finally, the bill prohibits a person who files a claim under it from bringing a separate tort action against the United States based on the same harm. Shortly after it became effective, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021 became part of the Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022.

Testimonials of people who developed serious diseases as a consequence of staying at Camp Lejeune

Since over 1 million people and their family members were exposed to the toxic agents present at Camp Lejeune over a period of 30 years, numerous of these individuals sought financial compensation for the awful, even life-threatening diseases they came to struggle with, including from our law firm. The following are only some of the cases our skillful attorneys have pursued so far to recover fair compensation for veterans and their family members.

The woman, a mother of two, came to struggle with leukemia for 2 years while staying at Camp Lejeune with her husband, who was in the U.S. Marine Corps at the time. She is 46, and, after experiencing a series of distressing symptoms, including fever, severe weight loss, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes, she sought medical attention. After several weeks, she received her leukemia diagnosis, which was stage 3. "We had no idea that the site was contaminated, and everyone who was staying with us was exposed. I would have never imagined what this will turn into for me and my family.", she says.

After spending 8 months at Camp Lejeune in 1964, William Smith, age 67, developed kidney cancer, which was very advanced when he was diagnosed. "Nobody warned us about the chemicals; we were clueless", he recalls. The man decided to take legal action to recover the compensation he was entitled to for his awful diagnosis, and our attorneys recovered a substantial sum of money on his behalf. Unfortunately, because his disease is so advanced, surgery is not a viable treatment option for William Smith, who is currently receiving palliative care.

As a veteran who served in the U.S. Marine Corps between 1954 and 1968, Thomas Ramirez was stationed at Camp Lejeune for 4 years. Today, he is struggling with lung cancer as a result of exposure to toxic agents. "Somehow, the chemicals reached my lungs, and now I have stage 2 lung cancer. The only good thing about this situation is that my disease was found just in time for me to undergo surgery", he says. Thomas Ramirez decided to take legal action with the help of our skillful attorneys, and now he has enough money to afford to pay his medical expenses.

Richard Blackstone was stationed at Camp Lejeune between 1966 and 1983. Like the majority of people, he also was exposed to chemicals during his stay at the military base, which resulted in liver cancer, a terrible diagnosis with which he is still struggling today. Unfortunately, his disease was discovered in advanced stages, and thereby, medical professionals can only administer him chemotherapy to ease his symptoms, and he is also receiving palliative care. "By the time we found out it was too late for us. I’ve been on base for 17 years, which definitely took a heavy toll on my health", he recalls. Our attorneys also helped him recover the financial compensation he was eligible for, which is a great help with regard to the cost of his healthcare and treatment costs.

As a wife of a U.S. Marine Corps soldier, Michelle Levine developed stage 3 bladder cancer after toxic exposure from Camp Lejeune for 2 years. While her disease was very advanced, she was still eligible for surgery, which gives her hope that her cancer will eventually go into remission. "Nobody knew... I personally know three other people whom I met at Camp Lejeune and who were also diagnosed with cancer", she remembers. Soon after finding out about her disease, she contacted our law firm in the hope of recovering compensation for her diagnosis, as Michelle Levine was struggling financially before receiving the awful news. We were able to provide her with the legal assistance she needed, and now she has enough money to help her with the cost of her cancer treatment.

Today, Benjamin Thompson is a veteran who was also stationed at Camp Lejeune between 1959 and 1962. He was not aware of the dangerous chemicals present in it, and as a consequence, he developed esophageal cancer. "We didn’t know back then. Not in my worst nightmares would I have thought that I will receive such a serious diagnosis. My cancer was only stage 2 when it was found, which made me eligible for surgery, fortunately", he says. Because he needed more money to afford to pay for his medical expenses, Benjamin Thompson decided to reach out to our law firm, which helped him recover the compensation he was entitled to from Camp Lejeune.

As the son of a U.S. Marine Corps soldier, Nicholas Wilson came to develop lymphoma as a consequence of toxic chemical exposure while he and his family were staying at Camp Lejeune between 1958 and 1960. Unfortunately, his disease was very advanced when it was discovered by medical professionals, but he is still eligible for receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the hope of shrinking his tumors. "I was only 12 when my family went to Camp Lejeune by virtue of my father’s occupation. I had no idea and nor did the others that the area was contaminated with over 70 chemicals", he recalls. Because he needed more money for his cancer treatment, he took legal action, and our experienced attorneys helped him receive the compensation he was eligible for.

Updates & timeline for Camp Lejeune

In the unfortunate event that you came to struggle with a disease as a result of toxic exposure from Camp Lejeune, our attorneys are here to help you recover the financial compensation you deserve. With over three decades of experience in pursuing toxic exposure cases, we are ready to file a Camp Lejeune toxic water claim or lawsuit and a VA claim on your behalf if you are a victim of toxic exposure or have a family member who is. The only documents we will need from you are your military records, which you must retrieve and which must state that you were present for at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune, and your medical records. If you are too sick to partake in the process, a family member can step in and help you with the necessary paperwork, a process that will take less than one hour to complete.