Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corp base camp located in Jacksonville, North Carolina, had contaminated water for over 30 years. Far too many people were negligently exposed to the contaminated water at the camp. The exposure to toxic chemicals in Camp Lejeune’s water resulted in innocent people developing a number of health conditions, including cancer.
If you or a loved one developed cancer after being exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you could have grounds to file a lawsuit against the government. If you are interested in learning more about the legal options available to you, do not hesitate to reach out to the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible. Here at the Normandie Law Firm, our lawyers have the experience necessary to handle your claim and help you recover the settlement that you are owed.
If you are ready to explore the legal options available to you for the harm that you or a loved one suffered, contact us today.
The Most Common Types of Cancers
According to the National Cancer Institute, the most common types of cancers as of 2020 are the following: breast cancer; lung cancer and bronchus cancer; colon cancer and rectum cancer; melanoma of the skin; bladder cancer; non-Hodgkin lymphoma; kidney cancer and renal pelvis cancer; endometrial cancer; leukemia; pancreatic cancer; thyroid cancer; liver cancer. In men, specifically, prostate cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer account for approximately 43% of all new cancer cases. For women, on the other hand, breast cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer account for about 50% of all new cancer cases. In addition, according to statistics, an estimated 39.5% of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. Without a doubt, cancer is common; however, exposures to carcinogens and dangerous chemicals can significantly increase the risk of developing cancer.
The Cancers Resulting from the Exposure to Toxic Chemicals at Camp Lejeune
The most common types of cancer associated with Camp Lejeune water contamination include the following:
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Leukemia
- Liver cancer
- Lung cancer
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
In addition to these cancers, those exposed to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune developed other medical conditions, including aplastic anemia, female infertility, hepatic steatosis, miscarriage, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes, neurobehavioral effects, Parkinson’s, renal toxicity, and scleroderma.
If you or your loved one developed any of the cancers listed above or any other medical condition as a direct result of exposure to toxic water, then you could have grounds to file a lawsuit. For more information about your legal options, contact the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible.
Your Right to Sue based on the PACT Act
From 1953 to 1987, the water at Camp Lejeune was highly contaminated with dangerous chemicals, including Tetrachloroethylene (PCE or PERC), Trichloroethylene (TCE), Vinyl Chloride, and Benzene. These toxins came from different sources: from a nearby drycleaning business, improperly disposed industrial waste, and leaking fuel tanks, for instance. During this time frame, over a million Marines, other military service members, contractors, non-military staff, civilians, and entire families were exposed to the toxic water. Perhaps the worst part of all of this is that military leadership at Camp Lejeune was aware of the presence of toxic chemicals in the water but failed to do anything to address the situation.
Today, a new law has been passed that gives veterans, their families, and others who worked and lived at the base the right to file a lawsuit. In early August 2022, the Senate voted to pass the Camp Lejeune Justice Act as part of the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. The legislation would allow those who suffered injuries and developed medical conditions (as well as the family members of those who died as a result of these medical conditions) to file a lawsuit against the government. The bill was signed into law on August 10, 2022.
The PACT Act gives affected parties the right to sue and recover damages for medical costs, disability benefits, lost pay, pain and suffering, as well as cost of mental health services and counseling, for instance.
The PACT Act creates a two-year window from the date that the law was signed for those affected to file their lawsuit with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina and seek compensation.
Based on the PACT Act, those who were stationed at, lived at, or worked at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 for at least 30 days could be eligible to file a lawsuit. Of course, this applies to veterans, civilians that lived/worked on the base, other non-military staff, contractors, pregnant women, and the family of the deceased.
Affected parties that were dishonorably discharged as well as their family are not eligible to file a lawsuit under the PACT Act.
How to Prepare to File a Lawsuit
If you are thinking about filing a lawsuit, there are a number of things that you should do to prepare. First, you must ensure that you are eligible to file a lawsuit. As explained above, only those who were stationed, lived, or worked at the base for at least 30 days between 1953 and 1987 are eligible to file a lawsuit. To prove that you or a loved one meet these eligibility requirements, you might have to gather some documents, like military records, military papers, military identifications, work contracts, contract renewals, etc.
After proving that you or your loved one in fact meet the requirements of having lived at or worked at the base for at least 30 days, you will need to prove that you or your loved one developed cancer or any of the other medical conditions after being exposed to the contaminated water. Some supporting documents could include medical records and health insurance records, for example.
Of course, one of the most important steps in preparing to file a lawsuit is finding a lawyer that can handle your case. Here at our law firm, our lawyers are more than ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to file your Cancer Camp Lejeune lawsuit. If you are ready to speak with our lawyers, contact us today.
Can I Participate in a Class Action Lawsuit?
Yes – you can participate in a class action lawsuit. Considering that the water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated for over three decades and resulted in millions being exposed to dangerous chemicals, class action lawsuits are very likely. If you are interested in participating in a class action lawsuit, it is essential that you seek legal assistance as soon as possible. Your lawyer can help you take the necessary steps to participate in a Camp Lejeune class action lawsuit.
What cancers fall under the class action lawsuit? Can I be added to the lawsuit if I have breast cancer, lung cancer, bronchus cancer, colon cancer, rectum cancer, melanoma, bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, kidney cancer, renal cancer, endometrial cancer, leukemia, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, liver cancer, or any other type of cancer? Do these types of cancers fall under the claims process? Yes – all of these cancers fall under the medical conditions that were caused by exposure to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune. For more information about participating in a class action lawsuit, contact the experts at our law firm today.
Your Right to Recover Compensation
If you file a lawsuit, you could be entitled to compensation. The compensation that you could recover could include the following:
- Medical costs
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive damages
- Legal costs
Here at our firm, our lawyers are ready to handle your claim effectively and secure the settlement that you are owed. Our lawyers will fight until you recover the highest payout available for your cancer diagnosis Camp Lejeune lawsuit.
What is the average value of these cases? Typically, these cases tend to be high value. You can expect to be able to recover anywhere from $150,000 to $750,000. Some cases can reach and sometimes surpass the $1 million value.
How long do these cases take to settle? These cases can take anywhere from a few months to two years or more to settle. Here at our law firm, our experts are dedicated to settling these cases as soon as possible; in general, we aim to settle all the cases we handle within 6 to 8 months. Unfortunately, this is not always possible. Have you already started your case, but the process is taking too long? If so, you might be interested in a free second opinion. Sometimes, the lawyer handling the claim is what is keeping the case from settling – so switching lawyers is enough to get a settlement sooner.
The Statute of Limitations
How long do you have to file a lawsuit for a cancer diagnosis stemming from exposure to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune? Although government claims are normally subject to a deadline of just a few months, the PACT Act creates a two-year window for claimants to file their lawsuits. More specifically, the law created a two-year window from the date that the law was signed into law. This means that claimants have until August 2024 to file their lawsuits.
Remember, if you do not file your lawsuit on time, you could lose your right to sue, so it is essential that you seek legal assistance as soon as possible.
Contact the Normandie Law Firm Today
Are you unsure of whether you could file a lawsuit or participate in a class action lawsuit for the cancer that you or a loved one developed after being exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune? If so, do not hesitate to reach out to the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible. Our lawyers are more than ready to provide you with the guidance that you need. Our lawyers are experienced in these types of cases and are ready to fight for your rights every step of the way.
Here at our law firm, we offer free legal services. These free legal services include free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our lawyers will be available to answer all of your questions, address all your concerns, and provide you with all the information that you need to begin or continue your claim. If you would like to benefit from our free legal services, contact us at your earliest convenience.
We offer a Zero-Fee guarantee; therefore, our clients will never be required to pay any upfront legal fees for any of our legal services. Additionally, because we work on contingency, our clients will actually not be responsible for paying any legal costs until after winning their claims. If you do not win, you will not be required to pay anything.
To speak with our lawyers about your right to file your lawsuit after developing cancer due to exposure to contaminated water, contact the experts at our law firm today.
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