Camp Lejeune is a Marine Corp base camp located in Jacksonville, North Carolina. The base has operated since the early 1940s. Between 1953 and 1987, the water supply at the base camp was highly contaminated. Over the years, many of the people living and working at the military base developed health conditions and died as a direct result of being exposed to the contaminated water supply.
Did a member of your family die after being exposed to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune? If so, you could have grounds to file a lawsuit. Here at the Normandie Law Firm, our wrongful death lawyers are ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to understand your right to sue and start the legal process. If you are ready to speak with our lawyers, contact us today.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act as Part of the PACT Act – Gives Families the Right to Sue for the Death of their Loved Ones
On August 2, 2022, the Senate passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act as part of The Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. This would allow all those who sustained harm, developed medical conditions, and the family of those who died after exposure to the contaminated water supply at the Marine Corps base camp the right to file a lawsuit. The bill was signed into law by President Biden just a few days later on August 10, 2022. This new law creates a two-year window from the date that the bill was signed into law for those affected by the contaminated water to file a lawsuit and recover damages.
In summary, because of this new law, all parties affected by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune have grounds to file lawsuits.
A Summary of Camp Lejeune’s Water Contamination
Between 1953 and 1987, over one million Marines, military service members, contractors, civilians, and their families worked and lived on the camp and were exposed to water contaminated with dangerous chemicals. The water supply at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with the following toxic chemicals:
- Tetrachloroethylene (PCE or PERC)
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Vinyl Chloride
- Benzene
These contaminants came from leaking fuel tanks, improperly disposed industrial waste, and even a nearby business. Reportedly, military leadership was aware of the problem but failed to take any action. They were aware of the danger that the contaminated water was presenting to all those on the base but ignored it.
Some of the health conditions that affected parties developed after being exposed to contaminated water on the camp include the following: aplastic anemia (and other related syndromes); bladder cancer; breast cancer; esophageal cancer; female infertility; hepatic steatosis; kidney cancer; leukemia; liver cancer; lung cancer; miscarriage; multiple myeloma; myelodysplastic syndromes; neurobehavioral effects; non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma; Parkinson’s disease; renal toxicity; scleroderma.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of different cancers listed above that ultimately resulted in the death of innocent people.
Can I File a Wrongful Death Claim?
After learning of the new law, you might find yourself wondering whether you could sue for the death of a loved one. You might have some of the following questions:
- Can I sue on behalf of a family member who passed away from cancer due to water contamination at Camp Lejeune?
- Can I sue for the wrongful death of a parent who passed away from cancer due to water contamination at Camp Lejeune?
- Can I sue for the wrongful death of a sibling who died of cancer due to water contamination at the Marine Corps camp?
Yes – you could have grounds to file a wrongful death lawsuit if a loved one died as a direct result of the cancer or other medical condition that developed due to exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
Who can sue? This is a very important question. Anyone who was stationed or living at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 for a minimum of 30 days could be eligible to file a lawsuit. This gives the families of deceased victims the right to sue for wrongful death – given that they can prove that their family members, whether its their parent, sibling, etc. meets the specific requirements.
For more information about your right to file a wrongful death lawsuit, do not hesitate to contact the experts here at our law firm today.
How Can I Prepare to File a Lawsuit?
To be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit for after your loved one died from cancer or any other medical condition directly related to exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you will need to be able to prove that your loved one was, in fact, on the base for at least 30 days between 1953 and 1987. You will need to gather documents to prove this. Some of these documents could include the following:
- Military records
- Military identification cards
- Veteran Administration records
- Medical records
- Health insurance records
- Work contracts
After collecting the evidence that proves that your loved one was in fact at the camp, it is essential that you seek legal assistance as soon as possible. The lawyers here at our law firm are ready to guide you every step of the way and help you file your wrongful death lawsuit.
The Possible Recovery Available for Wrongful Death Claims
Under the PACT Act, claimants could be eligible to recover damages, some of which could include medical expenses, disability benefits, lost pay, pain and suffering, as well as costs for mental health services (including counseling). What could you be eligible to recover if you file a wrongful death claim? Based on the details surrounding your claim, you could have grounds to recover compensation for the following:
- Medical costs incurred before the victim’s death
- Lost wages (including loss of financial support from the decedent)
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral and burial damages
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive damages
- Legal costs
The specific categories of compensation available for recovery will be based on the details surrounding your claim.
How much is the average case value of these cases? How much compensation can I be awarded? It is important to note that these cases are just being filed, so we cannot determine an average value specific to Camp Lejeune water contamination cases. However, similar cases have settled with values ranging from $250,000 to $1 million. Although there is no guarantee, it is possible that your wrongful death lawsuit for Camp Lejeune water contamination can settle within this range.
How long does it take to get paid on these cases? The time that it takes to reach a settlement will vary from case to case. Some cases can settle in just a few months while others can take up to two years to settle. Here at our law firm, we aim to settle all claims within a reasonable length of time – which to us is six to eight months. Have you already started your claim elsewhere? If so, you might be unhappy with the way that your current lawyer is handling your case, and you might be looking for a second opinion. Here at our law firm, our lawyers are more than ready to evaluate your claim and give you an objective second opinion. If you decide you want to switch lawyers and allow our experts to handle your claim, we will handle all the technicalities of switching representation and start working on your claim as soon as possible to ensure a fair recovery in just a few months.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit for Wrongful Death?
What is the statute of limitations that applies to these cases? All claims are subject to a statute of limitations, or a deadline to sue. In general, government claims are subject to a strict six-month deadline. However, things with Camp Lejeune water contamination claims are different. The new law gives claimants two years from the date that the law was signed to file a lawsuit. This means that claimants have until August 2024 to file their claims. For more information about the total length of time that you have to file your lawsuit, do not hesitate to reach out to the experts at our law firm as soon as possible.
Contact Us Today to Speak with a Camp Lejeune Wrongful Death Lawsuit Attorney
Are you ready to learn more about your right to file a wrongful death lawsuit for the death of your loved one associated with the contaminated water supply at Camp Lejeune? If so, contact us today. Here at our firm, you will find experienced lawyers in water contamination lawsuits. Our lawyers are ready to evaluate your claim and help you recover the payout that you are owed. At the Normandie Law Firm, we offer free legal services, which include free case reviews (free consultations) and free second opinions. During these legal services, our lawyers will be available to answer all your questions, address all your concerns, and give you all the information that you might need to begin or continue your lawsuit. We offer a Zero-Fee guarantee, which means that our clients will not be required to pay any upfront legal fees whatsoever. In addition, we work on a strict contingency structure; therefore, our clients will not be responsible for paying legal fees until they win their claims.
If you are ready to speak with our Camp Lejeune cancer wrongful death lawyers, contact the experts here at our law firm today.
