Were you or a loved one harmed due to exposure to dangerous toxin in the water at Camp Lejeune? Did you develop a dangerous health condition? Did a loved one develop a severe health condition and later pass away as a result of said condition? If so, you could have ground to file a lawsuit the government under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) which was recently passed under the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.
Our law firm is representing veterans, their families, and other parties affected after being exposed to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune. One of the most common questions we are receiving consists of the time that affected parties had to had spent at the base camp to be eligible to file a lawsuit.
- How long did I need to be living at Camp Lejeune to be able to participate in the claims process?
- How long did I need to be visiting Camp Lejeune to be able to participate in the claims process?
- What is the required time spent at Camp Lejeune to participate?
If you have any of these questions and are looking for more information about eligibility requirements for the Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuits, do not hesitate to contact the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible.
Here at the Normandie Law Firm, our lawyers have decades of experience handling all sorts of claims, including injury claims and wrongful death claims associated with exposure to toxins. Here at our law firm, we can handle your Camp Lejeune toxic water contamination lawsuit effectively and help you recover the settlement that you are owed. If you are ready to explore the legal options available to you, do not hesitate to contact the experts here at our law firm immediately.
A Summary of the CLJA Under the PACT Act
On August 2, 2022, the U.S. Senate voted to pass the Camp Lejeune Justice Act as part of the PACT Act. The PACT Act gives those who suffered harm (i.e., developed severe medical conditions due to exposure to toxins) the right to sue. The PACT Act now includes the CLJA, which means that all those exposed to toxins via the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune can file a lawsuit against the government. This law was signed into law by President Biden on August 10, 2022.
What does this mean? Under the PACT Act, veterans, civilians, and their families can file a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina to recover compensation for the harm resulting from the exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Claimants will have the opportunity to recover compensation for medical costs, disability benefits, lost income, pain and suffering, mental health costs, and counseling costs, for instance.
A History of the Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune
From 1953 to 1987, the water supply at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with multiple dangerous chemicals. The contamination came from multiple sources, including a nearby business that leaked chemicals, leaking fuel tanks, and the improper disposal of industrial waste. The dangerous chemicals in the water at the camp included Benzene, Vinyl Chloride, Trichloroethylene (TCE), and Tetrachloroethylene (PCE or PERC). Over a million Marines, other military service members, contractors, non-military staff, civilians, and their families lived at or worked at Camp Lejeune during this time, unknowingly being exposed to these dangerous chemicals in the water. These parties developed dangerous conditions, some of which included the following: aplastic anemia (and similar 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.
All of these horrible medical conditions could have been prevented if the military leadership at the base had just taken prompt action. In fact, leadership was repeatedly informed of the problem, but they failed to take any action; instead, they allowed all innocent parties on the base to be exposed to the dangerous chemicals.
Can I Participate in a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit?
Yes – you could have grounds to file a lawsuit for any harm that you or a loved one suffered after being exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Under the PACT Act, essentially anyone that was affected by the exposure to the contaminated water – whether a veteran, a civilian that lived or worked on base, or their surviving family – the right to file a lawsuit.
Time Requirements for Filing a Lawsuit
Under the PACT Act, anyone who lived at or worked at Camp Lejeune from August 1, 1953 to December 31, 1987 – for at least 30 days – resulting in exposure to the toxic water and the development of medical conditions can file a lawsuit. What does this mean? This means that you or your loved one must have lived at or worked at the camp for at least 30 days during this timeframe to be eligible to file a lawsuit.
How Can I Prove that I Meet the Requirements for Filing a Lawsuit?
As mentioned above, only those who lived on or worked on the base for at least 30 days during 1953 to 1987. Considering how many decades have already passed since this period, it can seem difficult to try and prove that you or your loved one were in fact living at or working at the camp during such a specific timeframe. What could you possibly use to prove living/working at the camp? Some supporting documents could include the following:
- Military records
- Military identification papers/cards
- Paystubs, contracts, etc.
- Rental agreements, leases, etc.
If you are unsure of whether you can prove that you or a loved one lived at or worked at Camp Lejeune for the time required to be eligible to participate in a lawsuit, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts here at our firm as soon as possible. Our lawyers are ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to gather all the evidence that you need to begin your Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit and fight for your rights.
What Could I Win?
If your Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit is successful, you could recover a significant amount of compensation, which could include the following: medical costs, lost income, disability benefits, pain and suffering, costs of mental health services (including counseling), funeral and burial costs, loss of consortium, punitive damages, and legal fees. Of course, the specific type and amount of compensation that you could be eligible to recover will be based on the details surrounding your lawsuit. For more information about what you could potentially be compensated, contact us today.
Contact the Normandie Law Firm Today
Here at the Normandie Law Firm, our lawyers are more than ready to handle your claim effectively and help you recover the settlement that you are owed after you or a loved one suffered harm after being exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. We are proud to offer free legal services, which include free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our lawyers will be available to answer all your questions and address all your concerns. Also, we offer a Zero-Fee guarantee, so you will not be required to pay any upfront legal fees for our legal services. In addition, we work on a strict contingency structure; therefore, you will not be required to pay anything until after you win your claim.
If you are ready to speak with the experts here at our law firm to learn more about the time that you needed to have been living at or working at the camp to participate in the Camp Lejeune lawsuits for water contamination, contact the experts here at our law firm today.
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