Qualifying for a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit

In 2022, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 paved the way for private individuals to file lawsuits based on water contamination that occurred at the military facility. For more than 30 years, people that lived and worked on, or near, the base have developed serious health issues due to toxic substances in the water supply.

Now it is possible to pursue justice by filing a civil lawsuit with the help of a seasoned Camp Lejeune attorney. If you have questions about qualifying for a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit, reach out right away for more information.

Legal Options Prior to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act

For years, there were limited options when it came to seeking compensation for illnesses stemming from the water at Camp Lejeune. This is because the federal government enjoys broad immunity from lawsuits in many situations. The primary option for compensation until recently was through the Veterans Administration (VA).

Unfortunately, this option was inadequate or unavailable for most. These benefits only cover some of the costs that come with these chronic illnesses. To make matters worse, non-veterans who were exposed had no ability to pursue a claim at all. This led to the creation of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. Under the act, the government has waived its immunity in some cases to allow for lawsuits based on water contamination at the military facility.

Who Can Sue for Water Poisoning?

There are limits that apply to the filing of these legal actions. Only certain parties will qualify and be able to take advantage of the waiver of government immunity. In order to qualify, they must have a disease that is tied to the contamination at Camp Lejeune. Additionally, there must be a link between the person seeking compensation and Camp Lejeune.

Qualifying Disabilities

The water contamination at Camp Lejeune was extreme. Over the course of more than 30 years, the base used water from two wells that were contaminated with an array of toxic compounds. These chemicals include dry-cleaning solvents, heavy machinery chemics, and degreasers. Contact with these substances leads to a variety of health problems, some of which are presumed to result from exposure and Camp Lejeune. The conditions presumed to be related to Camp Lejeune exposure include:

  • Adult leukemia
  • Kidney cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Multiple Myeloma
  • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
  • Bladder cancer
  • Myelodysplastic syndromes

There are other conditions that could also serve as the basis for a viable claim, but the government will not presume they are related to exposure. These include birth defects, miscarriage, lung cancer, and renal toxicity, among other things.

Link to Camp Lejeune

A person must also have spent a minimum amount of time at Camp Lejeune during the period in question to qualify. This exposure must have lasted at least 30 days and occurred between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. There is no requirement that a person had served in the military at the time, as lawsuits are available to civilians and family members that were exposed as well.

Talk to an Attorney About Qualifying for a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit

Unsure if you qualify for a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit? Thankfully, you are under no obligation to figure it out on your own. An experienced attorney could take you through every step of the litigation process. Reach out for a private consultation to learn more.