After being exposed to contaminated water through on-base housing at Camp Lejeune, Marines and their families are suing for damages after developing cancer and other serious health conditions related to ingesting toxic chemicals like trichloroethylene and benzene. Despite legislators clearing the way for these plaintiffs to bring personal injury lawsuits, none of the impacted families have been compensated for their losses. Their damages include everything from medical bills and lost wages to emotional distress and wrongful death.
Dolman Law Group has been working diligently to support Camp Lejeune families. Our personal injury lawyers are prepared to offer valuable legal insight in a free consultation. If you or a loved one were exposed to toxic chemicals after living or working on base at Camp Lejeune, we encourage you to reach out as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.
Camp Lejeune Water Supply Contaminated With Dangerous and Carcinogenic Chemicals
The drinking water at Camp Lejeune was polluted with toxic chemicals for multiple decades, effectively poisoning the Marines who were stationed at the base, their families who lived in base housing, and civilian contractors who worked on the base. In the 1950s, a dry cleaning operation moved in near the base and began tainting the water with perchloroethylene (PCE), a chemical used to clean clothes.
Additionally, leaking underground storage tanks and improper disposal of toxic waste further contributed to the contamination of the well water that serviced the base and the military families living in base housing. The Navy was aware of the contamination but neglected to issue a proper warning or take preventative measures. Instead, they shut down wells that were labeled problematic but allowed the pollution to continue.
Meanwhile, Marines and their families used this tainted water to drink, shower, and clean in their homes and at work. This continued absorption and ingestion caused toxic chemicals to accumulate in their systems, causing a variety of severe health conditions.
Toxic Chemicals in Marine Base Water Supply Linked to Cancer, Birth Defects
For many service members and their families, the effects of this contaminated water were not apparent until decades later. Since then, Camp Lejeune families who were exposed to PCEs, TCEs, benzene, and vinyl chloride have suffered from a range of diseases and forms of cancer, including:
- Adult leukemia
- Aplastic anemia
- Birth defects
- Brain Cancer/CNS Cancers
- Breast Cancer
- Cervical Cancer
- Childhood leukemia
- Choanal atresia
- Esophageal Cancer
- Eye Defects
- Hepatic Steatosis
- Infertility
- Kidney Cancer
- Lung Cancer
- Miscarriage
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Parkinson’s disease
- Neurological effects
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Ovarian Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Rectal Cancer
- Renal toxicity
- Soft Tissue Cancer
- Other health conditions
In many cases, a cancer diagnosis can mean months or years of treatment. There may be permanent consequences for your mobility, fertility, cognitive abilities, and other critical functions. If you or a loved one meet the presumptive conditions for a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit, we encourage you to speak with a personal injury lawyer with mass tort experience as soon as possible.
Marines and Their Families Seek Damages in Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuits
Recent legislation has effectively superseded the statute of limitations in North Carolina, so military members and their families can file personal injury claims against the U.S. government to recover the value of their economic and non-economic damages. These types of damages both fall under the category of compensatory damages. Financial losses can be reimbursed with economic damages, while non-economic damages compensate victims for emotional losses.
Examples of Damages in a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit:
- Medical bills
- Surgery
- Medication
- Hospital stay
- Mobility aids
- Home health aides
- Home medical equipment
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation
- Job-related losses
- Lost wages
- Loss of career
- Reduced earning capacity
- Job retraining
- Missed promotions
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Wrongful death
- Funeral and burial expenses
Families Continue to Wait on Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Settlements
The initial delay in compensated Marine families was the result of a strict statute of repose that prevented plaintiffs from bringing cases in North Carolina if a certain period of time had passed. After public outcry, this has been rectified. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act, a part of the PACT Act, has made it possible for these families to finally obtain the compensation they deserve, but none of the cases have been settled yet, leaving many veterans and their families frustrated.
The government has a limited 6 month period to settle these claims before plaintiffs are eligible to file personal injury lawsuits in the Eastern District of North Carolina, where Camp Lejeune is located. Another obstacle to quick settlements is the volume of claims. The Navy has received at least 14,000 claims surrounding the water contamination at Camp Lejeune, and more are anticipated. As of right now, the Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuits are not class action lawsuits.
That means that the process may still take multiple years. The government also has to account for the money that will go to pay out families for their damages. Our personal injury attorneys anticipate that plaintiffs could receive between $50,000 and 100,000 dollars or more in compensation for their injuries.
Why Should I Choose Dolman Law Group to Represent Me?
The stakes of settling a Camp Lejeune water contamination are significant when you consider the physical and emotional toll of serious diseases, in addition to the financial impact of medical treatment. That’s why it is critical to seek out a skilled, diligent personal injury attorney with the expertise required to handle complex claims. The Camp Lejeune water contamination attorneys of Dolman Law Group have acquired a reputation for excellence that makes us a wise choice to represent you in your claim.
Our previous experience with comparable mass tort claims has provided us with insight into how to strategically secure the maximum compensation for our injured clients. Over the last decade, we have consistently delivered impressive results by being thorough investigators and relentless advocates.
As your Camp Lejeune water contamination attorneys, we will not accept an unfair settlement just to close your case. Our team will go above and beyond to ensure that you receive a settlement that reflects the harm done to your physical and mental health, as well as your finances.
Contact Dolman Law Group For Help With Your Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit
In addition to the financial costs of medical treatment, the physical and emotional toll of cancer on an individual and their family can disrupt careers and lifestyles, as well as compromise quality of life. At Dolman Law Group, we believe that Camp Lejeune families deserve maximum compensation for the suffering they have endured.
The personal injury lawyers of Dolman Law Group have extensive experience negotiating claims in court, which gives us the advantage when it is necessary to take claims like the Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuits to trial. Our team understands how important it is to secure a settlement that covers the past and future expenses you and your family will incur, and we will put in the time and effort required to accomplish this.
If you have received a cancer diagnosis or developed a severe health condition due to using tainted water at Camp Lejeune, you may be entitled to a settlement for your damages. You can contact our office to schedule a free consultation with one of our Camp Lejeune lawyers today. Our team will evaluate your case and explain your legal options moving forward.