The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 was signed into law by President Biden on August 10, 2022. The new law addresses healthcare, resources, research, the presumption of service connection, and other areas related to veterans whose military service saw them suffer toxic exposure.
Section 804 of the new law is known as the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022. It allows those who have been sickened by exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune to seek financial compensation in court for any harm done to them by the water.
Those who have been harmed by the contaminated water now have a chance to seek compensation through a legal claim for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering, and more
You may be wondering if you qualify for a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit. This article will provide a detailed explanation as to who qualifies to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit.
Who Qualifies for a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit?
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 states that you qualify to take legal action to seek compensation for harm done to you by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune if:
- You were exposed to the contaminated water (including in utero exposure) for at least 30 days during the time period between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987; and
- You were harmed by the water
The above applies to service members, their family members, and civilians. In other words, anybody who was exposed to the water for at least 30 days during the above time period and was harmed by the water qualifies, no matter if they were service members or civilians.
There is a time limit to file claims. Claims may not be filed after the latter of:
- Two years after the act was signed into law; or
- 180 days after the claim is denied by 28 U.S. Code § 2675
Those who file claims must be able to produce evidence that is sufficient to demonstrate that the contaminated water caused their illness or that the contaminated water is at least as likely to have caused their illness as not.
The best way to find out if you qualify for a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit is to speak to an expert attorney. We can make sure any claim you file is filed on time, and we can gather all the necessary evidence to prove that your illness was caused by Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water.
What Illnesses Qualify for Compensation in a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit?
Technically, you qualify to be compensated for any illness that can be proven to have been at least as likely caused by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune as unlikely.
Many illnesses have been linked to Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water by ATSDR studies, a committee formed by the Veteran’s Administration, and the National Research Council.
The toxic chemicals in Camp Lejeune’s water have been associated with many cancers, including:
- Kidney cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Breast cancer
- Leukemia
- Esophageal cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Lung cancer
- Mononuclear cell leukemia
- Liver cancer
- Hodgkin lymphoma
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Prostate cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Rectal cancer
The contaminants in Camp Lejeune’s water have also been associated with:
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Scleroderma
- Miscarriage
- Female infertility
- Hepatic steatosis (fatty liver)
- Renal toxicity
- Immune system effects
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Adverse effects on offspring
- Adverse changes in nervous system measurements
- Liver toxicity
- Effects on male fertility
- Immunologic effects
- Kidney toxicity
- Infant neural tube defects
- Parkinson’s disease
- Vision deficits in color discrimination and contrast sensitivity
- Bipolar disorder
- Term low birth weight
- Reduced mean birth weight
- Kidney disease
- Preterm birth
- Small for gestational age infants
If you or a loved one developed any of the above conditions after being exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you may qualify for financial compensation in a Camp Lejeune contaminated water lawsuit. Our Camp Lejuene lawsuit lawyers can help.
How Did Exposure to the Contaminated Water Occur?
You may think that only those who drank the water at Camp Lejeune were exposed to the toxic chemicals in the water, which included trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE).
However, according to a 2009 National Research Council report, additional methods of exposure included washing dishes, showering, and bathing, as PCE and TCE in hot water can be inhaled after evaporating.
Two water systems at Camp Lejeune were contaminated with toxic chemicals: the Hadnot Point system and the Tarawa Terrace system. The Tarawa Terrace system was primarily contaminated with PCE by an off-base dry cleaner. The Hadnot Point system was contaminated with multiple chemicals, including TCE and PCE, by multiple sources.
How Do I File a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit?
You should hire the experienced toxic exposure lawyers at Nadrich & Cohen and let us file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit for you.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 states that any lawsuits must be able to provide evidence that proves that illness was caused by the contaminated water or was as likely to have been caused by the contaminated water as not.
We have been representing victims of toxic exposure for over 30 years and have recovered over $350,000,000 for our clients in that time. We are experts at gathering evidence and presenting it in a way that definitively proves that our clients’ illnesses were caused by exposure to toxic chemicals.
Reach Out to Our Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Lawyers Today
If you’ve been sickened by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, filing a claim with sufficient evidence could mean the difference between a lifetime of paid-for medical bills and a lifetime of debt. You don’t want to make the wrong choice and let this opportunity for compensation pass you by because of it.
Contact us today and let us obtain for you the compensation you deserve. We won’t charge a fee until and unless we obtain a financial recovery for you.
