Camp Lejeune
Toxic Water
A message from Joe about the Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Scandal:
MY MILITARY CAREER
I joined the Marine Corps out of high school in 2002. I joined because military service is important in my family. My grandfather served in the Marine Corps in the South Pacific Theater during World War II. I joined also because that is one of the many things that young people from our part of Pennsylvania regularly do. In 2002, Cameron County High School had 99 graduating seniors. Five of them joined the Marine Corps alone, with others joining other branches. I was one of the five that joined the Marine Corps.
My time started with boot camp at the famous Parris Island, South Carolina. Not long after I completed my specialty training and education at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland.
But between boot camp and my specialty school, I spent a brief time at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. My purpose there was to complete additional training, and I would find myself passing through Camp Lejeune a handful of times throughout my 15-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps.
THE “BAD” WATER AT CAMP LEJUENE
I can recall the first time I heard about the “bad water” at Camp Lejeune. I was a young Judge Advocate attorney working in the National Capitol Region at the time. In the years that followed, there were other times I recall hearing about the problem. To be frank, I did not know what to think. At the time I was learning conflicting accounts about the matter. The medical issues arising out of this problem were undeniably horrific, but there was a countervailing view at the time that questioned whether the bad water was actually the problem, or just awful coincidence.
As the years went on, I grew wiser about these issues. The truth is that the water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated by toxic chemicals from about 1952 to 1987. Even worse, the local Marine Corps leadership at Camp Lejeune was informed of this fact – repeatedly - in the early 80s. Leadership ignored these concerns, and even took efforts to conceal the problem from public scrutiny. In the early 80s, for instance, and after catching wind of the problem, the State of North Carolina asked local base officials for results of water testing. The Marine Corps declined. It was not until the Obama Administration, decades later, until government authorities began to take meaningful action.
THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING
The reality of what was occurring was that during his time period, Marines and their families were being exposed to toxic chemicals at concentrations estimated at between 240 to 3,400 times levels considered safe. These chemicals included benzene, vinyl chloride, and perchloroethylene, among others. The toxic chemicals are thought to have come from multiple sources, including industrial spills, leaking storage tanks, and improper disposal practices.
It is now settled that this toxic exposure can, and has, lead to many severe health issues for Marines and their families who were in contact with the water during this time period. Many individuals exposed to the contaminated water have experienced severe health issues, including various forms of cancer, neurological disorders, and other serious illnesses linked to the toxic chemicals.
The actions of local leadership over the decades was, undeniably, shameful. Shameful in that, by concealing the problem, they ensured that more people would come into contact with the toxic water, leading to more people getting sick. But also shame in the moral sense, since the act of concealing danger to our young people in uniform and their families is a profound violation of the trust we can and must expect from our government and military leaders.
The U.S. Armed Forces is the finest fighting organization that the World has ever known, and it’s not even close. But sometimes a hyper focus on excellence and mission accomplishment can cause leadership to become blind to things which are not only harmful, but which can lead to life-long health problems and even death. This is a cultural problem, and this cultural problem is complimented by a legal system that, for the most part, does not permit individual service members to obtain redress for wrongs or harms done to them while in service. I have previously written about this in another blog post.
THE PACT ACT OF 2022
But, thankfully, Congress has acted to help some of those who were exposed to toxic substances or harmful environments by passing the PACT Act in 2022. The PACT Act permits certain classes of veterans who served at certain times and/or who were exposed to particular things, and who suffered injury as a result, to receive benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs and, in certain cases, file claims against the government for compensation. In the latter case, the PACT Act effectively acts as a large exception to the Federal Tort Claims Act, which, as mentioned previously, acts as a near-complete bar for service members to recover for wrongs against them.
Within the PACT Act is the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which permits individuals to file claims against the Federal Government because of health problems arising out of toxic water exposure. These claims start at the administrative level and if the matter is not settled, the claims may go to trial in the Eastern District of North Caroline Federal Court, which has been given exclusive jurisdiction to hear these claims.
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible to file a claim under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, you or the claimant must:
Have lived for worked at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station New River between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987 for at least thirty (30) consecutive days OR Have a medical condition related to the toxic water exposure. Examples include, but are not limited to:
• Bladder cancer
• Lung cancer
• Leukemia
• Breast cancer
• Liver cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Parkinson’s disease
• Female infertility
• Miscarriage
• Multiple myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Esophageal cancer
• Hepatic steatosis
• Neurobehavioral syndromes
• Aplastic anemia and other
myelodysplastic syndromes
• Renal Toxicity
• Scleroderma
Malizia Law LLC has partnered with Baird Mandalas Brockstedt & Federico (bmbde.com) to help represent veterans and other qualified individuals who have been affected by Toxic Water at Camp Lejeune, and we offer a contingency fee basis of 25% of overall recovery, as opposed to the 40% currently being offered by most law firms who are involved in this litigation.
Pursuant to the PACT Act, the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina has been given exclusive jurisdiction to litigate this matter. This means that veterans who file claims for damages because of toxic water exposure at Camp Lejeune.
fREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Do you need a Camp Lejeune Lawyer?
: If you or a loved one have been affected by the Camp Lejeune toxic water contamination, it is advisable to consult with a trial attorney knowledgeable about both the Marines and the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. As A Camp Lejeune lawyer, Joe has personal experience with issues related to the Marines and to the administration of federal government programs like the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.
Q: What will filing a Camp Lejeune lawsuit cost me?
A: All cases are handled on a contingency fee basis. That means our clients never pay any up-front costs or fees. We only get paid when we get you a recovery. If there is no recovery, you owe us nothing.
Q: Am I eligible to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit?
A: Anyone who served, lived or worked at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987 may be eligible to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit.
Q: What is the timeframe for filing a Camp Lejeune Justice Act claim?
A: All Camp Lejeune claims must be filed before August 10, 2024. Do not delay, as it will likely be difficult to obtain all relevant information shortly before this important deadline.
Q: Can I file a Camp Lejeune claim if my loved one has passed away?
A: You may be eligible to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit if your loved one served, lived, or worked at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987.
MORE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: How a Camp Lejeune Lawyer can help you?
A: As A Camp Lejeune lawyer, Joe can provide invaluable assistance in helping you get justice. The following is a sample of the ways we can help you:
Legal Expertise: As A Camp Lejeune lawyer, Joe possesses specialized legal knowledge related to the U.S. Marine Corps as well as navigating complex regulations and government programs.
Case Evaluation: As A Camp Lejeune lawyer, Joe can assess your potential lawsuit, including the health consequences you have experienced to determine if your lawsuit is worth pursuing.
Guidance and Advice: As A Camp Lejeune lawyer, Joe can explain your rights, legal options, and potential course of action and advise on how best to proceed.
Evidence Collection: As A Camp Lejeune lawyer, Joe will assist in gathering evidence to support your case, including military records, medical records, and expert opinions.
Government Programs: As Camp Lejeune lawyers with extensive experience with the administration and investigation of federal government programs, Joe can guide you through the available programs such as VA benefits that may be of assistance to you.
Peace of Mind: Hiring Camp Lejeune lawyers, like Joe, who is personally invested in this fight, can allow you to rest easy and focus on your health as they handle the legal complexities of your Camp Lejeune lawsuit.
Advocacy: Joe will work tirelessly to advocate and seek justice for you.
Please note, the details of how we may be able to help depends on your individual circumstances. Call today to discuss your individual case.
Q: Will hiring a Camp Lejeune lawyer impact my VA benefits?
A: Your VA compensation benefits or health care services will not be impacted if you file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit. If you are awarded relief from a Camp Lejeune lawsuit, your VA benefits will not be reduced, and your eligibility for other VA benefits or services will not be affected.
Q: Will any compensation I receive from filing a Camp Lejeune lawsuit be impacted by VA benefits and services I already receive?
A: Yes, potentially. If you already receive VA benefits or services (disability pay or health care services) for conditions related to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, the court awarded relief will be offset by the amount of any disability award, payment, or other benefit VA provided to you related to your exposure at Camp Lejeune.
Q: What if I file for VA disability after I receive compensation from my Camp Lejeune lawsuit, will VA reduce my benefits as a result?
A: No. Any action you take or award you receive under your Camp Lejeune lawsuit will not influence the VA’s decision to provide you benefits or health care based on your exposure or the amount of compensation you receive from the VA.
Q: What health issues are related to Camp Lejeune’s water contamination?
A: It is well established that frequent or large exposures to pollutant VOCs in drinking water are linked to several serious health conditions, including cancer, neurological damage, and other illnesses.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease (ATSDR) has studied the water contamination at Camp Lejeune and its related health effects and published findings detailing the links between water contamination and a host of often fatal illnesses.
Thousands of men, women, and children who were exposed to contaminated water during their time serving or living at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station New River have developed, and many died from, the following health conditions:
Bladder cancer
Lung cancer
Leukemia
Breast cancer
Liver cancer
Kidney cancer
Parkinson’s disease
Female infertility
Miscarriage
Multiple myeloma
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Esophageal cancer
Hepatic steatosis
Neurobehavioral syndromes
Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
Renal Toxicity
Scleroderma