Marines and their family members stationed at the North Carolina base between 1953 and 1987 unknowingly drank and bathed in water that was contaminated with toxic chemicals. The contaminated drinking water came from the Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point water supply systems and contained TCE and PCE levels up to 3,000 times the maximum safe level.
The Role of a Snead’s Ferry Lawyer
The Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is located in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and is a major amphibious assault training facility. From 1953 to 1987, hundreds of military personnel and their families stationed at the base were exposed to tap water tainted with hazardous chemicals. This contaminated water resulted from industrial spills, leaking underground storage tanks and waste disposal practices. The contaminated water contained more than 70 chemicals, including trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), vinyl chloride (VC), and benzene.
Those affected by the contaminated water were sickened with various illnesses, including cancer, birth defects, and other health conditions. Many were not diagnosed with their health problems until after they retired from the military. Until recently, the federal government did not allow them to sue for damages due to a 10-year statute of repose.
However, a recent passage of the PACT Act and the Camp Lejeune Justice Act has made it possible for victims to sue the government for their injuries.
How They Can Help You
Between 1953 and 1987, many military personnel and their families were housed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, where the water supply contained hazardous levels of pollutants. If you developed serious health conditions, including disabilities, as a result of this exposure, you may be eligible to file for disability benefits. Additionally, Sneads Ferry Camp Lejeune attorney can help you with this process and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Local industrial spills, improper waste disposal, and faulty underground storage tanks contaminated the drinking water at Camp Lejeune. The main contaminants were trichloroethylene (TCE), benzene, toluene, and methylene chloride. These chemicals are associated with several cancers and other diseases, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma.
While military personnel cannot typically file negligence lawsuits against the government, a Sneads Ferry Camp Lawsuit Attorney can help you file a claim with the Veterans Administration to seek disability benefits. This can help you pay for medical expenses, home modifications, and other costs that can improve your quality of life.
Experience
The water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with volatile organic compounds from 1953 to 1987, possibly impacting the families and thousands of service members. A study submitted in April but not yet released linked elevated cancer rates among veterans and their families to this contaminated drinking water.
This contamination was caused by several incidents at the base, including leakage from underground storage tanks, chemical runoff from a dry cleaning facility, and other spills and improper waste disposal on and off the base.
These chemicals and metals contaminated the New River and other nearby tributaries, which were then used for drinking water on and around the base. You may be entitled to compensation if you are a veteran diagnosed with a serious illness related to this contamination. A qualified Sneads Ferry Camp, Lejeune Lawsuit Attorney will know the laws governing these claims and can guide you through the process.
Results
Some of the drinking water at Camp Lejeune, a North Carolina Marine base, was contaminated with cancer-causing solvents. For years, the military failed to protect Marines and their families from this toxic exposure, and many victims have developed serious conditions.
Under a new law known as the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, those who lived on or around the base between 1953 and 1987 may be eligible for compensation. However, these claims require complete medical records and the testimony of a qualified medical expert.
Some have a strong track record of success in these types of cases. In addition to their deep understanding of military record-keeping policies and procedures, they have extensive experience in identifying and proving exposure to chemical contaminants like trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), vinyl chloride, and benzene. The firm also has the resources to take these cases through a jury trial.
