Congress recently passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, which will allow people who were harmed by contaminated water at the historic military base to sue for compensation. Up until now, people who lived at Camp Lejeune suffered from serious illnesses, including life-altering disabilities, without an opportunity to obtain justice. With the passage of this law, victims will now be able to bring lawsuits against the government for all the harm they suffered.
What is Camp Lejeune?
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, is the location of a military base that was originally established in 1941, and which has been in continuous use by the military since then. The base is a major training ground for the Marine Corps, which uses the lake as a staging ground for simulated amphibious assaults and other training exercises. It is estimated that, at any time, the camp has up to 47,000 people living on base at any time, with up to 150,000 people (including family members of the servicemembers) living in the surrounding community.
What Was Wrong With Camp Lejeune?
Due to activities at Camp Lejeune, the drinking water at the base was contaminated with toxic chemicals that caused a variety of severe health problems, many of which resulted in long-term disabilities or even fatal diseases. People who stayed at Camp Lejeune, as well as the nearby Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, suffered an extraordinarily high rate of certain diseases, including multiple types of cancer, as well as other rare diseases.
Who Does This New Law Affect?
The law covers any member of the military who served at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River for at least 30 cumulative days between August 1953 and December 1987, including all veterans, reservists, and guardsmen. It also includes their family members if they were living on the site. If they were serving military members, they must not have received a dishonorable discharge from the military. Some of the conditions affected individuals may have suffered include:
- Aplastic anemia
- Multiple myeloma
- Bladder cancer
- Liver cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Lung cancer
- Breast cancer (including male breast cancer)
- Leukemia
- Scleroderma
- Parkinson’s disease
- Miscarriages and birth defects
What Should You Do if You Lived at Camp Lejeune?
If you or someone you love fits into the above criteria but has struggled to obtain justice before now, you may be able to benefit by bringing a lawsuit against the government for the harm you have suffered. That is why you should contact the personal injury and environmental law attorneys at Williams Cedar. We can advise you on your legal rights, and help you to obtain the compensation you rightly deserve.
Williams Cedar is a law firm dedicated to helping clients with personal injury, environmental law, and civil rights cases. We specialize in assisting clients who have been injured due to exposure to environmental toxins, including veterans and their loved ones. If you need legal assistance due to toxic exposure or other related matters, please give us a call at our New Jersey and Pennsylvania offices at (215) 557-0099, or visit our contact page.