Military servicemembers exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Congress passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, a bill that allows veterans and their families exposed to contaminated water to sue for financial compensation.
• More than one million veterans, their family members, and other staff were exposed to toxic water on the Marine Corps Base at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987.
• Health problems associated with exposure to the contaminated drinking water include cancer and Parkinson’s disease.

Recently, the U.S. Congress passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, a bill that allows veterans and their families to receive financial reparations for exposure to contaminated water on the Marine Corps Base at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Veterans, their family members, and others who worked or resided at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, and sustained injuries from exposure to contaminated water can file a lawsuit for financial compensation.

“From 1953 to 1987, more than a million men, women, and children bathed in and ingested Camp Lejeune’s toxic water. Hundreds of babies died, so many filling a stretch of a nearby cemetery that it received the grim title ‘Baby Heaven.’ And children were not the only victims of the poisoning. Tens of thousands of Marines, military family members, and civilian staff have since developed severe illnesses, from cancer to Parkinson’s,” said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL).

Testing found that drinking water sources at Camp Lejeune were contaminated with benzene, trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene, or perchloroethylene (PCE), and vinyl chloride (VC).

“I know that no amount of money can make up for the loss of a loved one or the cost of a life-changing injury. But recognition of and compensation for the government’s wrong actions is the least we can do to honor those who have made such great sacrifices on our behalf,” Rubio added.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act covers individuals who have not already been compensated and must prove their cases. The legislation mandates that the injured person, or the representative of a deceased injured person, first file an administrative claim for damages with the appropriate federal agency within two years after the date of enactment.

Injured parties must establish a connection between their illness and the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, which could be a complex process. It may be beneficial to seek legal advice to ensure victims are aware of their rights and get the justice they deserve.

You can get more information about how to file a claim or if you are eligible at the Camp Lejune water contamination lawsuit webpage.

Source: The Hill