Can Visitors to Camp Lejeune File a Water Contamination Lawsuit?

On August 10, 2022, the PACT Act (The Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act) was signed by President Biden, following the passing of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act on August 2, 2022. Finally, over one million individuals that were injured by or lost a family member due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune have the chance to sue the U.S. government for monetary compensation. Those who are eligible for a lawsuit can seek a wide variety of damages, including disability benefits, medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and mental anguish.

However, people still have many questions about the requirements to participate in the Camp Lejeune recovery process, including, “Can visitors to Camp Lejeune participate in the water contamination lawsuit?”

The attorneys of Kenmore Law Group are here to address your concerns and ensure that your rights are represented in a Camp Lejeune water contamination claim. For advice regarding your rights and legal options, give us a call and speak to one of our attorneys.

Contamination of the Water Supply at Camp Lejeune

For over 30 years, the water at Camp Lejeune military base in Jacksonville, North Carolina was contaminated by several dangerous chemicals: tetrachloroethylene (TCE), trichloroethylene (PCE and PERC), vinyl chloride, and benzene. Some of the toxins came from leaking fuel tanks, while others were released due to reckless disposal of industrial waste. There was also a local business that leaked high levels of PCE and PERC into the groundwater. These practices led to countless military members, workers, and their family members suffering from or developing the following health complications:

• Bladder cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Aplastic anemia (and related syndromes)
• Female infertility
• Breast cancer
• Miscarriage
• Kidney cancer
• Leukemia
• Multiple myeloma
• Liver cancer
• Lung cancer
• Hepatic steatosis
• Myelodysplastic syndromes
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Neurobehavioral effects
• Parkinson’s disease
• Scleroderma
• Renal toxicity

While military officials knew about these problems for many years, they failed to take any action to prevent these toxins from poisoning the water supply. If you are one of the former residents or workers at Camp Lejeune that suffered due to the government’s neglect, contact our law firm right away. You may be eligible for compensation, but there is a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit and recover the damages you deserve.

Can Visitors to Camp Lejeune Participate in the Water Contamination Lawsuit?

Yes, you can file a lawsuit even if you were not a resident of Camp Lejeune during the period of contamination. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act allows anyone who lived or worked at the base from August 1, 1953, to December 31, 1987, for at least 30 days, exposed to the contaminated water and suffered injuries, to file a claim against the U.S. government. However, those who were dishonorably discharged and the families of dishonorably discharged individuals are ineligible for a claim under this legislation.

What is the Process to File a Camp Lejeune Injury Case?

Initially, you will need to file an injury claim with the applicable federal agency to request damages for the harm you suffered at Camp Lejeune. You can also seek damages on behalf of a family member who passed away from an illness associated with contaminated water at the military base. Once you submit your claim, you must wait 6 months to receive an approval or denial from the federal agency. If your claim is rejected or you don’t receive a response by the end of 6 months, you can pursue compensation by filing a lawsuit with United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

There’s no denying that these cases are complicated, much more so than the average personal injury claim. Rest assured that our attorneys are here to guide you every step of the way. Just give us a call to learn more about your rights and recover the funds you’re entitled to under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.

Statute of Limitations to File a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit

You have two years from the signing date of the PACT Act to file a claim as a victim of exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. That gives you until August 10, 2024 to file a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Please speak to one of our attorneys right away to ensure that your lawsuit is filed on time. If you delay taking action and miss the two-year deadline, it’s highly unlikely that an extension will be granted.

How much can I Receive from one of these Cases?

Keep in mind that we are just getting started on these cases, and at this point, it’s difficult to say what the average claimant will receive. Each victim also has their own set of circumstances that will determine the amount they’re entitled to. However, we can look at lawsuits with similar injuries and causes, and say that many of these cases are likely to bring in 6 figure settlements, perhaps in the range of $150,000 to $750,000. Values exceeding $1 million are possible as well, depending on the severity of health complications and the financial and emotional toll they take on the victim’s life.

At the end of the day, these are estimates that do not take into account the unique circumstances that apply to your own case. For an approximate value of your Camp Lejeune settlement, call us today and schedule a time to speak with one of our lawyers.

How long will it take to Settle my Case?

We know the importance of settling your claim and receiving your payment as soon as possible. With that in mind, our goal is to settle your case within 6 to 8 months of submitting your injury claim. With the public outrage over what’s happened at Camp Lejeune, we expect that the federal government will cooperate in closing out these cases in a timely manner.

However, you must keep in mind that these agencies will be dealing with a huge volume of claims, considering over one million people were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Additionally, some cases have complicated circumstances that merit further examination, possibly by a judge and jury. If your case cannot be settled directly with the U.S. government and you need to proceed with a lawsuit, it may take 2 years or more to recover your damages.

Schedule a Free Case Review

Our law firm is committed to representing you and your family, and fighting for the compensation you’re entitled to. The attorneys of Kenmore have extensive experience in mass tort, personal injury, and wrongful death lawsuits, so you can have confidence in our ability to recover your settlement.

To ensure that your finances are never at risk, we will offer you a Zero fee guarantee for all our services. That means you pay absolutely nothing to retain one of our attorneys. The only way we get paid is by winning your case. In the event we don’t recover your damages, you won’t be responsible for any legal fees, no matter how much work went into your case.

To take advantage of this offer and get started on a claim for compensation, please contact Kenmore Law Group and schedule a free consultation.