Colorado Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit Lawyers
Military veterans, their families, and others who were exposed to toxic chemicals in the drinking water on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune North Carolina between August 1953 and December 1987 may be due compensation if they have since suffered any of the numerous illnesses linked to the exposure.
The Colorado Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit lawyers of the Wilhite Law Firm can help you or your family member pursue a claim. A new federal law established in August 2022 allows anyone who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days from August 1, 1953, through December 31, 1987, to bring legal action seeking compensation for harm caused by exposure to toxic chemicals in the drinking water on the base.
As many as 1 million people were potentially affected by water contamination at Camp Lejeune, including many who now reside in Colorado. Anyone who suffered serious health effects from exposure to Camp Lejeune water may seek compensation. Veterans, civilian employees, contractors, and others, including the parents of babies who may have suffered in-utero exposure, may be eligible to seek compensation.
Contact the Wilhite Law Firm in Denver, CO, today if you were on the Camp Lejeune Marine Base during any 30-day period between 1953 and 1987 and later developed a serious illness or if you have lost a loved one who was at Camp Lejeune. We can review your case for free and pursue a claim for you. We only receive a legal fee if you receive compensation. Call (866) 791-1238 today. Do not wait to call because you only have a limited amount of time to pursue a Camp Lejeune toxic water claim.
What Are Some of the Toxic Compounds Found in Water at Camp Lejeune?
Two water-supply systems at Camp Lejeune were found in the early 1980s to be contaminated with two industrial solvents – trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE).
Over time, TCE and PCE in groundwater degrade to become vinyl chloride.
Benzene, which is used to make other chemicals that compose plastics, resins and nylon, and synthetic fibers, has also been found in groundwater at Camp Lejeune.
The chemicals are linked to various types of cancer.
Where Did the Groundwater Contamination at Camp Lejeune Occur?
PCE was used by an off-base dry cleaner, and the groundwater became contaminated with PCE as a result of spills and improper disposal practices.
Multiple sources are believed to have contributed to the TCE contamination beginning in the early 1980s, including on-base spills at industrial sites and leaks from underground storage tanks and drums at dumps and storage lots.
Contaminated water systems were supplied by the Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point water-treatment plants on Camp Lejeune. These plants served:
- Enlisted-family housing
- Barracks for unmarried service personnel
- Base administrative offices
- Schools
- Recreational areas
The Hadnot Point water system also served the base hospital and an industrial area and supplied water to housing on the Holcomb Boulevard water system (full-time until 1972 and periodically thereafter).
What Are Some Diseases Related to Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune?
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has determined that exposure to toxic chemicals detected in drinking water at Camp Lejeune could cause illnesses such as:
- Adult Leukemia
- Bladder Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Cervical Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Lung Cancer
- Ovarian Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- Multiple Myeloma and other Myelodysplastic Syndromes
- Aplastic Anemia and other Bone Marrow Conditions
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Renal Toxicity
- Neurobehavioral Effects
- Miscarriage
- Birth Defects and Birth Injuries, including low birth weight, oral cleft defects (including cleft lip), major malformations, and fetal death
Who Can Sue for Injuries Under The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022?
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, which addresses water contamination at the Marine Corps base, is part of the Honoring Our PACT Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in August 2022.
Portions of the PACT Act allow military veterans and others harmed by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune to file lawsuits against the federal government. Those who may be eligible include people living on or visiting Camp Lejeune, such as:
- Marines stationed at Camp Lejeune
- Service members stationed at nearby Marine Corps Air Station New River and MCAS Cherry Point, who may have visited Camp Lejeune
- National Guardsmen
- Army Reservists
- Family members of Marines or other service members
- Civilian workers on base at schools, the hospital, Marine Corps exchanges (MCXs)
You may be eligible for compensation if you have a diagnosed health condition and you were at Camp Lejeune for a month or more between the summer of 1953 and the end of 1987.
The law precludes the U.S. government from asserting immunity from lawsuits pertaining to the contamination at Camp Lejeune. It also overrides state law in North Carolina that prohibits the filing of claims after 10 years.
What Forms of Compensation Are Available for a Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Claim?
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 does not specify damages to be paid for claims. But veterans and anyone else who suffered a serious illness, miscarriage, or birth defects caused by exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune are potentially eligible to claim compensation for their medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Awards and settlements would likely be paid from a special fund established to pay monetary awards against the United States that are judicially or administratively ordered. The Congressional Budget Office has projected spending $6.1 billion between 2022 and 2031 to compensate victims of Camp Lejeune water contamination.
Individual settlements may be based on such factors as:
- Age of the plaintiff
- The severity of the harm
- Cost of medical care (past, present, and future)
- Lost wages or earning power
- Funeral expenses (in wrongful death cases)
Contact a Colorado Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit Lawyer Today
The deadline for filing a claim under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 is two years from the date it was enacted. Contact us today to get our skilled legal team at the Wilhite Law Firm working on your Camp Lejeune toxic water exposure claim.
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