Articles

Big Picture Look at the Bill for Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Contamination Claims

A new federal law, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, allows certain individuals to sue and recover damages for harm from exposure to contaminated water at the Camp Lejeune military training facility in Jacksonville, North Carolina between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. This action is available only to veterans and other individuals who were exposed to contaminated water for at least 30 days during that period. 

The legislation prohibits the U.S. government from asserting specified immunity from litigation in response to such a lawsuit, and also prohibits an individual who brings such an action from bringing a separate tort action against the United States based on the same harm.

It was included in the bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022, which in its entirety provides the largest expansion of benefits for service-connected health issues in over three decades and provides coverage for those affected by exposure to burn pits, other harmful toxins, and the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

Contamination of the Water at Camp Lejeune

Although there were many toxic chemicals found within the water supply at Camp Lejeune, the 4 main and most dangerous chemicals found within the water were trichlorethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride. Primarily, these chemicals are utilized for dry cleaning and manufacturing products, and can be found within the various plastics, pesticides, packing materials, and pipes used.

Resulting Medical Conditions & Possible Personal Injury Claims

Since these chemicals are toxic and not safe for human contact or consumption, they have the devastating potential to cause serious medical conditions such as neurological problems, cancer and other diseases. Pregnant women exposed to the toxic also have the potential to miscarry and give birth to babies with birth defects. Recently scientific and medical research has found a direct causal link between the exposure to the contaminated water and serious health inflictions, including but not limited to:

• Adult leukemia
• Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
• Bladder cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Liver cancer
• Multiple myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Parkinson’s disease

If you or a loved one has sustained a serious injury after exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, an experienced personal injury attorney can help. It is important to consult with a lawyer early to investigate your options, and preserve crucial evidence. For assistance with these matters, please contact us to learn more.

Contact Us for a Free Consultation

About the author: Peter J. Gregory is a partner with MCCM Personal Injury Lawyers in Rochester NY.  He is a trial lawyer with extensive experience resolving disputes in state and federal trial courts. As a personal injury lawyer, Gregory focuses on advising clients who have been injured or lost loved ones in accidents caused by the carelessness or recklessness of others. Please feel free to contact him directly at pgregory@mccmlaw.com or (585) 512-3506.

This publication is intended as an information source for clients, prospective clients, and colleagues and constitutes attorney advertising. The content should not be considered legal advice and readers should not act upon information in this publication without individualized professional counsel.

About MCCM

McConville Considine Cooman & Morin, P.C. is a full-service law firm based in Rochester, New York, providing high-quality legal services to businesses and individuals since 1979.  With over a dozen attorneys and a full paralegal support staff, the firm is well-positioned to right-size services tailored to each client. We are large enough to provide expertise in a broad range of practice areas, yet small enough to devote prompt, personal attention to our clients.

We represent a diverse range of clients located throughout New York State and New England.  They include individuals, numerous manufacturing and service industry businesses, local governments, and health care professionals, provider groups, facilities and associations. We also serve as local counsel to out-of-state clients and their attorneys who have litigation pending in Western New York courts.  For more information, please contact us at 585.546.2500.