Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit Attorneys
A Contaminated Water Supply Harmed Thousands of Marines and Their Families. Contact Us Now To See if You have a Case.
U.S. Marines, their families, and other civilians fell ill from exposure to a contaminated water supply while living and working at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina. From 1953 to 1987, military base residents were exposed to toxic chemicals and carcinogens. Over a million people lived at Camp Lejeune during that time. Tens of thousands have gotten sick or died.
According to the Center for Disease Control’s Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, the Camp Lejeune water contained up to 280 times the standard safety level in their water supply used for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and bathing. Illnesses resulting from this consumption include various cancers, Parkinson's Disease, birth defects and pregnancy complications, including miscarriages.
If you lived or worked at Camp Lejeune and were exposed to the contaminated water supply, the attorneys at Grimes Teich Anderson will do our best to help you receive the compensation you deserve. Contact our injury and disability lawyers today by calling 800-533-6845 or by submitting a free case evaluation form on our website.
Am I Eligible for Benefits Resulting From Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune?
To have a case, you must prove that you or a loved one have:
- Served, lived, or worked at Camp Lejeune or MACS New River for at least 30 days from August 1, 1953 to December 31, 1987, and
- Contracted one of the following medical conditions related to time spent at Camp Lejeune:
- Adult leukemia
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Female Infertility
- Hepatic steatosis
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Lung caner
- Miscarriage
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Parkinson’s disease
Other common conditions and diseases resulting from water contamination include:
- Cervical Cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Ovarian cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Rectal cancer
- Brain cancer
- Lung cancer
- Soft tissue cancer
- Cardiac defects
- End-stage renal disease
- Scleroderma
- Stillbirth
- Birth defects
- Impaired immune system function
- Neurological issues
- Skin disorders
- Liver cirrhosis
What Caused Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune?
Two of the eight water treatment plants on the Camp Lejeune military base were contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, vinyl chloride, and other toxic chemicals. These included:
Tarawa Terrace. This water treatment plant on the base was primarily contaminated with PCE perchloroethylene or tetrachloroethylene) due to the waste disposal practices at ABC One-Hour Cleaners, a dry cleaning firm located immediately next to the base.
Hadnot Point. Leaking underground storage tanks, industrial spills, and waste disposal sites contaminated this water treatment plant with primarily TCE (trichloroethylene). Other contaminants included PCE and benzene.
Holcombe Boulevard. Leaking underground storage tanks, industrial spills, and waste disposal sites contaminated this water treatment plant with primarily TCE (trichloroethylene). Other contaminants included PCE and benzene.
If you or a loved one lived at Camp Lejeune between 1953 to 1987 and were exposed to the contaminated water supply, you may be legally entitled to reparations from the U.S. government. Contact the attorneys at Grimes Teich Anderson for a free legal consultation today.
What Happens if you Drink Contaminated Water?
Health effects associated with exposure to water contaminated with toxic chemicals such as TCE, PCE, vinyl chloride, and benzene vary from person to person, but all cases must be taken seriously. Anyone who lived, worked, or served at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River between 1953 and 1987 maybe been exposed to contaminated water.
Depending on various factors, exposure to these toxic chemicals could cause severe illnesses such as cancer and other severe neurological problems and birth defects.
What Law Applies to Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Cases?
Initially, federal law barred claims to seek recovery from the U.S. government. Now, both Houses of Congress have passed The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, part of the larger Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022. The bill, which has also been signed into law by President Biden, allows victims to file claims for financial recovery.
How to File a Claim for Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Illness
If you are suffering from any of the above conditions after living or working at Camp Lejeune during the water supply contamination, now is the time to seek compensation from the federal government.
For your best chance at maximum benefits, the process should be overseen by an experienced attorney. The injury and disability lawyers at Grimes Teich Anderson are ready to hear your story and protect your rights while securing maximum compensation for you and your family.
Will Filing a Claim Cut Off My VA Benefits?
No, filing a claim will not cut off or jeopardize your VA benefits. The new law specifically states that filing a claim will not jeopardize your benefits. In the event of a recovery, there may be a request for a credit against your recovery, but that possible credit may be reduced or even waived. Basically, there is no downside to pursuing this claim.
Is There A Deadline To File A Claim?
Yes, all claims must be filed within two years of the passage of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 into law. The law was passed on August 10, 2022. The statute of limitations is two years from the date of the statute’s enactment. You are required to file your claim by August 10, 2024
Additionally, an individual must exhaust their administrative remedies before filing a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination lawsuit. Once an individual receives a final administrative denial, they have 180 days to file in court. This 180 day rule applies even if the two year limitations period has expired.
Medical records and other evidence must be obtained, and if the claimant is deceased an Estate needs to be opened. This can all be timely and complicated. Do not prejudice your case by waiting. We encourage all interested persons to pursue their rights now to avoid the risk of their claim being time-barred.
Protecting Veterans and Their Families Across The Carolinas
The United States government is supposed to protect our military service members and veterans and must be held accountable when they fail. If you or anyone in your family suffers from an illness from exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, the injury and disability attorneys at Grimes Teich Anderson are on your side. We will glean a complete understanding of your experience, guide you through the claims process, and bring your case to justice.
Contact us by filling out and submitting the form online or calling our office toll-free at 800-533-6845 for a free legal consultation today.
We have multiple locations in the Carolinas to serve you
Grimes Teich Anderson offers free injury consultations and can get started on your case electronically.
ASHEVILLE OFFICE
535 College St,
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 251-0800
Personal Injury Fax:
(828) 210-0178
Workers' Comp Fax:
(828) 236-9200
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244 Porter St Suite D,
Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 564-2488
Personal Injury Fax:
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Workers' Comp Fax:
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Rutherfordton, NC 28139
(828) 286-1033
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12474 NC-226,
Spruce Pine, NC 28777
(828) 766-7700
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385 N Haywood St,
Waynesville, NC 28786
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GREENVILLE OFFICE
111 E North St,
Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: (864) 421-0770
Fax: (877) 518-0107
*Each case is different, so not all information on this website, as well as some which may not be provided, will apply to every case. Because the facts and relevant laws are different from case to case, Grimes Teich Anderson does not guarantee that the outcome, results, or experiences with one lawyer or one case will be similar to another.
Except for Employment Law Cases, Attorney's fees are a percentage of the entire recovery and will be deducted before other expenses. In addition to the fee in these cases, Client will be responsible for litigation expenses, which will either be deducted from the recovery or paid by the client. Some Employment Law Cases may be handled on a contingency fee basis and others handled on an hourly basis, where the client is billed for the hours spent on the case. Based on our experience, we will advise you of the most appropriate fee arrangement in Employment Law cases.
Material on this website is for information purposes and is not legal advice.