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For decades, the water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with chemicals like TCE, PCE, benzene, and vinyl chloride. Over a million people were exposed to these chemicals, and many became sick or died. Thanks to new legislation, victims and their families can get compensation.
MDSW Legal is helping families exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune join a new lawsuit against the federal government. The government has agreed to compensate families who can prove exposure and harm. Our Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit lawyers in Summerville can help you make your claim.
Requirements to Join the Lawsuit
The new legislation, as outlined in the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, requires victims or their caretakers to prove three things to join the lawsuit:
- You lived in Camp Lejeune between August 1953 and December 1987. It does not matter if you were military, civilian, adult, child, or even in-utero.
- You lived on the base for at least 30 days.
- You became sick or had a loved one die because of the chemicals in the water.
Scientists have identified over 70 chemicals in the water supply at Camp Lejeune, so the possible illnesses are enormous. There are 15 illnesses in particular that the Veterans Administration links to Camp Lejeune contaminated water. These illnesses are:
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Female infertility
- Hepatic steatosis
- Kidney cancer
- Leukemia
- Lung cancer
- Miscarriage
- Multiple myeloma
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Renal toxicity
- Scleroderma
These are all serious diseases with lifelong effects. Many are fatal. With the help of our Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit lawyers, we can get you and your family money to help pay for care and cover other expenses caused by the toxic exposure.
How Much Could I Get?
As of this writing (October, 2022), the courts are still working out how much money victims will get. This is a mass tort case. The courts will complete several bellwether cases to get an idea of how much victims are owed in compensation. Usually the worst cases appear before the court.
Using those results as a baseline, the court will work out how to classify the amount of harm caused for all the other victims in the case. When we appear before the court, we will present our evidence of how you were harmed and fight to get the court to give you as much as possible.
Fortunately for victims, this case is a strict liability case. As long as you can prove the requirements above, you will get compensated. You and your Camp Lejeune water contamination attorney do not have to prove negligence.
You Have Two Years to File
If you have tried to get compensation in the past, North Carolina’s courts may have denied you because of their statute of limitations laws. The new federal law overrides that statute of limitations, but also adds in a new one.
You have two years from August, 2022 to file your claim before this opportunity for compensation disappears forever. Now is the time to act to get compensation. Hiring one of our Summerville Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit lawyers will cost you nothing unless you win your case.
With the help of a lawyer, you can raise your chances of successfully joining the lawsuit and your amount of compensation. Joining this case on your own will be hard, especially if you’re suffering from serious illnesses. We urge you to contact MDSW Legal if you live in Summerville and were exposed to toxic Camp Lejeune water.
Receiving Further Compensation
You may have filed an earlier lawsuit or sought money for care from the VA, Medicare, or Medicaid. If so, and you join this lawsuit, the amount of money you’ve already received will reduce your amount of compensation from the lawsuit.
If your illness has worsened or you’ve had new illnesses appear since you’ve been diagnosed, you could be eligible for more money. You will need the advice of a lawyer familiar with these issues, like the team at MDSW Legal.
If you disagree with the amount of money offered by the court, you do have the right to request a jury trial. This is a risky legal move, but it could get you further compensation if you win. Our Summerville Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit attorneys can advise you on how to proceed.
Dangerous Chemicals in Camp Lejeune’s Water
Four chemicals are at the heart of the lawsuit, though there are many others found in the water:
Trichloroethylene (TCE) and Perchloroethylene (PCE)
TCE and PCE are used in dry cleaning and metal stripping. One major source of contamination was a nearby dry cleaner that let these chemicals into the base’s water supply. The CDC has released FAQs on the toxicity of these chemicals. The links are:
Benzene
Benzene is used in the manufacture of thousands of products, including many plastics. It can be found in nature in crude oil and sometimes due to intense natural disasters like forest fires and volcanoes. Long-term exposure to benzene will damage bone marrow and the immune system, causing anemia and other diseases. The CDC’s FAQ on benzene explains further side effects.
Vinyl Chloride
Vinyl chloride is used to create PVC and other plastics, plus other industrial uses. TCE can break down into vinyl chloride. It is not a chemical in nature and causes serious damage to the nerves and the liver. Here is more information on the effects of vinyl chloride from the CDC.
Despite their utility, these are harmful chemicals and should never be consumed. Yet the government ignored signs of illness for decades. Now, thanks to years of advocacy, victims can get compensation. You need to call MDSW right now before your chance slips away.
Contact MDSW Legal
Reach out to our Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit lawyers in Summerville by calling the number on your screen or sending us an email. We will set up a consultation meeting with you about your experience at Camp Lejeune. Your consultation is free and without obligation.
If we feel you have a case, we can help you become part of this historical mass tort lawsuit before the deadline. Do not let this chance go by. Contact us at Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward now. The worst we can say is that you don’t have a case.
