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Contaminated water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, between August 1953 and December 1987 has been linked to many serious health issues. Marines, their family members and contractors may have developed life-altering diseases, such as kidney cancer, as a result of this toxic exposure.
If you or a loved one developed kidney cancer that you believe may be caused by Camp Lejeune water contamination, new legislation allows you to seek compensation. If a claim with the Department of the Navy (DON) is filed but not timely resolved, you may be able to file a Camp Lejeune kidney cancer lawsuit for compensation. There is a deadline for filing a claim – August 09, 2024. If you do not file your Camp Lejeune administrative claim with the DON by that date, it will be forever barred.
Why are people filing Camp Lejeune kidney cancer lawsuits?
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were discovered in the drinking water from two water treatment facilities at Camp Lejeune in 1982. The VOCs found in the water include:
- Benzene
- Tetrachloroethylene/perchloroethylene (PCE)
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Vinyl chloride
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has researched potential harm to people who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune during the period when water was contaminated. Its research has shown a potential link between PCE and TCE exposure and incidences of kidney cancer in people who worked and lived on the base.
To address the health problems experienced by people who lived at or visited Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1953 and December 1987, Congress passed the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022. As part of this legislation, a provision called the Camp Lejeune Justice Act allows a temporary window of time for people and the estate’s of people hurt by their toxic exposure to VOCs at Camp Lejeune to seek compensation from the Department of the Navy (DON). If the DON denies or does not timely resolve a person’s administrative claim, the person may file a lawsuit such as a Camp Lejeune kidney cancer lawsuit.
How to file a Camp Lejeune kidney cancer claim
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act requires that people who believe they’ve been exposed to VOCs at Camp Lejeune file an administrative claim directly with the Department of Navy. The claim must be able to demonstrate that the claimant:
- Was exposed at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987 for at least 30 days.
- Suffered one or more serious health conditions that may be linked to the VOCs that have been found in contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
If the administrative claim is not resolved in six months, or if the claim is denied, claimants or their authorized representatives may file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
If you need help handling this process, contact one of our Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyers.
Deadlines for filing Camp Lejeune kidney cancer compensation claims
If you are considering filing a claim for kidney cancer related to Camp Lejeune water contamination under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, you must file a claim by August 9, 2024. This is two years after President Biden signed the PACT Act into law. CLJA claims not filed by August 9, 2024 will be forever barred. Additionally, you only have 180 days from the date the Department of Navy denies your claim to file a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit. Failing to file a lawsuit within that time period means that the claims are forever barred.
Contact a Camp Lejeune water contamination attorney
If you or a loved one served, worked or lived at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987, and developed severe health complications, a knowledgeable toxic exposure attorney can help you weigh your options for seeking compensation. We are available by email, or you can call 866.855.9017 for more information.
Evidence linking Camp Lejeune toxic water to kidney cancer
In 1982, Marine Corps investigators found VOCs in at least two water treatment plants.
The Tarawa Terrace water treatment plant, which served Tarawa Terrace family housing and Knox trailer park, was found to have high levels of PCE. PCE levels reached 215 parts per billion (ppb) in February 1985, which is substantially higher than the recommended limit of 5 ppb.
Hadnot Point, which served Mainside barracks and Hospital Point family housing, was found to have high levels of TCE from leaking underground storage tanks and waste disposal sites. Hadnot Point also provided supplementary water to the Holcomb Boulevard water treatment plant. TCE levels reached 1,400 ppb in May 1982, which exceeded the current recommended limit of 5 ppb.
While the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has linked PCE and TCE exposure to kidney cancer for Marines and civilians who were at Camp Lejeune, additional research also links these VOCs to kidney cancer. One study of 2,000 individuals found people exposed to TCE have an increased risk of developing kidney cancer. Another study of more than 2,000 individuals found a link between PCE and kidney cancer that was independent of exposure to TCE.
Other conditions linked to Camp Lejeune water contamination
Unfortunately for service members and their families, many serious health conditions in addition to kidney cancer have been linked to toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune. These conditions include:
Aplastic anemia | |
Parkinson's disease | |
Systemic scleroderma | |
Multiple myeloma | Systemic sclerosis |
Other serious health conditions | |
If you or a loved one has suffered from one of these conditions after spending at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune between August 1953 and December 1987, you may be eligible to file a claim. Our Camp Lejeune attorneys are available to discuss your legal options.
Kidney cancer symptoms
For service members, their families, and civilian employees who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune, it can be helpful to know the signs of kidney cancer. The National Library of Medicine reports that the following symptoms may be a sign of kidney cancer:
Symptoms of kidney cancer | |
|---|---|
Blood in urine | Persistent pain in one side of your body |
Loss of appetite | Unexplained weight loss |
Lumps in abdomen | |
Consider speaking with your doctor if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. Treatment is available, and a claim under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act could help with any medical costs you experience. Your doctor may be able to provide medical records that can help you with your claim.
If you need help with the claims process, reach out to a Camp Lejeune attorney at Motley Rice. Our law firm has experience handling toxic exposure claims and can provide you with a free initial case evaluation so you can explore your legal options.
Our history of representing veterans
Motley Rice has a history of helping veterans and their family members seek justice for preventable harms that have caused personal injuries and wrongful deaths.
We have represented claimants in litigation for:
- Exposure to asbestos and other toxic materials
- 3M earplugs and hearing loss
- EFP roadside bombs manufactured by terrorists
- Exposure to toxins released from burn pits at military facilities
Our law firm has the experience to help you with your claim, litigate your case, and negotiate for a Camp Lejeune settlement.
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