Camp Lejeune Water Contamination

Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit — Military Base Toxic Exposure

For 34 years, the drinking water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina was severely contaminated with carcinogenic and toxic chemicals. Veterans, service members, civilian employees, and family members who were exposed face an elevated risk of cancer and other serious illnesses. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act, enacted in 2022, now allows claims against the federal government. Trial Lawyers United represents Camp Lejeune-exposed individuals seeking recovery.

Camp Lejeune: Water Contamination Timeline

Camp Lejeune is one of the largest Marine Corps installations in the United States. From 1953 to 1987, contaminated groundwater was used for drinking, cooking, bathing, and firefighting. Key facts:

• Duration: 34 years of continuous contamination (August 1953 – December 1987).
• Scope: Affected thousands of service members, civilians, and family members.
• Discovery: Contamination was not publicly disclosed until 1982; remediation efforts began in 1985 and were not completed until 1987.
• Military response: The military initially downplayed risks; decades passed before acknowledging the seriousness of exposure.

Contaminants in Camp Lejeune Drinking Water

The contamination consisted of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other hazardous chemicals:

• Trichloroethylene (TCE): A powerful solvent; known human carcinogen classified by EPA; used in dry cleaning and degreasing.
• Perchloroethylene (PCE): Another solvent; probable human carcinogen; used in dry cleaning.
• Benzene: Volatile organic compound; known human carcinogen; component of gasoline.
• Vinyl chloride: Plastic production chemical; known human carcinogen.
• Other VOCs: Including 1,4-dioxane, trichlorofluoromethane, and others.

Some wells had contamination at levels 240–5,400 times federal drinking water standards.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022

In response to decades of neglect, Congress enacted the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) as part of the Preventing All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act. Key provisions:

• Covered period: August 1, 1953 – December 31, 1987.
• Covered individuals: Military service members, civilian employees, family members, and contractors exposed to contaminated water for 30 or more cumulative days during the covered period.
• Cause of action: Creates a federal tort claim against the U.S. government; filed in federal district court.
• Statute of limitations: Must file within 10 years of the CLJA’s enactment (by August 2032).
• No requirement to exhaust administrative remedies: Direct suit in federal court; bypasses traditional government tort claims procedures.

Camp Lejeune-Related Illnesses and Cancers

The military and VA have recognized specific conditions as presumptively caused by Camp Lejeune water exposure:

• Kidney cancer: Elevated incidence in exposed population.
• Liver cancer: Carcinogenic VOC exposure linked to hepatic malignancy.
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: B-cell lymphoma linked to TCE exposure.
• Bladder cancer: Urinary tract exposure to VOCs.
• Leukemia: Including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
• Parkinson’s disease: Neurodegenerative condition linked to TCE and PCE exposure.
• Birth defects and miscarriage: Exposure during pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester.
• Other conditions: Aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, and other chemically-induced illnesses.

Who May Qualify for a Camp Lejeune Justice Act Claim?

• Military personnel stationed at Camp Lejeune for 30+ cumulative days between August 1953 and December 1987.
• Military family members living on base during the contamination period.
• Civilian employees working at Camp Lejeune during the covered period.
• Department of Defense contractors with on-base exposure.
• All must have a diagnosed Camp Lejeune-presumed illness or other condition reasonably linked to water contamination exposure.

Evidence Needed to Support Your Claim

• Military service records: DD 214, duty assignments, deployment orders showing presence at Camp Lejeune during covered period.
• Family member documentation: Dependent ID cards, housing records, or military records showing family member status.
• Medical records: Diagnosis confirmation, treatment records, lab work establishing onset and progression of illness.
• Temporal relationship: Illness diagnosis with reasonable latency period following exposure (latency varies by disease type).

Litigation Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act

Claims filed under the CLJA are brought in federal district court and apply federal tort law principles. Trial Lawyers United assists clients in:

• Establishing exposure: Documenting service dates and location at Camp Lejeune.
• Proving causation: Using epidemiological evidence and expert testimony to establish that Camp Lejeune exposure caused your illness.
• Calculating damages: Assessing medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and in serious cases, the value of a shortened life.

Frequently Asked Questions

I served at Camp Lejeune in the 1970s but have no cancer diagnosis yet. Should I wait?

You should not wait. Statute of limitations begins accruing now. Even if you do not yet have a diagnosis, the August 2032 deadline applies to all claims. If you develop a covered condition in the future, you want to have filed before the deadline. We recommend contacting us now to discuss your exposure and begin the claim process.

I was at Camp Lejeune for only 2 weeks. Do I qualify?

The statute requires 30 cumulative days. If your military records show multiple assignments or deployments to Camp Lejeune, we may be able to aggregate the days to reach the 30-day threshold. We review your complete service record to determine eligibility.

What if family members were exposed but I was not?

Family members exposed for 30+ days during the covered period can file claims independently of the service member. Spouses and children who lived on base may have separate claims.

What compensation is available?

Recovery includes medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and for serious illnesses or shortened life expectancy, substantial general damages. We estimate each case based on the specific illness, prognosis, and impact on quality of life.