Maison Law is representing residents of California who experienced serious health issues including birth defects such as oral cleft defect after exposure to toxic water at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
Contact us today for a free legal consultation if you or a loved one suffered from birth defects due to a mother’s exposure to chemicals known to be in Camp Lejeune’s water supply between 1953 and 1987.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act for Oral Cleft Defect Victims
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) was signed into law in August of 2022. The act removes legal obstacles so that victims of Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water can file injury claims against the Department of Defense.
Somewhere around a million people were subjected to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and may have suffered severe health issues. This harmful exposure was passed on to countless babies still in the womb of mothers who had contact with tainted water supplies. Some of those babies were born with birth defects like oral cleft defects. Some may have suffered developmental issues. Some may have later developed childhood cancers.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act opens the door for victims of birth defects, their parents, and other members of a victim’s family to demand financial support from the federal government. This claim for damages could earn victims the compensation they need to pay their medical bills, past and present. A victim who suffered from birth defects and has since passed on is still eligible for a financial award. Families may file a claim on a loved one’s behalf and earn long overdue compensation.
To receive compensation, victims suffering from birth defects or their parents must prove they were exposed to Camp Lejeune’s toxic water for a total of 30 days or more at any point between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. The 30 days of exposure do not have to have been consecutive.
Oral Cleft Defects Caused by Exposure to Camp Lejeune Toxic Water
Oral cleft defects are some of the most common birth defects. They occur when a baby’s mouth and palate don’t form correctly during pregnancy.
The CDC lists two forms of oral cleft defects but babies affected can suffer from both:
- Cleft lip – When tissue that makes up the lip does not join completely before birth. This results in an opening in the upper lip.
- Cleft palate – The palate is the roof of the mouth. A cleft palate means the tissue in the roof of the mouth doesn’t grow together during development in the womb, leaving a hole.
The CDC finds that About 1 in every 2,800 babies is born with a cleft lip in the United States. Children suffering from a cleft lip or palate endure feeding problems and have issues speaking clearly. They may also experience hearing difficulties and problems as teeth develop.
Trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) are two of the chemicals detected in Camp Lejeune water supplies in the 1980s. They are thought to have been present for three decades or more before that. The CDC confirms that at least one study has shown a link between TCE and PCE exposure and the development of oral cleft defects.
Compensation Available for Oral Cleft Defect Victims and Their Loved Ones
Camp Lejeune water crisis victims living in California don’t need to guess if they qualify for federal compensation for their hardships. Speaking with a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawyer in a free case review is a great way to confirm eligibility. It’s also a no-risk way to determine just how much oral cleft defect victims may be due.
Your Camp Lejeune birth defect attorney would prepare strong evidence and negotiate to get the most out of any settlement with the U.S. Department of Defense.
The following factors and others will be key when the amount of your Camp Lejeune contaminated water settlement is determined:
- Past, current, and future medical bills.
- Future surgery costs. Additional support for oral cleft defect victims who may require additional surgery as adults to repair clefts or reduce the visibility of a scar.
- Support for the pain victims endure while living with birth defects. Some victims may have had to live with a permanent loss of function in the mouth, lips, or palate. Pain could have been suffered during surgeries that may be necessary years after birth.
- Support for the emotional trauma oral cleft defect patients and their families endure. Support for the emotional trauma parents experienced while worrying over a child’s wellbeing. Help with the self-image issues victims may develop.
- Support for a loss of quality of life.
- Travel costs. The often substantial costs of transportation to take a child to see specialists and to surgery dates. Consultations may have been out-of-city or out-of-state and overnight lodging should also be reimbursed.
- Wrongful death benefits. Families of Camp Lejeune water victims can ask for birth defect compensation for patients who, tragically, may have already passed on before being able to seek justice.
How Long Do I Have to File a Camp Lejeune Justice Act Claim?
Two years from the passage of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. The CLJA was signed into law on August 10, 2022. Victims must file an injury claim by August 10, 2024 or risk having their cases rejected.
Contact a California Camp Lejeune Oral Cleft Defect Lawyer
Exposure to Camp Lejeune contaminated water may have caused thousands of pregnant mothers to give birth to children with oral cleft defects. Many victims and their family members now live in places like Los Angeles, the Bay Area, or around Camp Pendleton in Oceanside.
Maison Law has made itself available to represent California’s victims of birth defects due to a mother’s contact with Camp Lejeune’s polluted water. Maison Law is also available to assist families who intend to file on behalf of a birth defect victim who has since passed on.
Contact attorney Martin Gasparian for a free, no-obligation case consultation for you and your family. This consultation is completely confidential.
