The Camp Lejeune Justice Act is intended to allow veterans, their family members or federal employees who were affected by contaminated water at the military base to seek monetary compensation for their injuries, illnesses and damages. People who lived, worked or were otherwise present on the base for 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1967, including those in utero during that time period are eligible for compensation for the harm caused to them by Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water. Wrongful deaths, miscarriages and birth defects are also contemplated under this new law.
The Sufficiency of the Evidence
As per the Environmental Protection Agency, the long list and variety of symptoms that can be attributable to contaminated water can vary from person to person. Symptoms might also be attributable to other causes like cigarettes or chewing tobacco. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act focuses on water supplied by or on behalf of the United States that caused harm to eligible individuals by their exposure to that water. The pivotal word on the statute’s intent is “sufficient.” The clear language of the controlling statute doesn’t require a cancer or illness developed by a victim of contaminated Camp Lejeune water to be a direct and proximate cause of his or her cancer or physical illness. It need only be sufficient to conclude that a causal relationship exists, or that a causal relationship is at least as likely as not.
Tobacco Use and the Camp Lejeune Justice Act
Certain types of cancers and physical illnesses are strongly linked to the following contaminants in the Camp Lejeune water supply:
- Trichlorethylene (TCE)
- Tetrachlorethylene (PCE)
- Benzene
- Vinyl chloride
Of these contaminants, only benzene is found in tobacco products, and any such contamination is likely far below acceptable levels. That fact substantially increases the possibility that a causal relationship exists between the above contaminants and a wide variety of cancers and illnesses that have resulted from contaminated Camp Lejeune water.
If you smoked or chewed tobacco products at any time in your life, that may or may not have been the cause of your cancer or illnesses. Your medical records might be determinative. You can contact our Camp Lejeune Justice Act Lawyer here at Maison Law for free consultation and case evaluation. He’s going to be pleased to speak with you and give you his full attention. After that, all of your legal options will be explained to you. The window of opportunity under this subject legislation closes on August 10, 2024, so you need to exercise due diligence. As we take these cases on a contingency fee basis, not a single penny is required up front to retain us. As it’s not going to cost you anything to protect your rights by speaking with our dedicated and aggressive Camp Lejeune Justice Act lawyer, do so at your earliest possible convenience. If we enter into a retainer agreement with you, our objective will be to obtain the highest settlement or award that you deserve. Remember that Camp Lejeune water and not tobacco products may have been the cause of your cancer or illness.
Contact us for a free, no-obligation case consultation for you and/or your family.
