Two water systems at Camp Lejeune were found to be contaminated by chemical solvents in 1985. Those were the Hadnot Point system and the Tarawa Terrace System. They were found to be contaminated with the following dangerous chemical solvents:
- Trichlorethylene (TCE).
- Tetrachlorethylene/Perchloroethylene (PCE).
- Vinyl chloride.
There is a Link Between Camp Lejeune Water and Cancers and Diseases
If you’re a veteran who served at Camp Lejeune, you may have consumed or otherwise come into contact with the above contaminants in the base’s water supply. Both scientific and medical evidence have now shown that a link exists between exposure to these contaminants and cancers and diseases. If you served, lived at, were employed at or were otherwise at Camp Lejeune for 30 cumulative days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, and you developed certain cancers or diseases, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the federal government and pursue compensation for the harm that you developed through the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. That harm may have developed through any of the following:
- By exposure to Camp Lejeune water.
- Association with exposure to the water.
- A link to an exposure to the water.
- Exposure to the water increased the likelihood of such harm.
Connecting Your Cancer or Disease With Camp Lejeune’s Contaminated Water
Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, the person who brings the lawsuit against the federal government has the burden of proving his or her case by a preponderance of the evidence. In order to preponderate, that individual’s version of events and the evidence must be more likely true than not true. Like any other personal injury case, the person who brought the lawsuit can preponderate through testimony from a treating physician or retained expert who within a reasonable degree of medical certainty, believes that contaminated water at Camp Lejeune caused the plaintiff’s cancer or disease.
The Use of Studies
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act also permits the use of studies in linking the contaminated water on the base with the cancer or disease complained of in a victim’s lawsuit. Section 2(b)(2) of the statute states that “A study conducted on humans or animals, or from an epidemiological study, which ruled out chance and bias with reasonable confidence and which concluded, with sufficient evidence, that exposure to the water described . . . . is one possible cause of the harm, shall be sufficient to satisfy the burden of proof . . . .” Again, that burden of proof is by a preponderance of the evidence.
Connecting a Camp Lejeune contaminated water victim’s cancer or disease with that water is a complex task that only an experienced, dedicated and aggressive lawyer should be involved in. If you believe that you might be eligible for compensation for the harm done to you by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune that you consumed or used between March 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, contact us for a free consultation and case review with our Camp Lejeune Justice Act lawyer. You’ll be listened to closely, and your questions will be answered. We can then talk about how we might connect your cancer or disease with the contaminated water at the base. Take notice that the Camp Lejeune Justice Act expires on August 10, 2024. A prerequisite of filing an appropriate lawsuit is that a claim must first be filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act. The time for bringing a claim and a lawsuit is running every day. Exercise due diligence and arrange for that consultation as soon as you can. Upon being retained to represent you, our objective will be to obtain the highest settlement or award that you deserve.
