Former Marines and their families who lived at the Tarawa Terrace family housing units at Camp Lejeune from late 1957 until early 1987, drank, bathed in, cooked with and otherwise used contaminated drinking water from the Tarawa Terrace water treatment facility.
Although more than 70 contaminants were found in samples, trichlorethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene and vinyl chloride were of the utmost concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, perchloroethylene from both on-base and off-base dry-cleaning businesses was the most harmful of the contaminants. After the discovery of the contaminants, the water treatment plant at Tarawa Terrace was shut down.
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Cancers and Conditions Linked to Contaminated Tarawa Terrace Water
The contaminated water at Tarawa Terrace has been scientifically linked to a wide variety of cancers and physical illnesses. Just some of them include but aren’t limited to the following:
- Brain, esophageal, breast, lung, kidney, bladder, liver, cervical, ovarian and other cancers.
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
- Parkinson’s disease.
- Aplastic anemia.
- Neurological disorders.
- Female infertility.
- Birth defects.
- Wrongful death.
- Other physical disorders.
Tarwara Terrace Water Contamination Studies
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, wanted to better understand the scope of contamination caused by toxic water at the Tarawa Terrace water treatment plant.
Researchers used computer modeling techniques to simulate the flow of polluted water at Tarawa Terrace and the water system extending out from it. These methods were used because water-testing data from Tarawa Terrace Water wasn’t reliable before 1982. These models offer scientists some data to base their research on.
Source: ATSDR
The study approximated the possible path that PCE spills and leaks from the nearby dry-cleaning facility may have taken through groundwater. This gave researchers a better idea of how toxic chemicals made it into the water system and how long they were there. The data estimates how much PCE was present and when it made it into homes and buildings on the Marine Corps Base over the years.
Source: ATSDR
A summary of ATSDR findings was released. Researchers report that levels of PCE in water supplied by Tarwara Terrace wells were likely above safe standards by 1957 and perhaps earlier.
It’s hoped that this detailed look at toxic water distribution can help researchers trying to pinpoint potential health issues created by this contamination. The contamination data is expected to be used in studies focused on establishing a link between exposure for expectant mothers and birth defects like spina bifida and childhood cancers.
The Statute of Limitations
What comes to issue with the Camp Lejeune water contamination is that its serious adverse effects weren’t discovered until long after the North Carolina two-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases had expired. Courthouse doors were closed to victims seeking compensation for their injuries and damages. Without government intervention, they were forever barred from seeking compensation for the damages that they suffered.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act
On August 10, 2022, and after being passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, President Joe Biden signed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act that extends the statute of limitations in Camp Lejeune contaminated water cases to August 10, 2024. Victims must first file a claim with the federal government, and it the claim is denied, they can then file suit against the government pursuant to the camp Lejeune Justice Act. We expect that the government will deny nearly all claims. Damages that can be sought under the act include the following:
- Past and future medical bills.
- Past and future lost earnings
- Any permanent disability or disfigurement.
- Pain and suffering.
- Emotional distress.
- Other valuable damages in the event of a wrongful death.
Eligibility Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act
If you are a veteran, a family member of a veteran or a civilian who lived at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, and suffered a cancer or illness that is linked to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you’re likely eligible to bring a claim and personal injury lawsuit under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. The 30-day requirement need not be continuous. Again, the law requires that a claim be made with the federal government before you can file your lawsuit. If your claim is rejected, you can file your personal injury lawsuit immediately.
Assuming that you or a family member are eligible to file a lawsuit under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, you’re going to need professional input and advocacy from the start. You can get off on the right foot by contacting our Camp Lejeune Justice Act lawyer here at Maison Law for a free confidential consultation and case review. Your questions will be answered and we’ll provide you with an overview of all of your legal options. Upon being retained to represent you, we’ll file your claim right away. Remember that you only have until August 10, 2024, to get your lawsuit on file. Contact us as soon as you can for that free consultation and case review.
