Determined WV Attorneys Seek Compensation for Camp Lejeune Water Contamination

Morgantown mass tort lawyers fight for veterans and families who lived on military base

By now, millions of Americans know that the water used for drinking and washing at the U.S Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina was contaminated with potent cancer-causing chemicals from 1953 to 1987. That contamination has caused severe health problems for service members and their families, who are now eligible for VA disability benefits. However, recent developments have paved the way for negligence lawsuits, so victims of Camp Lejeune’s harmful water can collect full personal injury compensation. At Mountaineer Injury Law Group in Morgantown and Martinsburg, I represent victims in Camp Lejeune claims. We provide aggressive advocacy to recover the compensation you so richly deserve.

Health problems linked to tainted water at Camp Lejeune

The Veterans Administration has listed the following conditions that are presumed to have been caused by tainted water at Camp Lejeune for individuals who lived on the base during the relevant time period:

• Bladder cancer
• Breast cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Female infertility
• Hepatic steatosis
• Kidney cancer
• Leukemia
• Lung cancer
• Miscarriage
• Multiple myeloma
• Myelodysplastic syndromes
• Neurobehavioral effects
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Renal toxicity
• Scleroderma

In addition, many vets have complained of other health conditions that may ultimately prove to be related to the toxic substances within Lejeune’s water supply.

How the PACT Act helps injured veterans seek justice

In response to the mounting evidence of negligence at Camp Lejeune, Congress passed the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, also known as the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022. The law creates a cause of action for negligence, empowering veterans and their families to sue for harm suffered from exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

To resolve claims made under the PACT Act, the U.S. Justice Department and the Department of the Navy created a voluntary process, called the “Elective Option.” This provides a channel for expedited settlement of Camp Lejeune claims, which are classified into these categories:

• Tier 1 — Claimants with diagnoses of presumptive conditions would receive settlements of $450,000, $300,000 or $150,000, depending on the length of exposure to Camp Lejeune water. The highest figure is for victims with more than five years’ exposure. Other amounts are for those between one and five years, and between 30 and 364 days, respectively.
• Tier 2 — Claimants with possibly related conditions would receive settlements of $400,000, $250,000, or $100,000, depending on the length of exposure to Camp Lejeune water using the same timeframes.
• Death claims — The victim’s survivors would receive an additional $100,000.

I will review the facts in your case and advise you regarding the documentation that can support your claim.

Your eligibility to file a Camp Lejeune negligence claim

To have standing you sue based on a Lejeune-related illness, you must prove one of the following:

• You lived, worked, or were otherwise exposed at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days total between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, or
• Your mother lived, worked, or was otherwise exposed at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days total between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, while pregnant with you

The PACT Act does not affect any claimant’s rights to VA benefits related to Camp Lejeune.

How to file a claim                                       

The Pact Act, together with the Elective Option, provides choices for how to proceed with your claim. But you should not act without first consulting a knowledgeable mass torts attorney. The success of your claim can depend on the quality of the information in your filing. I know how to prepare claims that are likely to win prompt approval and am determined to secure a measure of justice for veterans.

Contact a WV mass torts attorney for assistance with your Camp Lejeune illness claim                   

Mountaineer Injury Law Group represents West Virginia veterans and their families who suffered harm due to contaminated Camp Lejeune water. Please call 304-202-5835 or contact me online to schedule a free consultation in Morgantown or Martinsburg.