Legally Reviewed
This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy and clarity by Tort Defenders’ writers and staff and is as accurate as possible. This content should not be taken as legal advice from an attorney.
U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune was built in the early 1940s on the coast of North Carolina. Recruits, their families, and other on-site personnel lived and worked on base, relying on water produced by local wells for all of their needs. Many people drank the tap water, bathed in it, and used it in the on-based schools and hospitals. However, this water was severely contaminated.
Poor disposal of industrial solvents and waste from the nearby fuel depot increased the levels of harsh chemicals consumed by residents of Camp Lejeune. Many researchers also attribute an off-base dry cleaner as another major source of contamination. Today, there are several lawsuits because of chronic diseases and cancers that developed shortly after serving on base.
As of January 2024, there were more than 160,000 cases filed against Camp Lejeune because of this water contamination, according to a Bloomberg report. Thousands more are expected. This will significantly affect the compensation to victims because of the sheer number of beneficiaries. Whatever payout is ordered by the Eastern District of North Carolina judges will need to be divided by all of these plaintiffs.
Regardless of the compensation, it’s important to stay up to date about the Camp Lejeune lawsuit, especially if you believe you’ve been affected.
Timeline of Important Events
Camp Lejeune opened as a military base in 1941 to keep up with the demand for trained servicemen in WWII. However, this base is known more for its water contamination than heroics during America’s wars. Here is a timeline of events from the first contaminants to today.
- 1953: The Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR) estimates that the water at Camp Lejeune first reached unhealthy levels.
- 1957: The Tarawa Terrace water treatment plant was contaminated and provided toxic drinking water to residents and employees on the base. The contamination continued for 346 months.
- 1985: Nearly 30 years later, the most contaminated wells are shut down. The water sources were at least partially contaminated until February 1987.
- 1999: The U.S. Marine Corps started to notify people who served and lived at Camp Lejeune to alert them to potential exposure to chemicals.
- 2009: The first contaminated water lawsuit was filed against Camp Lejeune.
- 2021: The Camp Lejeune Justice Act was introduced to Congress and was signed into law in 2022.
The claims process is still in the works for anyone who lived at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987. The deadline to file a claim is August 10, 2024.
Updates for Ongoing Lawsuits
As of January 2024, Bloomberg reports that 160,000 people have filed claims against Camp Lejeune for being exposed to toxic water. More victims are expected to come forward by the August 2024 deadline. Four judges are presiding over these cases and have agreed that the suits need to move quickly to bring justice and compensation to the veterans and their families affected.
“It’s frustrating to have this enormous load hanging over our heads,” says Judge Terrence Boyle, one of the four judges quoted in the Bloomberg report. “There’s no case like this in the history of America.”
Who Was Affected by the Contamination?
If you worked or lived on base at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, you may have been contaminated by the toxic water. The contaminated water was used by families for drinking, cooking, bathing, and laundry. Workers and service personnel used the water during drills, in the hospital, and schools. Any water used or consumed was deemed unsafe for human consumption.
Look at your life timeline to determine if you were on base during this time and consider your health in the years following your service. You might be able to prove a correlation between your time at Camp Lejeune and any health complications that followed.
Possible Conditions Related to Contamination
Military personnel who were stationed at Camp Lejeune during the period of water contamination had a 20% higher risk of developing a variety of cancers than those stationed elsewhere. Here are a few types of cancer found in residents of Camp Lejeune, along with other conditions caused by water contamination.
- Adult and childhood leukemia: This includes cancer of the blood cells, bone marrow, and lymphatic systems.
- Various other cancers: This includes bladder, kidney, liver, breast, lung, and esophageal cancer.
- Reproductive issues: In particular, higher rates of miscarriage and difficulty conceiving were reported among Camp Lejeune contamination victims.
- Birth defects in children of victims: These can range from cleft palate to physical or mental developmental delays.
Many of these illnesses qualify as presumptive conditions, which means you do not need to prove that your service caused the condition.
Who Qualifies for Compensation?
The cases against Camp Lejeune are considered a mass tort lawsuit, which means there are many of the same claims against a single party. There are currently more than 160,000 people suing Camp Lejeune for exposing them to contaminated water. If you served on base during the window of contamination, 1953 to 1987, and developed illnesses following your service, you might qualify to join this suit.
You don’t have to file a suit on your own. Contact a lawyer to discuss your case and learn about your options. You might be able to join this mass tort and receive compensation for your pain.
How To File a Claim
To file a claim against Camp Lejeune and join this mass tort, here’s what you need to do.
- Start by filling out this claim form. Answer basic questions about your time and Camp Lejeune and the experiences that followed.
- Talk to a lawyer. Discuss your case with a legal professional who wants to move your case forward.
- Gather your records. Pull together any documents you have that prove you served at Camp Lejeune and developed cancer or other medical conditions afterward.
Your legal team will guide you through the claims process one step at a time. You shouldn’t feel overwhelmed or pressured to move forward. Ultimately, the goal behind the Camp Lejeune lawsuit is justice for its victims.
Camp Lejeune Today
Today, the water at Camp Lejeune is safe to drink and bathe in. Service personnel on the base can feel safe when they are stationed there.
That being said, the history behind this site speaks for itself. The contamination at Camp Lejeune is a crime that affected hundreds of thousands of people. The lawsuits against the camp can support the victims and their families, while the environmental clean-up efforts can project future generations. Everyone deserves access to clean water, especially in a situation where they live and work on the same site.