Summary of Camp Lejeune Contamination
From 1953 to 1987, water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with toxic chemicals, which ultimately resulted in a class action lawsuit. Lejeune Marine Corps Base, located on the eastern coast of North Carolina, provides training for about 180,000 Marines and their families each year. It is regarded as one of the largest military bases in the nation. It is also infamous for the tainted water that was delivered to military personnel, employees, and families at the base in 1968.
Dr. Ronald Disney, a Navy commander, discovered in 1957 that drinking water was contaminated with Tetrachloroethylene, or PCE, a toxic solvent used by marines and civilians to clean automobile parts. Later, in 1977, it was discovered that the water was also contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE), a solvent that was used to reduce corrosion on metal surfaces. The contamination likely spread from spills and leaks at the Hadnot Point Dry Cleaning Facility, where a PCE spill was initially discovered , as well as leaking storage tank systems throughout the base. The leaks and spills spread throughout the groundwater and resulted in wells being contaminated as far away as 3.5 miles from the point where the leaks and spills occurred.
The company responsible for the contamination, ABC One-Hour Cleaners, was forced into bankruptcy in 1983, due to fact that it was unable to pay for the damage caused by the cleanup. Evidence of how heavily military personnel and their families were affected by the contamination includes the fact that military personnel reported smelling strange odors coming from the water and that, in addition to suffering symptoms of the illnesses associated with the contamination, dermatological diseases affected 50 percent of women and children who drank from the tap.
When water contamination was discovered at Camp Lejeune, fewer than 200 Marines responded and turned off the spigot at the Hadnot Point treatment plant. However, an additional 13 years passed before the water was tested and discovered to be contaminated with volatile organic compounds.
Health Effects in Those Exposed
Over the years, the Camp Lejeune water contamination has been linked to various illnesses and diseases. These include cancers, such as: bladder cancer, breast cancer, kidney cancer, lung cancer, multiple myeloma, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes (dysfunctional blood cell production), non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Parkinson’s disease and prostate cancer.
Besides these, other diseases include:
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Hepatic Steatosis
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Birth Defects
Infertility
All these diseases and health problems are linked to exposure to the benzene, trichloroethylene, vinyl chloride and other toxic compounds present in the water supply at Camp Lejeune.
Studies have shown that people exposed to these toxins on base were at an 89 percent higher risk of getting certain types of cancer. This is why the government modified the exclusion period to allow people who have already gotten sick from the water to seek reparations for their suffering.
Bell Law Firm and Camp Lejeune Cases
Bell Law Firm, led by experienced trial attorney and military veteran, R. Andrew Bell, is committed to obtaining justice for victims of the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination. The firm team draws on decades of experience as Navy leaders to fight on behalf of those harmed at Camp Lejeune. The Campbell, Alabama-based firm works to help individuals understand their legal options regarding the next steps toward obtaining compensation. Andrew Bell knows well the pain of military families torn apart by exposure to toxic substances, having simultaneously served in the Navy, managed a private practice and raised two young children while his wife was deployed overseas. After leaving the Navy and his tour in Afghanistan, he decided to use his experiences to help other military families, so that they wouldn’t have to go through the same struggles he and his wife faced through several deployments and a major relocation. "Every day I put on my blue suit and go to work representing victims across the nation," Andrew Bell says. "It is an honor to do so and defend the same values I stood for when I served in the Navy and Army." Andrew Bell and his team of attorneys have the means and resources to go up against any party, be it the government or corporate bully. We work tirelessly to obtain justice for our clients, no matter what it takes or how long it takes."
Rights of Camp Lejeune Veterans and Families
As the shocking implications of the Camp Lejeune water contamination continue to emerge, these rights of service are more critical than ever to protect. The potential for chemical injury, illness, and complications from the water supply at Camp Lejeune has been well-documented over time, and veterans of this armed services branch have grounded legal action to combat and avoid what has become one of the most expensive and wide ranging class action lawsuits in United States history. Recent legislation has extended many of these legal rights in the case of Camp Lejeune veterans. In 2022, the Honoring Our PACT Act broadened these veterans benefits significantly to cover a range of cancerous and non-cancerous conditions that in some way connect to the polluted water. In addition, veterans and their families who are in need of financial assistance, including those who are suffering from serious injury and illness , can approach an attorney to begin the claims process. The benefits of this prelitigation resolution are many. The legal representation retained by wounded veterans in cases such as these becomes an advocate for their rights, including the right to assist in and make provision for any sort of settlement should it come about. In other words, a lawyer can work with the veteran to begin claiming these benefits, and then give them information and access to exactly how to take further legal action in the future. If you are a veteran or family member of a veteran of Camp Lejeune, there is no reason to hesitate in beginning to get the process in motion. Camp Lejeune veterans are entitled to the full extent of benefits possible from this toxic water military record, and Bell Law Firm is experienced in fighting for those benefits on behalf of others.
What to Do If Affected
If you have spent at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune between the years of 1953 and 1987 and you have experienced symptoms that may be related to the contamination, the first step is to seek help from a physician. In order for these symptoms to be treated, it is critical for you to seek legal assistance as soon as you can. Bell Law Firm can answer questions about eligibility and walk you through the entire process of obtaining compensation for medical expenses. Second, you must gather evidence. As years pass , it becomes increasingly more difficult to gather evidence that proves you spent time at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987. We specialize in obtaining these records and can assist you in gathering evidence. Form DD-214, discharge papers, identification of your status as a service member, and accounts of your time there are all critical to being able to put together a successful claim. Third, the evidence gathered is used to pursue compensation. The lawyers at Bell Law Firm will diligently pursue compensation to account for medical expenses associated with contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. We can talk you through what compensation you may be entitled to.