Compensation for Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Victims

From August 1953 to December 1957, the residents, employees, and military personnel at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune unknowingly drank water contaminated by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and later experienced cancers, birth defects, and other health issues as a result.

VOCs were identified in Camp Lejeune drinking water in the 1980s, but the North Carolina base continued dumping these chemicals even after receiving specific notices of pollution and orders to cease dumping. After learning the true scope of what happened, the U.S. government then spent two decades trying to avoid responsibility by covering up their involvement in the poisoning of what is now estimated to be over a million affected victims.

Camp Lejeune contaminated water victims were unaware until recently that the health issues they experienced later in their lives were a direct result of the toxic water they drank at Camp Lejeune. Just this year, Congress passed H.R. 2192, or the 2022 Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which allows families for the first time to “sue and recover damages for harm from exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987.”

If you believe that you or a loved one may qualify for compensation as a result of health problems developed after serving at Camp Lejeune, then now is the time to act. Cases of this nature take time to prove that you’re owed compensation, and the experienced attorneys at Carabin Shaw know exactly where to begin.

To file a suit against the U.S. government for harm caused by Camp Lejeune’s drinking water, plaintiffs must have lived at the base for no less than 30 days during the years specified above. Beyond that, the bill specifies that there is a burden of proof on plaintiffs to show that their exposure to the toxic water resulted in harm or death.

Carabin Shaw’s San Antonio lawyers have worked on and won similar cases, and we’re ready to fight for any Texan who believes they have a legitimate claim under these circumstances. We always offer free case reviews and initial consultations; if you decide we’re the right team for you, you can rest easy knowing we have a no win/no fee guarantee.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a division of the CDC, has been conducting studies to learn more about the health effects of VOC-contaminated water since 1993. Their data is critical in helping Camp Lejeune contaminated water victims not only identify themselves, but prove their cases in court.

ATSDR has concluded that the primary chemicals contaminating the water at Camp Lejeune were trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), and vinyl chloride, and that these “likely increased the risk of cancers (kidney, multiple myeloma, leukemias, and others), adverse birth outcomes, and other adverse health effects of residents (including infants and children), civilian workers, Marines and Naval personnel at Camp Lejeune.”

One important note about the ATSDR findings is that even those who were in utero at Camp Lejeune can qualify for damages under the parameters of H.R. 2192. You should speak to an attorney if you think this may be the case for you, as they can help determine what, if any, damages you might be owed.

Carabin Shaw’s client reviews speak for themselves: you should read a few if you’d like to learn more about other Texans we’ve helped over the years.

When you’re ready, you can reach us toll-free, 24/7, at 800-862-1260. We have English and Spanish-speaking staff available to address your questions.