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What Is the Camp Lejeune Lawsuit?

Camp Lejeune Lawsuit

Camp Lejeune is a 246-square-mile United States Military training establishment in Jacksonville, North Carolina. The facility opened in 1942 and is still there today. However, residents of Camp Lejeune were exposed to contaminated water that caused deaths and serious illnesses. Hence, a Camp Lejeune Class Action Lawsuit was filed in the US.

What is a class action lawsuit?

A class action lawsuit involves one person, or a small group of people, filing a lawsuit on behalf of a large group of individuals. The group is a class of people who have all suffered the same harm because of negligence. A class action lawsuit provides the opportunity for individuals who may not have the resources to file a lawsuit on their own, to pursue a claim for damages that have similarly harmed others. Another benefit of class action lawsuits is the strength that comes from a large group of people versus a single person filing a lawsuit. Class action lawsuits typically involve fighting large corporations or government agencies. The defendant in the Camp Lejeune toxic water lawsuit is the U.S. Government. 

  • A class action lawsuit involves one person filing a lawsuit on behalf of a large group or class suffering from similar damages. 
  • The defendants in class action lawsuits are usually large and powerful corporations. In the case of the Camp Lejeune class action lawsuit, the defendant is the United States Government. 

Personal injury case management software allows legal professionals to manage massive and complex mass torts like Camp Lejeune. 

Why is there a Camp Lejeune class action lawsuit?

The Marine Corps discovered contamination in two of Camp Lejeune’s central water systems in 1982. Specifically, they found volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the drinking water. Exposure to VOC contamination is toxic to humans and causes many severe illnesses, including cancer. Despite the discovery in 1982, the contamination started years before and exposure to the chemicals continued for five more years. 

Researchers estimate that over one million people lived in Camp Lejeune during the time the water was contaminated. Victims of the contaminated water included veterans, family members, and civilians that lived or worked at the facility. Anyone living at Camp Lejeune from August 1, 1953, to December 31, 1987, suffering from illnesses, could be eligible for compensation.   

  • Those residing in Camp Lejeune from August 1, 1953, to December 31, 1987, could be eligible for compensation. 
  • Three of the primary water systems in the camp contained hazardous, volatile organic compounds.

Recent legislation could entitle you to collect compensation if you are a veteran, family member, or civilian living in Camp Lejeune from 1953 to 1987. The statute requires that you were at the facility for over 30 days. Testing found that three of Camp Lejeune’s primary water systems contained hazardous toxins. 

The contaminations included vinyl chloride VC, trichloroethylene TCE, and perchloroethylene PCE. Read more about the Camp Lejeune lawsuit on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website. As many as one million veterans, family members, and civilians lived or worked in Camp Lejeune during the time of water contamination. 

  • The Camp Lejeune lawsuit involves as many as one million people who sustained injuries from toxic water contamination.
  • Three primary water systems contained vinyl chloride VC, trichloroethylene TCE, and perchloroethylene PCE.

Who is leading the Camp Lejeune toxic water lawsuit?

An individual named Donald Stringfellow commenced legal action against the United States Government over the toxic water at Camp Lejeune. Stringfellow lived in Camp Lejeune during the contamination and has since suffered from illnesses. He filed the civil motion on behalf of himself and all others in similar situations, suffering from illnesses caused by the toxic water. 

Stringfellow filed the lawsuit on August 14, 2022, and a few days later, President Biden signed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act 2022 into law. The bill allows damage recovery for those who sustained injuries after residing at the facility.    

  • Donald Stringfellow filed the Camp Lejeune lawsuit against the U.S. Government on August 14, 2022.
  • President Joe Biden Signed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act 2022 in August of 2022. 

How do you become a part of Camp Lejeune litigation?

Veterans, family members, and civilians living in Camp Lejeune from 1953 to 1987 and suffering from certain cancers and illnesses could be eligible for compensation. New legislation could entitle victims of the contaminated water to collect payment for medical expenses, lost pay, and earning capacity related to the toxic water contamination. Anyone falling within the requirements should immediately reach out to a skilled attorney to begin working on their Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit. 

  • Illnesses related to water contamination include kidney, lung, and breast cancer. There are also many other ailments, including kidney and liver diseases. 
  • Those suffering from a severe illness living in Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 should reach out to a professional injury attorney who is involved with the class action lawsuit to see if they qualify. 

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