CCD Law of Washington is proud to represent residents of Washington who were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Somewhere around a million people, including Marine veterans and their families, may have come in contact with toxic water on the Marine Corps Base and suffered serious health problems.
The exposure occurred between 1953 and 1987 and some victims and their family members may now live in Washington State. Contact us today to find out if you or a family member are eligible to file a claim to secure compensation from the federal government.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act Passed for Washington Toxic Water Victims
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) was signed into law by President Joe Biden on August 10, 2022. The enactment means that victims and their families can file injury claims over their illnesses, diseases, and disorders suffered after ingesting toxic water on Camp Lejeune.
The newly granted permission to seek settlements and file lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Defense allows victims to file claims for up to two years from the date of passage. That means victims have until August 10, 2024, to submit claims and secure benefits.
The U.S. Government will consider claims filed by victims who show they or close relatives served, lived, or worked at Camp Lejeune over the course of 30 days or more. This exposure must have occurred between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. The 30 days of exposure do not have to have been continuous.
Who Is Eligible for Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Benefits in Washington State?
Those eligible to file claims under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act will include victims and their families who may have since moved and/or retired to Washington State.
Over the years, Camp Lejeune has been home to thousands of Marine and Navy personnel and their families. Those exposed to Camp Lejeune’s polluted water may have retired to Washington in places like Spokane, Seattle, Yakima, and across the state. Some Navy veterans who served at Camp Lejeune will have settled around Joint Base Lewis-McChord or Naval Station Everett.
These veterans may be eligible to seek compensation from the federal government, but many others could also be due benefits.
This is a partial list of who may in line to receive Camp Lejeune Justice Act settlement money:
- Marine and Navy veterans who served at Camp Lejeune or Naval Medical Center on base. Other military personnel including Marine reservists and National Guard members assigned to Camp Lejeune.
- Family members of those serving on base.
- Civilian contractors and employees working on Camp Lejeune.
- Victims hurt in utero due to mothers being exposed to harmful chemicals in Camp Lejeune water.
- Family members of Camp Lejeune toxic water victims who have since passed on. Close loved ones may file a wrongful death claim on behalf of deceased victims.
Are you unsure if you or a loved one are eligible? Do you have questions about the Camp Lejeune Justice Act? There’s a no-risk way to find out if you qualify and what your case may be worth. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a real Washington attorney. The skilled attorneys at Crary, Chuang, and Domanico, P.S., are happy to answer any questions you have and go over how to get the most out of your Camp Lejeune contaminated water injury claim.
The Harmful Effects of the Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune
Wells at two water treatment plants serving Camp Lejeune tested positive for several harmful chemicals. The contamination is known to have been present from at least 1953 up until 1987.
Water tests discovered four main toxic chemicals in wells. Trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride showed up in tests. These substances are known carcinogens (substances capable of causing cancer) and some have been linked to birth defects.
The chemicals found their way into water sources through spills and leaky underground tanks on the Marine Corps Base. Some of the PCE found in Camp Lejeune water is linked to a dry-cleaning business that opened near the base in 1953. It’s believed that improper disposal and storage of these chemicals created the opportunity for hundreds of thousands of people to experience hazardous contact.
Drinking, bathing, or working around toxic water may have caused many different types of cancers. These are just a few of the potential ailments that could earn a Camp Lejeune Justice Act settlement check:
- Aplastic Anemia
- Bladder Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Hepatic Steatosis
- Kidney Cancer
- Leukemia
- Liver Cancer
- Lung Cancer
- Multiple Myeloma
- Myelodysplastic Syndromes
- Neurobehavioral Effects
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Renal Toxicity
- Scleroderma
- End-Stage Renal Disease
- Kidney Disease
- Soft Tissue Sarcoma
This is not a full list of ailments that could earn settlement money from the U.S. Department of Defense. There will be many other illnesses that will qualify victims for financial support. It’s critical that victims now living in Washington know their rights and are informed about every benefit available to them.
These devastating diseases, conditions, and developmental disorders may have left people with lifelong physical and mental disabilities. Sadly, these diseases and the harsh medical treatments prescribed could have also forced victims out of military service or forced them to quit their jobs. These are all losses that can earn victims substantial compensation.
Birth Defects and Female Reproductive Damage Caused by Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water
Damage caused by the hazardous chemicals found in Camp Lejeune water may have been affecting female reproductive health for decades. Parents attempting to have children may have experienced infertility that could be linked to toxic water exposure.
Ovarian cancer could have prevented female victims from having children. Some women became pregnant after exposure to tainted water on Camp Lejeune and they may have suffered miscarriages due to the harm suffered.
Fetuses may have developed birth defects like cardiac defects, oral cleft defects, and other issues that kept babies from developing normally in the womb. Low birth weight is also an associated issue with toxic water. Parents and their adult children may have suffered physical, emotional, and financial damages over a lifetime.
Female veterans or female family members of veterans, or women who worked on base could all qualify for substantial financial support under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. Children who are now adults that suffered harm in utero are also eligible to file injury claims.
Compensation Available to Washington Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Victims
Victims of Camp Lejeune’s water crisis living in Washington should seek help in listing every hardship they’ve suffered. A Camp Lejeune Justice Act Lawyer would make sure every damage they’ve absorbed is documented in a claim filed against the federal government. This is vital to maximizing settlement amounts for victims because anything left out of the claim won’t earn compensation.
These are just a few of the factors that are considered when deciding the size of a Camp Lejeune Toxic Water injury settlement check:
- Medical damages going back as far as necessary. Medical costs expected in the years to come.
- Wrongful death claims. The close relatives of Camp Lejeune toxic water victims who have since died must file a CLJA claim on behalf of lost family members. Support for the costs of a past funeral and all medical expenses going back years should be attainable. Support for family members in the years to come to replace the wages the victim can no longer provide should also figure into any settlement.
- Estimates on expenses associated with a permanent physical disability stemming from exposure to toxic water such as home renovations, medical equipment, and lifelong medical care and physical therapy. Patients may also need career counseling if they can’t return to their former jobs.
- Support for the victims of birth defects and developmental challenges. Financial support for parents who have suffered through infertility and miscarriages.
- Support for the chronic pain Camp Lejeune victims have suffered due to their exposure to Camp Lejeune contaminated water.
- Support for the emotional trauma experienced by victims and their families.
- Lost income and benefits patients suffered while spending time away from work or the permanent loss of a civilian career or military career.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of documents should I collect for a Camp Lejeune Toxic Water claim?
Try to retrieve all medical documentation of your Camp Lejeune illness going back as far as you can. Collect all medical bills and past paystubs showing your economic losses. Veterans will need service records.
Should I have a Washington Camp Lejeune toxic water lawyer handle my case?
Yes. You don’t have to have a lawyer, but these claims against the U.S. Government can get complex. Your lawyer will help you track down documents and makes sure don’t miss deadlines. Having a lawyer often maximizes your settlement.
What types of things qualify as emotional damages in a Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water case?
The anxiety and depression that arise after a diagnosis and during recovery. The loss of enjoyment of life. The loss of intimacy with a spouse. The loss of a child or the inability to conceive.
Contact a Washington State Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water Lawyer
Thousands of victims of North Carolina’s Camp Lejeune water crisis may now live in Spokane, Seattle, or around any of Washington’s military bases. CCD Law is ready to help these victims and their families explore their options under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.
At CCD Law we want Camp Lejeune victims who suffered serious health issues to receive everything available for the years and sometimes decades of suffering they’ve endured. Please contact us as soon as possible for a free, no-obligation case review. It’s a chance to find out what your case may be worth and the quickest path to receiving what’s fair for what you or a family member has been through.
