Did you live or work at Camp Lejeune from August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987? Did you later develop an illness?
The United States Congress recently enacted the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021. This law permits certain individuals who lived at or near Camp Lejeune to sue the federal government and recover damages arising from contaminated water at the camp.
The Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyers at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers can help you recover compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering due to contaminated water exposure. Our legal team has 100+ years of combined experience in personal injury law; we’ve recovered hundreds of millions for our clients.
Contact our Miami, FL law firm today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced injury attorney at (305) 937-0191.
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How Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help with a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Claim?
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act might allow you to sue the government. However, it won’t be easy to win your water contamination case. The federal government has vast resources to defend itself against your case; it will use everything at its disposal.
You need top-notch legal representation if you hope to go up against the government and win. Our Miami injury attorneys can help. Our team of attorneys have over a century of combined legal experience. We’ve recovered hundreds of millions for injury victims and families in South Florida.
When you hire us, we will:
- Help explain your rights and options under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act
- Investigate your case to gather evidence of your time at Camp Lejeune and exposure to contaminated water
- Calculate the value of your damages to understand what your case is worth
- Work with leading experts to show how contaminated water at Camp Lejeune caused your illness
- Handle all communications and filings with the government
- Take your case to trial to pursue the money you deserve
You don’t have to suffer quietly. You can hold the government responsible for your illness. Contact our law office today to schedule a free consultation with a Miami personal injury attorney.
Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Overview
Camp Lejeune is a Marine Corps Base in Jacksonville, North Carolina. The military training facility, which was established in 1941, covers almost 250 square miles. Its size and 14 miles of beaches make it an ideal location for amphibious assault training and other water-based military exercises.
In 1982, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were discovered in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune. VOCs are compounds (often human-made) that have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility. Found in paints, pharmaceuticals, refrigerants, and industrial solvents, VOCs include various chemicals that can be extremely harmful to human health and cause numerous chronic diseases.
Officials determined the water contamination at Camp Lejeune dated back to the 1950s and continued until roughly 1987. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has estimated that as many as one million people could have been exposed to contaminated water.
Filing a Lawsuit Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act
The Camp Lejeune Act became effective on August 10, 2022. The law allows certain individuals to initiate lawsuits against the United States government for harm caused by the tainted water at Camp Lejeune.
To file a lawsuit, you must meet the following requirements:
- You lived or worked at the Camp between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987 — for at least 30 cumulative days
- You developed one or more of the following conditions:
- Cardiac defect.
- Epilepsy.
- Female Infertility.
- Miscarriage.
- Nerve damage.
- Kidney damage.
- Myelodysplastic syndromes.
- Parkinson’s disease.
- Renal toxicity/disease.
- Scleroderma.
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).
- Bladder cancer.
- Brain cancer.
- Breast cancer.
- Central Nervous System cancer (CNS).
- Cervical cancer.
- Esophageal cancer.
- Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
- Ovarian cancer.
- Prostate cancer.
- Kidney cancer.
- Leukemia.
- Liver cancer
- Lung cancer.
- Myelodysplastic syndrome.
- Multiple myeloma.
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
- Ovarian cancer.
- Prostate cancer.
- Rectal cancer.
- Other Serious Diseases
- You first filed a Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) claim with the Department of the Navy. You can file a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina if the claim is denied or the Navy fails to issue a decision within six months.
Importantly, you won’t be disqualified from filing a lawsuit if you’ve already received benefits from the Veterans Administration (VA).
What Damages Are Available in a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit?
You will be able to pursue compensatory damages arising from any conditions caused by the water contamination at Camp Lejeune. These damages include economic damages for your financial losses and non-economic damages for your personal, non-monetary losses.
Economic damages typically cover:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Other financial losses
Non-economic damages compensate for:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Scarring/disfigurement
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of consortium
The best way to determine what damages are available in your case is to consult with an experienced attorney. At Shaked Law, our Camp Lejeune water contamination attorneys offer free initial consultations to help you understand your rights and options. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.
When Do I Have To File My Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit?
If you were diagnosed before the passage of the Act, you must typically initiate a lawsuit within two years of the date of the enactment or 180 days after your FTCA claim is denied, whichever is later.
The law is still new and has confusing and possibly contradictory provisions on claim deadlines. Therefore, you should consult an experienced attorney for help calculating the deadline in your case. If you fail to file your claim within the time limits, you will not be able to recover any compensation.
Contact Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers Today For Help with Your Case
You shouldn’t delay if you believe you’ve developed an illness after exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The clock is ticking, and your legal team will need ample time to investigate and build your case.
You’ll need an experienced Miami personal injury attorney to help with your FTCA and Camp Lejeune claim. Your attorney’s experience might be the difference between forcing the government to pay up and getting nothing. Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers is ready to put over 100 years of combined experience behind your case.