Toxic Water at Camp Lejeune - Does Your Family Qualify for a Lawsuit?

Were you or a loved one stationed at Camp Lejeune between 1957 and 1987? If so, you may have been exposed to toxic chemicals in the water and, as a result, may qualify for compensation. The 2022 Camp Lejeune Justice Act allows victims to seek damages for the first time, including those who were in utero during the years mentioned above.

Camp Lejeune contaminated water victims include residents of the military base, workers, and military personnel (along with their families). Many illnesses related to drinking contaminated water can take decades to develop, which is why you should contact an experienced lawyer to learn about your legal options. The attorneys at Carabin Shaw know how to work through all the details of your case to determine the maximum compensation you deserve.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a division of the CDC, published a 2017 study reporting that contaminants in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune “likely increased the risk of cancers, adverse birth outcomes, and adverse health effects” in residents.

The ATSDR determined that “the source of the contamination was the waste disposal practices at ABC One-Hour Cleaners, an off-base dry cleaning firm.” The contaminated water was then drunk and bathed in by military personnel and their families for thirty years.

This information was not made public for almost two decades while the government tried to find everyone who may have been exposed. Now that Camp Lejeune contaminated water victims can seek justice, our team is working to connect with Texans whose circumstances might qualify for compensation.

The ATSDR study found that levels of toxin concentration in the water at Camp Lejeune during this time were up to 3,400 times higher than those permitted by federal safety regulations.

According to the CDC, ingestion and prolonged contact with water contaminated with TCE, PCE, and vinyl chloride can cause a variety of serious illnesses and conditions, including:

• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Bladder cancer
• Liver cancer
• End-stage renal disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Scleroderma

Additionally, the CDC and ATSDR found several defects and diseases in those whose mothers were exposed to toxic water like that of Camp Lejeune:

• Low birthweight
• Cardiac defects
• Eye defects
• Neural tube defects
• Oral cleft defects
• Major malformations
• Impaired immune system
• Fetal death and miscarriage

If you believe that yours or a loved one’s time at Camp Lejeune contributed to these or any other serious medical issue, you should hire an attorney to fight for the damages you are rightfully owed. We have a demonstrated history of winning cases for our clients and doing so with transparency and verve. You can read Carabin Shaw’s client reviews to learn more about other Texans we’ve fought and won for.

There are two requirements for suing the U.S. Government for the contamination at Camp Lejeune as outlined in H.R. 2192: First, plaintiffs must have lived at Camp Lejeune for a minimum of 30 days between the dates of August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1957. Second, there is a burden of proof placed on all plaintiffs to demonstrate that Camp Lejeune’s toxic water contributed to an illness or death.

While a burden of proof is not uncommon in many personal injury cases, proving that a decades-old exposure caused a particular affliction is a complex task, one that Carabin Shaw’s San Antonio lawyers are well-suited to take on.

When you’re ready, you can call Carabin Shaw 24/7 and talk to an English or Spanish-speaking representative at our toll free number: 800-862-1260. We offer free case reviews and initial consultations for all potential clients, and we don’t get paid until we win your case. If you think you qualify for a lawsuit after living at Camp Lejeune, then we’d love to see how we can help you.