Camp Lejeune Justice Act: Victims Have Limited Time to Seek Compensation

President Biden has signed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which creates a valid claim for victims of toxic water contamination at Camp Lejeune to pursue litigation against the federal government.

The Act allows anyone who lived, worked, or served at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between 1953 and 1987 and suffered injuries or death from exposure to contaminated water to bring a claim within two years from Aug. 10, 2022, when the Act went into effect. Beasley Allen lawyers are helping those eligible for relief under this Act by pursuing litigation against the federal government.

We commend President Biden and lawmakers for taking action to address the catastrophic harms caused at Camp Lejeune. Our clients and others dedicated their lives to serving our country; in return, they were poisoned with hazardous chemicals and left to suffer life-threatening injuries. Now, it’s our duty to help them obtain justice.

Julia Merritt, Beasley Allen attorney

From 1953 to 1987, over one million military service personnel and their families were exposed to toxic water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Those who may be eligible for compensation include military personnel, guardsmen, reservists, military family members, and civilian employees who worked on the base.

The water was contaminated with volatile organic compounds, degreasers, chemicals used on heavy machinery, and more than 70 other highly toxic substances. This water was used for drinking, cooking, and bathing in enlisted family housing, barracks, schools, base hospitals, recreational areas, and administrative offices. The government knew about this contamination but took no action. It ignored experts’ warnings about contamination, site inspections and reports, and comments from military service members and their families that the water tasted like chemicals.

It’s been a long road toward justice, and now we have to spread the word about this opportunity. The U.S. government has finally acknowledged the damage it caused to those at Camp Lejeune and MCAS New River, nearly seven decades after the contamination began. Now, victims have only a short time to bring claims. Unfortunately, many victims have died, and those still alive are largely unaware of this Act

Trisha Green, Beasley Allen attorney

Any person that resided at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days cumulatively between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987, and has a serious illness/cancer, miscarriage, or birth defect is potentially eligible for compensation.

Common injuries include:

• Kidney Cancer
• Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Multiple Myeloma
• Adult Leukemias
• Liver Cancer
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Kidney Disease
• Scleroderma/Systemic Sclerosis
• Major Cardiac Birth Defects
• Lung Cancer
• Death

In addition to attorneys Merritt and Green, other Beasley Allen attorneys representing the victims are Toxic Torts Section Head Rhon Jones,  Matt Pettit, Leslie LaMacchia, Ryan Kral, Tucker Osborne, Will Sutton and Elizabeth Weyerman.