Back in May this year, a bill was passed by the United States House of Representatives to make an exception to the rule that the U.S government is not responsible for injuries sustained by any of its servicemen.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 enables servicemen and women, and families to pursue compensatory damages for the harm and ailment they sustained as a direct consequence of Camp Lejeune’s poisoned water. Camp Lejeune is located in North Carolina.
What Happened At Camp Lejeune?
The water supply at Camp Lejeune, a North Carolina Marine Corps Base, contained hazardous substances, according to a discovery by the US government in 1982. This exposure is backed by very strong medical and scientific proof, which reveals a connection between the toxic water and some specific ailments found in the camp.
Specialists believe that Camp Lejeune’s case is one of the most profound water contamination outbreaks in the history of the country. This is no further from the truth, as the Department of Veteran Affairs claims nearly 900,000 persons were exposed to the poisoned water.
The VA set up presumptive and free health services for qualified personnel exposed to Camp Lejeune’s toxic water between 1st August 1953 to 31st December 1987. This was done after several concerns were raised about the bad effects of the contaminated water.
Sadly, these benefits frequently fall short of offering full and just compensation to service members for everything they have endured. Additionally, historically, those who had their water contaminated at Camp Lejeune were not permitted to sue the federal government.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, however, might be able to remove this historical hurdle, enabling those hurt by tainted water to sue the US government.
What Damage Does the Water at Camp Lejeune Cause?
At Camp Lejeune, Marines, sailors, locals, and civilian employees probably spent 35 years being exposed to hazardous chemicals like vinyl chloride, dichloroethylene (DCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and benzene. These substances put people at greater risk of developing serious illnesses like cancer and congenital disabilities.
The following health issues have been connected to Camp Lejeune’s drinking water:
- Renal toxicity
- Kidney cancer
- Female infertility
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Adult leukemia
- Multiple myeloma
- Breast cancer
- Miscarriage
- Liver cancer
- Aplastic anemia
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Bladder cancer
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act: What Comes Next?
The Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 is pending President Joe Biden’s authorization. He has stated his willingness to do so as asap. As per this new legislation, people harmed by Camp Lejeune contamination can file water contamination claims against the federal government to recover money for medical expenses, lost wages, suffering, pain, or even death.
The victims of Camp Lejeune contamination who want to sue the government for damages must do so within a certain period after the bill is signed into law. A team of informed water contamination attorneys from Dolman Law Group is ready to help you file a contamination lawsuit and obtain your due reimbursement.
Additionally, you must also prove a link between your disease or incidents and the contaminated water at the Camp. This will often call for the witness statements of a qualified medical professional who can convince the court of law that your contact with the polluted water was at least partially to blame for your condition.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, which is significant, also enables a person whose loved one was subjected to tainted water to file a claim on their behalf. This is especially important for those whose relatives had already passed away as a result of the illnesses they contracted as a result of exposure.
There is no requirement, though, that your loved one’s passing was caused specifically by their exposure. In other words, if your loved one experienced the negative effects of exposure, you could still file a claim even if they passed away for different reasons.
