How to Participate in the Class Action Lawsuit for Camp Lejeune Contamination
The U.S. Marine Corps Camp Lejeune is home to some of the most decorated veterans in history, but now it’s also become known as one of the country’s worst military bases for water contamination.
While many Camp Lejeune vets have already filed claims for their exposure to toxins at the base camp, there are still plenty who haven’t taken advantage of this opportunity yet.
In this guide, we’ll go over how you can get started filing a claim yourself if you think you might qualify for compensation.
What Is Camp Lejeune?
Camp Lejeune is a Marine Corps base in North Carolina. The base was established in 1941, and it’s been the subject of several lawsuits over the years. More recently, water contamination at Camp Lejeune has affected thousands of people who lived and worked there.
The contamination began when chemicals were dumped into the ground at Camp Lejeune from the 1950s through the 1980s. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, tests and samples of water supply wells identified that benzene, trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), and vinyl chloride (VC) contaminated drinking water sources at Camp Lejeune.
These substances have been linked to cancer, birth defects, and other health problems among those exposed to them through drinking water or breathing vaporized fumes from contaminated wells on-base during this period.
Class Action Lawsuit against Camp Lejeune
A class action lawsuit is a type of lawsuit in which one or more people sue on behalf of everyone who is affected by the same problem. There are two types of class actions: individuals can sue as a group (a “class”), or groups can sue on behalf of their members (an “association”).
In this case, we’re talking about individual plaintiffs suing as part of a class action suit. They don’t need permission from other plaintiffs before filing their claims. They just have to make sure they follow all applicable laws when doing so.
Research Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for the class action lawsuit are as follows:
- You must have lived or served at Camp Lejeune between January 1, 1957, and December 31, 1987.
- You must be one of the following: a child born with birth defects, an infant born to someone who was exposed to contaminated water while pregnant, or an adult diagnosed with one of the following cancers (or their survivors): esophageal, liver (primary), lung (non-small cell), breast, ovarian/cervical/uterine/prostate and bladder cancer, leukemia or multiple myeloma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, kidney cancer, melanoma.
According to Bloomberg Law, 15,000 claims have been filed with the Department of the Navy so far, and most have not hit the six-month toll that would allow them to take their case to the federal court.
Gather Relevant Documentation
There are several types of documents that you should save and keep in a safe place. You’ll want to hold onto any paperwork related to your service at Camp Lejeune, including military records and medical records.
If you have any official documents from the period when you were stationed at Camp Lejeune, such as discharge papers or DD214s (Form 214), make sure they’re available for reference as well.
Join the Class Action Lawsuit
The first step in joining the class action lawsuit is to file a claim. If you have been diagnosed with one of the illnesses associated with Camp Lejeune contamination, you can fill out a form on the website of your law firm and submit it electronically. The firm will then evaluate whether they think you qualify for compensation as part of their case.
If you are interested in getting legal representation, contact an attorney who has participated in this case so far. They will be able to help guide you through the process and explain how filing claims works if necessary.
Stay Informed
To stay informed about the lawsuit, you can visit the Camp Lejeune Lawsuit website and sign up for email alerts. The website will also notify you when new information is posted on its blog or social media channels.
You may also want to follow them on Twitter (@CampLejeuneLaw), where they frequently post updates about the case progress and other news related to Camp Lejeune contamination.
If you’d like more information about toxic chemicals found in drinking water at military installations across America, check out EWG’s Guide: Military Bases & Toxic Chemicals in Drinking Water.
This guide provides details about which military bases were contaminated by toxic chemicals and how widespread these contaminants were found across different regions of America. It also includes tips for protecting yourself from exposure today and tomorrow.
Seek Support
You are not alone. According to Florida Today, nearly 1 million base residents were exposed to toxins at Camp Lejeune, exceeding adequate safety limits by 240 to 3,400 times.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, it is important to seek support from friends and family members, as well as through support groups or counselors. You can also contact the Department of Veteran Affairs if you need help finding the right resources in your area.
Conclusion
The Camp Lejeune class action lawsuit is an important step forward in the fight against environmental injustice, and we encourage everyone to participate. After all, when one person speaks up, it makes a difference, but when thousands speak together, they can change the world.
