The Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit is one of the largest legal cases concerning toxic exposure by military service members and their families in United States history. The lawsuit involves the contamination of the drinking water at Camp Lejeune, a U.S. Marine Corps base located in Jacksonville, North Carolina. The contaminated water exposed thousands of military personnel, their families, and civilian employees to hazardous chemicals over a period of several decades.

Timeline of events:

• In the early 1950s, the base began using a degreaser containing trichloroethylene (TCE) to clean metal parts. The solvent was later disposed of by dumping it into unlined pits, which allowed the chemicals to seep into the ground.
• In the 1960s, another chemical, perchloroethylene (PCE), was introduced into the groundwater from a nearby dry cleaner.
• In 1982, the Marine Corps discovered that the base’s drinking water was contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including TCE and PCE.
• In 1985, the Marine Corps shut down two contaminated wells.
• In 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) listed Camp Lejeune as a Superfund site.
• In 1997, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) released a health assessment report that linked the contaminated water to increased risks of several illnesses, including cancer, neurological disorders, and birth defects.
• In 2012, President Barack Obama signed the Janey Ensminger Act, which provides medical care to those affected by the contaminated water.
• In 2017, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which authorized the VA to provide disability benefits to veterans and family members affected by the contaminated water.

Claims made by veterans and their families:

The claims made by veterans and their families are related to illnesses caused by exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The chemicals found in the water have been linked to various forms of cancer, including leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and bladder cancer. The contaminants have also been associated with neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, and birth defects.

Largest settlement and average settlement amount:

In 2012, the U.S. government agreed to pay $2.2 billion to settle claims made by veterans and family members affected by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The settlement covers medical care and disability benefits for veterans and family members who were stationed at the base for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. The average settlement amount is around $200,000 per claim, but the actual amount varies depending on the severity of the illness and other factors.

Who qualifies for the lawsuit and what one must do to pursue a lawsuit:

To qualify for the lawsuit, veterans and family members must have been stationed at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, and have been diagnosed with one of the illnesses linked to the contaminated water. The list of covered conditions includes 15 different types of cancer, as well as other illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease and miscarriages.

To pursue a lawsuit, veterans and family members must file a claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or the Marine Corps. The VA will review the claim and determine whether the illness is linked to the contaminated water. If the claim is approved, the veteran or family member may be eligible for medical care and disability benefits.

Were you or a family member stationed at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987?

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