Yes, the water contamination at Camp Lejeune is covered under PACT. PACT now clears the way for these lawsuits by extending the filing deadline to two years. If you or a loved one suffered Camp Lejeune-related illnesses, you could be eligible for compensation.
The Camp Lejeune lawsuit attorneys at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can help with your claim. You can call us today about your possible recovery during a free consultation.
A Quick Overview of PACT
The full name of the PACT law is “Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022,” with PACT standing for “Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics.” President Joe Biden signed the legislation into law in August 2022. Before the Act became law, veterans could not successfully sue the government for damages because their filings came long after North Carolina’s 10-year statute of limitations deadline expired.
This act allows U.S. military veterans and their families who suffered injuries and illnesses linked the toxic water supply at the Marine Corps base in Jacksonville, North Carolina, can take legal action against the U.S. federal government for their losses.
Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune Discovered More Than 40 Years After Base Opened
The Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 expands the health care benefits all U.S. veterans can apply for if they suffered exposure to harmful substances during their service. This includes service members and many others who used the water supply at Camp Lejeune from Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987, for at least 30 days. Many who used the base’s water for drinking, bathing, laundry, and other purposes between those dates went on to develop various cancers and respiratory illnesses afterward.
The U.S. Marine Corps Base opened in 1942, but decades went by before a 1982 discovery that its groundwater supply contained toxins well above the recommended levels. Because the water contamination at Camp Lejeune is covered under PACT, anyone who lived, worked, or visited Camp Lejeune who encountered the base’s water supply during the specified period can seek damages if they can prove the water made them ill or caused them to suffer life-threatening conditions.
Which Chemicals Were Found in Camp Lejeune’s Water Supply?
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) shares that samples taken from several water wells confirmed the presence of the following in Camp Lejeune’s drinking water:
- Trichloroethylene (TCE): A human-made, colorless liquid used to make refrigerants and degreasing solvents for metal equipment
- Tetrachloroethylene (PCE): A human-made, colorless liquid used in dry-cleaning fabrics
- Benzene: This naturally occurring and synthetic flammable liquid can appear colorless or yellow at room temperature. The chemical can be used in the production of plastics, resins, and nylon. Other items it can be used in include lubricants, dues, detergents, drugs, and pesticides, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Vinyl chloride (VC): This human-made substance is a colorless gas used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC is used to make plastic products, including coatings for wires and cables and other plastic products.
All these chemicals and others contaminated Camp Lejeune’s water supply, and all have been linked to cancers and other illnesses.
Illnesses Linked to Toxins Found at Camp Lejeune
While it is not known exactly how many people used the water at Camp Lejeune during a nearly 40-year period, what is known is that the chemicals in the water supply there caused many deadly illnesses and injuries, including:
- Adult leukemia
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Other conditions that affected Camp Lejeune survivors include:
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Parkinson’s disease
- Bladder cancer
- Birth defects
- Breast cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Female infertility
- Hepatic steatosis
- Kidney cancer
- Leukemia
- Lung cancer
- Miscarriage
- Multiple myeloma
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Renal toxicity
- Scleroderma
Camp Lejeune Survivors Can Apply for VA Benefits
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers disability benefits for claimants who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River for at least a 30-day period between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987. Free health benefits are available only for U.S. veterans, reservists, and National Guard members. Along with the residency requirement, claimants must meet certain conditions to be eligible for benefits:
- They must have been honorably discharged from service.
- They must have a formal diagnosis of one or more of the conditions listed above.
Veterans and their families can apply for benefits that cover their out-of-pocket health care costs for the conditions listed on VA’s website.
Taking Legal Action for Camp Lejeune Illnesses Under PACT
If you or a loved one wants to seek legal action for injuries and illnesses after spending time at Camp Lejeune within the specified window, our Camp Lejeune lawyers can help you. You now have a chance to file your claim to hold the negligent parties accountable for the toxins found in the base’s water. We can identify which federal agencies and other parties you could recover financial compensation from that can help you pay your medical bills, compensate you for your pain and suffering, and more.
Recoverable Camp Lejeune damages under PACT can include:
- Medical expenses (past, present, and ongoing)
- Permanent disability benefits
- Lost income and lost or reduced earning ability
- Physical and mental pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, mental anguish
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Loss of companionship
Wrongful Death Damages Under PACT for Camp Lejeune Illnesses
If you lost a loved one who suffered an illness linked to Camp Lejeune’s water supply, you could recover damages under a wrongful death action. Our lawyers can explain which relatives are eligible to pursue these damages. If you recover compensation under a wrongful death action, it can reimburse you for your loved one’s funeral and burial expenses, final medical bills, and other losses.
As with other claims, the decedent must meet certain criteria before you move forward with legal action. Your late family member must have
- Lived, worked, or spent time at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987; and
- Died from an illness linked to the chemicals found in the water supply at Camp Lejeune
How Our Lawyers Can Help With Camp Lejeune Compensation Under PACT
Many people are expected to file lawsuits against the U.S. government now that the Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 is now a law. You want to present the strongest case possible to prove why you deserve copensation for your losses. We can gather the evidence you need to prove that you or your family member suffered illness after using Camp Lejeune’s water. We can tell you what you will need for each claim you make and work to help you find the paperwork you need to document your losses. Documentation can prove:
- When you or your loved one served at Camp Lejeune between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987
- The medical expenses you paid for a health condition that VA disability benefits cover
- A diagnosis from a medical professional for a condition or illness linked to Camp Lejeune’s water
- VA disability records (if you receive VA benefits for a Camp Lejeune illness)
Our legal team can make it more manageable to pursue a case for recovering your losses under PACT. We can:
- Identify any additional parties responsible for the contaminated water supply that caused your illness (Regulatory agencies, water treatment facilities, and others)
- Document your accounts with witness testimony
- Consult with third-party professionals (doctors, economists) to show how your condition affects your life
- Protect your rights and interests as you pursue financial recovery
- Advise you on all laws that apply to your case and explain all developments
The Camp Lejeune lawsuit lawyers with the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine will manage your entire water contamination case under the Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022. We will take care of your case’s paperwork, communicate with all parties, and meet all important deadlines for filing your legal action against the U.S government. Let us get you the help and compensation you need.
Call Today for Help With a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Case Covered Under PACT
Once we learn the details of your case, our lawyers can develop a legal strategy and explain what’s in store. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today for a free consultation and a plan for your next steps. The sooner you call, the sooner we can give you the responsive legal care your case deserves.
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