Cancers Related to Camp Lejeune

Of all the illnesses caused by the Camp Lejeune water contamination, cancer has been one of the most prevalent. The three chemicals involved were found to be connected to many different types of cancers in adults, and children, including unborn children exposed in utero.

Dr talking about Cancers Related to Camp Lejeune

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ASTDR) found that Navy and USMC personnel stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina had a 10% higher risk of dying from cancers than those stationed at Camp Pendleton (near Oceanside, CA.) As many as one million Marines, sailors, their families, and civilians were exposed to three highly toxic chemicals from 1953 through 1987.

Presumptive Cancers

There is a long list of conditions that are presumed to be connected to Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water. Individuals with one of these are presumed to have developed a cancerous condition after being stationed at Camp Lejeune:

  • Bladder
  • Breast (in both men and women)
  • Central nervous systems
  • Cervical
  • Colon/colorectal
  • Esophageal
  • Kidney
  • Leukemia
  • Lung
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Myelodysplastic syndromes
  • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (cancer in the lymph system)
  • Prostate
  • Soft tissue

These are just some of the cancerous conditions that are connected to Camp Lejeune.

Specific conditions

The chances of developing cancer increase with the length of exposure. The ASTDR study found that of all the related conditions, these were the highest risk of chemical-related cancers:

  • Kidney cancer: 35%
  • Liver cancer: 42%
  • Hodgin’s lymphoma: 47%
  • Multiple myeloma: 68%

The most common of these is cancer of the liver. Vinyl chloride, a chemical used to produce polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a commonly used plastic material, is a highly toxic and known carcinogen. It is easily absorbed through the skin, as well as the digestive system and the lungs. Following ingestion, vinyl chloride disrupts liver functioning by damaging DNA inside human cells. High amounts of vinyl chloride were found at Camp Lejeune.

You Can Still File Your Claim

Even if your condition isn’t listed here, it doesn’t mean you can’t file a claim—you can. The cancers listed here are just some of the medical conditions that are directly or indirectly connected to water contamination.

If you became ill after living at Camp Lejeune during the affected period, contact us anyway, as your condition may be connected to the waterborne chemicals. It is possible that other conditions will be added to the list and recognized as presumptive.

You have less than a year before the deadline for filing your claim, so we strongly suggest contacting our office immediately. Ideally, your claim should be filed no later than July 2024.

Contact The Herren Law Firm Immediately For Your Camp Lejeune Claim

For over 30 years, the Herren law firm has helped veterans and other disabled people with their benefit claims and appeals. We have extensive experience dealing with governmental agencies and the claims that are filed with them.

If you or someone you know became ill after being stationed at Camp Lejeune, get in touch with us immediately.

We’ve helped over 4,000 people, and we can help you as well. Contact us today by calling (713) 682-8194 or using our online contact form our consultation is free, and you won’t owe us a fee until we win your case.

Camp Lejeune Claim. Am I Eligible?

Perhaps you became ill ten years after you left the military—or your spouse or children did. Perhaps you or a family member were ill while you were at Camp Lejeune but got better when you transferred out. Now, you’re wondering if your illnesses were related to your time at the base.

Am I Eligible to Make a Camp Lejeune Claim? - lawyer talking with a camp le jeune victim

Now you’re wondering if you can make a Camp LeJeune claim, or if it’s too late.

Requirements For Eligibility

If you meet the eligibility requirements for filing a claim, you can:

• If you resided or worked at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or more between August 1953 to December 1987

• You did not receive a dishonorable discharge when you left the military

• While at Camp Lejeune, you were an active-duty service member, a veteran, a service member’s spouse, child, or other dependent, or a civilian worker or employee at the base.

• You developed a serious, life-changing medical condition while at Camp Lejeune or afterward

You will need to back up your claim with medical records and other documentation that shows your residency. But if your exposure to water contamination has directly impacted your life, you deserve compensation.

Eligible Conditions

The Veterans Administration has identified these conditions as related to the water contamination:

• Adult leukemia
• Aplastic anemia
• Bladder cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Female infertility and miscarriage
• Hepatic steatosis
• Kidney cancer
• Liver cancer
• Multiple myeloma

Am I Eligible to Make a Camp Lejeune Claim? - lawyer talking with a camp le jeune victim

Now you’re wondering if you can make a claim, or if it’s too late.

Requirements For Eligibility

If you meet the eligibility requirements for filing a claim, you can:

• If you resided or worked at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or more between August 1953 to December 1987

• You did not receive a dishonorable discharge when you left the military

• While at Camp Lejeune, you were an active-duty service member, a veteran, a service member’s spouse, child, or other dependent, or a civilian worker or employee at the base.

• You developed a serious, life-changing medical condition while at Camp Lejeune or afterward

You will need to back up your claim with medical records and other documentation that shows your residency. But if your exposure to water contamination has directly impacted your life, you deserve compensation.

Eligible Conditions

The Veterans Administration has identified these conditions as related to the water contamination:

• Adult leukemia
• Aplastic anemia
• Bladder cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Female infertility and miscarriage
• Hepatic steatosis
• Kidney cancer
• Liver cancer
• Multiple myeloma
• Neurobehavioral disorders
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Parkinson’s disease
• Renal toxicity
• Scleroderma

Individuals who developed these medical conditions may be eligible to file a claim and receive compensation for their illnesses. Family members can also file a wrongful death claim on behalf of family members who died from illnesses related to the contaminated water.

Women who were either active-duty military or married to someone who was and lived at the base while pregnant, then gave birth to a child or children with congenital defects may also be eligible for compensation.

Gathered evidence shows a link between these conditions and exposure to the toxic chemicals found in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune and MCAS New River.

Except for miscarriages, these conditions may not have appeared immediately, and take years to develop. No matter how long ago you were stationed or living at Camp Lejeune, contamination-related illnesses can still affect you now.

Note that only those who suffered illnesses and injuries from exposure to the contaminated water are eligible. Just spending time at Camp Lejeune and not becoming ill excludes a person from filing a claim.

Camp Lejeune Claim? Contact The Herren Law Firm Today

For more than 30 years, the Herren law firm has helped veterans and other disabled people with their benefit claims and appeals. We have extensive experience dealing with governmental agencies and the claims that are filed with them.

• Neurobehavioral disorders
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Parkinson’s disease
• Renal toxicity
• Scleroderma

Individuals who developed these medical conditions may be eligible to file a claim and receive compensation for their illnesses. Family members can also file a wrongful death claim on behalf of family members who died from illnesses related to the contaminated water.

Women who were either active-duty military or married to someone who was and lived at the base while pregnant, then gave birth to a child or children with congenital defects may also be eligible for compensation.

Gathered evidence shows a link between these conditions and exposure to the toxic chemicals found in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune and MCAS New River.

Except for miscarriages, these conditions may not have appeared immediately, and take years to develop. No matter how long ago you were stationed or living at Camp Lejeune, contamination-related illnesses can still affect you now.

Note that only those who suffered illnesses and injuries from exposure to the contaminated water are eligible. Just spending time at Camp Lejeune and not becoming ill excludes a person from filing a claim.

Camp Lejeune Claim? Contact The Herren Law Firm Today

For more than 30 years, the Herren law firm has helped veterans and other disabled people with their benefit claims and appeals. We have extensive experience dealing with governmental agencies and the claims that are filed with them.

If you or someone you know became ill after being stationed at Camp Lejeune, get in touch with us immediately.

We’ve helped over 4,000 people, and we can help you as well. Contact us today by calling (713) 682-8194 or using our online contact form our consultation is free, and you won’t owe us a fee until we win your case.

Houston Lawyer Working for Camp Lejeune Claimants

When President Biden signed the PACT Act in 2022, it included the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. This opened the door for millions of people who were sickened by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Since then, thousands of personal injury law firms have offered their services to help those impacted by the contaminated water to file their own claim, decades after they were exposed.

Houston Lawyer Working for Camp Lejeune Claimants

While these law firms are ready to help, they may not have any experience working with veterans and the unique challenges involved with Veterans Administration claims. Herren Law has been working on behalf of veterans for over 30 years, helping thousands of frustrated veterans get the benefits they need.

Helping Veterans And Others

Veterans who have been frustrated with the process—sometimes for years—have needed help from a lawyer who understands how the VA’s claim service works. Attorney William Herren has been assisting veterans since 1992 with their claims and appeals and getting results.

Mr. Herren has also worked with clients dealing with Social Security Disability and disability insurance for short-term and long-term claims. Herren Law has helped more than 4,000 Texans successfully receive needed benefits.

The Camp Lejeune Claimants

Herren Law greatly respects our military and veterans and appreciates the sacrifices these men and women have made for our country. Our work allows us to return the favor to these brave men and women and help them through the complexity of VA claims.

Because of his years of experience working with veterans, Mr. Herren decided to include Camp Lejeune’s claims in his practice. Herren Law welcomes those who are interested in filing a claim for compensation, whether they were active-duty military or civilians who lived at the base during the affected period.

We understand the difficulties that people have experienced following their time at Camp Lejeune and are uniquely qualified to help.

If you believe you were made ill by the water contamination at Camp Lejeune, contact us today. We are happy to discuss your case and your options for filing your own claim.

Camp Lejeune Claimant? Contact The Herren Law Firm Today

For more than 30 years, the Herren law firm has helped veterans and other disabled people with their benefit claims and appeals. We have extensive experience dealing with governmental agencies and the claims that are filed with them.

If you or someone you know became ill after being stationed at Camp Lejeune, get in touch with us immediately.

We’ve helped over 4,000 people, and we can help you as well. Contact us today by calling (713) 682-8194 or using our online contact form our consultation is free, and you won’t owe us a fee until we win your case.

Make A Camp Lejeune Claim Soon!

It’s been a year since the signing of the Honoring Our Pact Act of 2022, in August of last year. The Act included The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 which acknowledged the water contamination that sickened many people during their time on the Camp Lejeune base. This legislation also provided funding to compensate those who suffered illnesses from being exposed to the contaminants in the water. Both military veterans, their dependents who were also at Camp Lejeune, and civilian workers are eligible.

camp le jeune claims

What Happened at Camp Lejeune in 1953

In 1982, the US Marine Corps discovered the presence of toxic chemicals in three of the water treatment plants that provided drinking water to the base. Those plants provided drinking water to several base housing units for Marines and their families as well as barracks for unmarried service members.

The contamination was believed to have started about 1953 from a chemical dumpage by a dry cleaner near the base and improperly disposed of chemicals. Later, other volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) used for construction and industrial purposes leaked into the water plants, adding to the toxic load.

These chemicals in such high amounts led to millions of people being exposed and potentially made ill with various diseases such as cancers, miscarriages, and other serious illnesses. No one understood why there was such a high rate of serious illnesses among service members and their families until the discovery of the contamination.

Deadline is Coming – One Year Left To File

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act allowed just two years for both veterans and civilians to file a claim for their illness. This two-year period began the day the Acts were signed, August 10, 2022. A year has passed, and the last day to file is August 10, 2024.

If you or a family member believes they are eligible, you must act quickly to avoid missing the window of opportunity to file a claim. Once the deadline passes next year, there may not be any way to file a claim and potentially receive compensation.

This compensation will cover medical expenses for illnesses that resulted from exposure to the toxic chemicals for both the military and civilians who spent time at Camp Lejeune. This includes children who were exposed during pregnancy or after birth, as well as children who moved there with their parents.

Surviving spouses and children can also file a wrongful death claim on behalf of a deceased family member. This can include spouses of military members and children of either military members or civilian parents who died from illnesses related to water contaminants.

Not sure how to file your claim? Let us help. Herren Law understands the seriousness of the Camp Lejeune situation and stands ready to guide you throughout the process.

Camp Lejeune Claim? Contact The Herren Law Firm Today

For more than 30 years, the Herren law firm has helped veterans and other disabled people with their benefit claims and appeals. We have extensive experience dealing with governmental agencies and the claims that are filed with them.

If you or someone you know became ill after being stationed at Camp Lejeune, get in touch with us immediately.

We’ve helped over 4,000 people, and we can help you as well. Contact us today by calling (713) 682-8194 or using our online contact form our consultation is free, and you won’t owe us a fee until we win your case.

Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune

Since 1953, Marines, their families, and civilian workers who spent time at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, shared a secret that no one discussed. People became seriously ill for no apparent reason. Pregnant women living in the base’s housing had high rates of miscarriages.

victims of water contamination at camp le jeune

Until 1982, there was no explanation. Marines and their families were not told until 1985.

Even with the removal of the toxic water and contaminants, serious illnesses continued to plague people who spent time at Camp Lejeune. Many became ill many years after they left the Marine Corps’s most celebrated installation.

Some veterans who suffered illnesses post-service did receive medical treatment from the VA, but civilian workers and military dependents did not. Those non-military residents, suffered for many years, were unable to work, and died prematurely without assistance or acknowledgment from the US government or the USMC. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act changed that in 2022.

Contamination in the Water

Beginning in 1953, dry cleaners located near the base began spilling and disposing of their cleaning chemicals by dumping them in storm drains. These chemicals leaked into the water treatment facility at Tarawa Terrace, one of the facilities that provided drinking water to base housing. The primary chemical from this source was PCE or Perchloroethylene. Upon discovery in the early 1980s, levels of PCE were found to far exceed the current EPA maximum contaminant level of 5 ppb. The Tarawa Terrace water was contaminated from November 1957 to February 1987. Wells with the highest contamination was closed in February 1985.

Additional contamination came from other sources and made its way into Hadnot Point, which also supplied drinking water to military housing. Hadnot Point’s water was contaminated by:

• Chemical spills from industrial sites around the base were not properly contained and cleaned
• Drums located in storage lots and dumps
• Leaking underground storage tanks

The continued seepage compounded the contaminant levels. Besides PCE, the water was also contaminated with volatile organic compounds, or VOC:

• Benzene, a base chemical used to make other chemicals to make plastics, resins, nylon, and synthetic fibers.
• Vinyl Chloride, manufactured to create PVC for a wide variety of plastic products
• Trichloroethylene (TCE), a metal cleaning solvent
• Benzene and toluene, chemicals found in fuel such as gasoline
• Methylene chloride, a chemical solvent used in paint removal and labs

These chemicals are all known human carcinogens in quantities far above any amounts considered “safe.” Additional information is available from The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), part of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The website includes a section for Camp Lejeune’s water contamination, containing information including reports.

Sickness From The Water

More than a million people were unknowingly exposed to these toxic chemicals. They became seriously ill both while at Camp Lejeune or after they left, sometimes many years later. The most common include:

• Autoimmune diseases, including Scleroderma
• Birth defects
• Cancers of various types
• Cardiac defects
• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Kidney problems, including end-stage renal disease
• Miscarriage and fetal deaths from exposure during pregnancy (in utero)
• Neurobehavioral effects
• Neurological effects
• Parkinson’s Disease

No one considered these illnesses and diseases attributable to the water contamination at the time. It wasn’t until many years later that the connection was made, and the VA began to recognize them as presumptive conditions.

Camp Lejeune Claim? Contact The Herren Law Firm Today

For more than 30 years, the Herren Law Firm has helped veterans and other disabled people with their benefit claims and appeals. We have extensive experience dealing with governmental agencies and the claims that are filed with them.

TIME SENSITIVE:  If you or someone you know was at Camp Lejeune during this period (between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987) and later developed a serious illness, you may be able to file a lawsuit to receive compensation. This is different from a claim for disability against the VA and is not limited to active-duty military and veterans. Eligibility extends to civilian workers and dependents of the military – those who were exposed to this water contamination.

The deadline for filing a lawsuit is within two years from when the Camp Lejeune Justice Act was approved in August of 2022, so it’s vital to start your claim immediately with Camp Lejeune Water Contamination attorney, William Herren. At Herren Law, we are prepared to help you file a claim.

We’ve helped over 4,000 people, and we can help you as well. Contact us today by calling (713) 682-8194 or using our online contact form our consultation is free, and you won’t owe us a fee until we win your case.

The Primary Contaminants in the Drinking Water of Camp Lejeune

Individuals who became ill after spending time at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina were likely exposed to a series of volatile organic chemicals (VOC) that unknowingly leaked into the base’s water supply. These were chemicals used for dry cleaning, cleaning weapons and machinery, and a component in fuels.

Primary Contaminants in the Drinking Water of Camp Lejeune

Despite regular water treatment, these chemicals were still in the water supplied to base housing. Marines, their families, and civilian workers who spent 30 days or more at the base may have been made seriously ill by these chemicals.

VOC Contaminants

Of all the toxic chemicals found in the Camp Lejeune water system, these were found in the largest amounts:

Benzene and toluene, chemicals found in gasoline and other types of fuel
Methylene chloride, a chemical solvent used in laboratories and in the removal of paint
Trichloroethylene (TCE), primarily used as a metal cleaner, used for tasks such as cleaning weapons, engine parts, and machinery
Tetrachloroethylene (also known as PCE, perc, or perchloroethylene), primarily used for dry cleaning
Vinyl chloride, 1,2-dichloroethylene, and 1,1-dichloroethylene, breakdown products of TCE and PCE

All the chemicals are known human carcinogens. No one knows how much of these chemicals were regularly dispersed in the drinking water or for exactly how long. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), as part of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), has an entire section on its website dedicated to Camp Lejeune’s water contamination, complete with reports and other information.

Illness

Over the years, people who have spent time at Camp Lejeune during the affected period have experienced a wide range of serious health problems that include:

• Cancers of various types
• Birth defects
• Miscarriage and fetal deaths from exposure during pregnancy (in utero)
• Cardiac defects
• Liver cirrhosis
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Autoimmune diseases, including Scleroderma
• Kidney problems, including end-stage renal disease
• Neurological effects
• Neurobehavioral effects

At the time, no one attributed the illnesses to the drinking water until the discovery of the contamination. While there is a list of known side effects—the VA calls these “presumptive conditions” for service members—many other illnesses may have been caused by the chemical exposure but are not yet recognized.

Discovery

The chemicals went undetected until the early 1980s, but the Marine Corps didn’t close all the contaminated facilities until late 1987. Notification began in 1984 with an article run in the base’s newspaper and a press conference in 1985. The base also has a notification database on its website for former residents.

The ATSDR’s position is that the ingestion of these VOCs was a strong contributor to the adverse health effects experienced by Marines, their families, and civilians working at Camp Lejeune during the affected time frame. The complete report is available online, with additional reports throughout the site.

Camp Lejeune Claim? Contact The Herren Law Firm Today

Until recently, only veterans could request help through the VA for their medical conditions. After the signing of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, family members and civilian workers can now file a claim for compensation due to the harm they suffered from the contaminated water.

If you or someone you know became ill after working or being stationed at Camp Lejeune, contact us immediately for help filing your claim. There is a short time period in which you can file a claim. Act now.

We’ve helped over 4,000 people, and we can help you as well. Contact us today by calling (713) 682-8194 or using our online contact form our consultation is free, and you won’t owe us a fee until we win your case.

The History Of Camp Lejeune Marred By Toxic Discovery

The history of Camp Lejeune is one that most people would not know unless you were either stationed there while in the military, lived in North Carolina, or were a history buff.  Camp Lejeune is one of the US Marines’ premier bases. It has in recent years gain national notoriety due the discovery of its toxic water supply.

water contamination

Located on New River, south of Jacksonville, Camp Lejeune was established during WWII for both land and amphibious training. In between the coastal ports of both Morehead City and Wilmington, the area was ideal for the Marines’ needs.

The base was named in 1944 for Major General John A. Lejeune, Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1920 to 1929, who was a firm believer in the need for amphibious assault training. Camp Lejeune has been instrumental in Marine readiness since its inception during WWII, including the Korean War, Vietnam, the Gulf War, and the War On Terror, with Marines regularly deploying to Afghanistan and Iraq. Today, the base is home to Headquarters & Support Battalion and Weapons Training Battalion, and the TECOM Training Support Center, and 17 other units.

Expansion

Following WWII, Camp Lejeune expanded exponentially beyond the training to give the Marines and their families everything they needed, including:

• Beaches
• Boating and Swimming
• Childcare
• Commissary and Marine Corps Exchange for shopping
• Dining
• Education,
• Family Support
• Financial services from credit unions and banks
• Fitness Centers
• Hunting And Fishing
• Library
• Theaters

More people meant more building and expansion and is now over 153,000 acres, including 14 miles of beach on the Atlantic Ocean. The base is now the largest on the eastern seaboard and includes other campus locations, including MCAS New River, Stone Bay, Courthouse Bay, Camp Geiger, Camp Johnson, and the Greater Sandy Run Training Area.

Water Contamination

The base expansion brought problems that plagued residents for over 30 years.

In 1953, a nearby off-base dry cleaner used PCE (perchloroethylene or tetrachloroethylene) and allowed the chemical to go into storm drains. This contaminated the water supply in the Tarawa Terrace treatment plant that supplied drinking water to some of the family housing facilities. Upon discovery in the early 1980s, levels of PCE were found to far exceed the current EPA maximum contaminant level of 5 ppb. The Tarawa Terrace water was contaminated from November 1957-February 1987. Wells with the highest contamination was closed in February 1985.

Concurrently, the Hadnot Point water treatment plant was contaminated primarily by TCE, or trichloroethylene. The water also contained PCE and benzene and TCE degradation products trans-1,2-DCE (t-1,2-dichloroethylene) and vinyl chloride. Contamination of these water tanks was found to be from more industrial sources: waste disposal sites, spills, and underground storage tanks that leaked. All the contaminated wells were closed by 1987.

After millions of Marines, their families, and civilian workers became seriously ill after their time at Camp Lejeune, they are now able to request compensation for their illnesses and losses and those of their family members.

Camp Lejeune Claim? Contact The Herren Law Firm Today

Until recently, only veterans could request help through the VA for their medical conditions. After the signing of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, family members and civilian workers can now file a claim for compensation due to the harm they suffered from the contaminated water.

If you or someone you know became ill after working or being stationed at Camp Lejeune, contact us immediately for help filing your claim.

We’ve helped over 4,000 people, and we can help you as well. Contact us today by calling (713) 682-8194 or using our online contact form our consultation is free, and you won’t owe us a fee until we win your case.

Camp Lejeune Advocates Say A “Rocket Docket” Needed For Claims

Camp Lejeune advocates, including lawyers for some of the plaintiffs and some victims, following the initial hearing for a Camp Lejeune case, spoke with Raleigh TV station WRAL outside the courthouse.  The hearing was a general discussion of the process and instructions from the judge on getting the claims resolved with or without litigation. The judge had met with some of the plaintiffs’ lawyers, which is typical in federal cases.

Judge Devers indicated that both the US Navy and the plaintiffs’ attorneys should begin working together to devise a system for settling claims faster. The Navy does not yet have a process for settling the claims without litigation and has stalled on settling the claims.

One of the attorneys stated that using data, databases, and systems could allow the Navy to be able to classify each case and address specific types of cases directly. Once the cases are organized, they could begin the process of making “meaningful and acceptable settlement offers” instead of making each plaintiff take a lawsuit through the court system. The concern is that more of the affected plaintiffs will die before they are able to receive a settlement for years of illness and suffering.

Judge Devers did not give a time frame but made it clear that there would be instructions that included one. He stated that trying just one case per day can take a very long time, likening it to the Roman Empire, which lasted 1900 years. One attorney referred to a “rocket docket” to get the process moving. Camp Lejeune advocates from all over are speaking out and concurring with the need to have a rocket docket meaning a fast and easy process to compensate victims.

More Inquiries

This past May, NC Senators Ted Budd and Thom Till wrote a letter with bipartisan support to the Secretary of the Navy and to the US Attorney General asking why these cases were taking so long. (The letter is available on Senator Budd’s website.) Camp Lejeune advocates from all over are speaking out about the need to have a rocket docket meaning a fast and easy legal process to mov e these cases through and compensate victims.

The letter follows complaints from constituents who have contacted their offices asking questions about settling claims and lawsuits. No response has been reported.

Camp Lejeune Claim? Contact The Herren Law Firm Today

If you served at or worked at Camp Lejeune and are now suffering or have suffered a chronic illness, you may have a claim under this act. There are a number of illnesses associated with the contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune.

For more than 30 years, the Herren Law firm has helped veterans and other disabled people with their benefits claims and appeals. We have extensive experience dealing with governmental agencies and the claims that are filed with them. We have turned our focus on preparing and filing Camp Lejeune claims before the current deadline.

There is a deadline of two years to file a claim so do not wait to find out if you may have a claim. The deadline for filing a lawsuit is within two years from when the Act was approved in August of 2022, so it’s vital to start your claim immediately.  As Camp Lejeune advocates, we are prepared to help you file a claim.

Contact us today by calling (713) 682-8194 or using our online contact form our consultation is free, and you won’t owe us a fee until we win your case.

Many Camp LeJeune Babies Are Over 50 Years Old

Its a gross but simple fact. Camp Lejeune babies were exposed to the contaminants. So much of the public’s understanding on Camp Lejeune water contamination victims has been focused on adults,  military personnel, primarily U. S. Marines or workers on the base.

But that is only part of the story. Because the contaminants were in the water supply for years before it was discovered, the many Marine families and the Camp Lejeune workers’ families  had babies, babies who grew up drinking that water along with their parents and siblings. Many were born on the base or were exposed while living with their families from the 1950’s on when the contaminants were in the water supply.

mother visiting camp le jeune babies in Baby Heaven

Like the adults, they were unknowingly exposed to the highly toxic water before they were born and while they were children.

Birth Defects

The water was contaminated from from 1953 until 1987 when it was acknowledged and the base was shut down. Throughout this period, it is estimated that at least a million people passed through Camp Lejeune. Many were married Marines who began families or added to their families while there.

The continual exposure to toxins causes considerable damage to a developing fetus. These Camp Lejeune babies and children experienced a wide variety of serious illnesses, including birth defects that led to lifelong illnesses, including:

• Anencephaly, where a baby is missing part of the brain or skull
• Childhood cancers, such as:

o Leukemia
o Lymphoma
o Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

• Heart defects
• Spina bifida

The oldest surviving children would be around 70 years old at this point. Most would be over the age of 50, with the youngest about 36 years of age.

Discovery

The contamination was finally acknowledged after the discovery of contamination in 1982. The Marine Corps did not shut down the source until 1987, leaving five more years of toxic water for base residents.

The illnesses and deaths were not acknowledged to be from the water until much later. That means the children who did make it to adulthood lived with these illnesses. Many may have been unable to work and are considered disabled. Others may have had their lives cut short by the chronic illnesses they acquired at Camp Lejeune.

Infant Death

Of all the babies and children exposed to the water contamination, many didn’t survive. Babies who were exposed in utero were miscarried or stillborn. Their mother’s exposures passed the chemicals to their babies during the pregnancies. There isn’t a full accounting of how many children were sickened or died from the contamination exposure.

One section of the Jacksonville City Cemetery near Camp Lejeune is an area where babies that died while at the base are buried. Some graves have the infant’s full names, and some are just called “Baby Boy/Girl” with a last name. Some lived a few years while some didn’t last a full day. So many children died at the facility that the area became known as “Baby Heaven.”

Family Members Can Make a Camp Lejeune Claim

Until recently, only veterans could request help through the VA for their medical conditions. After the signing of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, family members and civilian workers can now file a claim for compensation due to the harm they suffered from the contaminated water. As surviving adults, Camp Lejeune “babies” can make a claim. If you have suffered any illness that may be due to toxic exposure from Camp Lejeune water, contact the Herren Law firm for help filing a claim.

There is a deadline currently for filing so do not delay. The deadline for filing a lawsuit is within two years from when the Act was approved in August of 2022, so it’s vital to start your claim immediately.  At Herren Law, we are prepared to help you file a claim.

We’ve helped over 4,000 people with Social Security Disability, Veterans Disability and Long Term Disability over the years, and we have turned a major focus to help Camp Lejeune victims as well.

Contact us today by calling (713) 682-8194 or using our online contact form. A consultation is free, and you won’t owe us a fee until we win your case.

Camp LeJeune Process Needs Overhaul

Since the first claim was filed under the Camp Lejeune water contamination act in 2022, no one has reached a settlement or taken their case to court. Claimants, US Navy attorneys, and attorneys for claimants are seeing that the Camp Lejeune process needs an overhaul.

Because of the unusual nature of this type of claim, any lawsuits must be filed in North Carolina’s Eastern US District Courts. A lawyer, like Houston’s William Herren, who is handling and filing claims for qualified claimants, can help file a Camp Lejeune claim.

Problems with the Claims Process

After the signing of the PACT Act, more than 60,000 claims have already been filed. It’s expected that an estimated 500,000 to 1 million cases could be filed, so there are many calling for a better process, including one of the judges from the North Carolina Eastern US District Courts. There is already a volume of claims that appear to be overwhelming the system in place. So far, the US Navy has offer limited solutions to make the process easier for the government, the claimants, their legal counsel, and the courts.

The Current Process

When someone files a Camp Lejeune claim using Form 95, it is submitted to the court for determination. Once the claim is filed, the government has 180 days to accept or deny the claim. Lawyers for the US Navy are handling these claims.

Should the government deny the claim, then the claim must be decided in a court of law. This is where things will quickly become complicated. The concern is that with only four judges, these cases will continue to create a backlog of cases. A backlog could have claimants, also known as plaintiffs, waiting years for their suits to be decided. Someone with a terminal illness may never see a judgment for their case or families who have already lost a parent or spouse due to water contamination may not see compensation for years.

The Judge’s Request

Judge James Dever, one of just four in the Eastern District of North Carolina, has requested that the plaintiffs’ lawyers and the Navy’s lawyers collaborate to improve and streamline the claims process to avoid the potential bottleneck for these cases. The judge suggested that the involved attorneys on both sides:

1. Create a database of all affected victims
2. Include the extent of their injuries and causations
3. How long each victim lived on or worked at Camp Lejeune
4. Combine similar cases
5. Set up a structure for settlements

The judge specifically requested that the attorneys work together to focus on the affected victims and their family members, which includes a high number of children who were either miscarried, stillborn, or died later from the effects of the contamination. Following the first hearing in April, Judge Dever gave attorneys a month to create a leadership team to devise the new process.

May 26, 2023 – Navy Blames Staffing and Budget

In an email to claimants’ lawyers, a Navy attorney, Jennifer Tennile Karnes admitted that the Navy lacks the necessary financial resources and staff to promptly review compensation claims from veterans affected by toxic water at Camp Lejeune. She mentioned that the tort claims unit is working excessive overtime to handle the claims and expressed hope to double the staff by the end of summer. However, the Navy has yet to establish the promised online portal for expediting claims, and Congress has not allocated the additional funds needed to manage the compensation program. She described the Camp Lejeune claims process with a great metaphor: “building a plane mid-air.”

Contact The Herren Law Firm For Your Camp Lejeune Claim

Regardless of these difficulties with the Camp Lejeune process, it still is worth making a claim before the deadline. Missing the deadline will eliminate you from even being considered for compensation.  You must file your claim filed by August 10, 2024, so timing is critical. Please contact our offices immediately to learn more.

For more than 30 years, the Herren law firm has helped veterans and other disabled people with their benefits claims and appeals. We have extensive experience dealing with governmental agencies and the claims that are filed with them. We are focused on successfully getting claimants their settlements. If you or someone you know became ill after being stationed at Camp Lejeune, get in touch with us immediately.

We’ve helped over 4,000 people with disability and veteran claims and appeals, and we look forward to helping you. Contact us today by calling (713) 682-8194 or using our online contact form our consultation is free.  We work on a contingency basis so you won’t owe us a fee until we settle your case.

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