U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune was established in 1942. What no one anticipated then was the scope of a water-safety crisis that would surface years later. By the early 1980’s after mounting internal reviews, Federal investigators determined that multiple drinking water systems on the base had been contaminated by hazardous chemicals. Eventually it was confirmed that two of the base’s eight water treatment plants were supplying water containing dangerous industrial solvents and petroleum byproducts. The affected plants were finally shut down in 1985.
- Discovered in the 1980s, Camp Lejeune's water contamination affected up to one million individuals. VOCs such as TCE and benzene posed serious health risks to service members and their families.
- The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 enabled victims to sue the federal government, opening pathways for healthcare and compensation previously unavailable.
- Although the deadline for new claims has passed, existing claims continue through the judicial process with potential overlapping benefits from VA compensation.
- Langino Law PLLC provides free evaluations of existing claims; leverage this opportunity to understand your case's standing and next steps.
From August 1, 1953 through December 31, 1987, anyone who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune may have been exposed to these toxins through daily water use. This includes drinking, bathing, cooking and washing. Federal health agencies have estimated that as many as one million service members, civilians and family members were affected during that period.
What Was in the Water?
Testing later traced the problem to several volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including:
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
- Benzene
- Vinyl chloride
These chemicals are now known to be highly toxic and carcinogenic when ingested over time. The long-term use of this contaminated water carried serious health risks.
Dangers In the Water
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recognizes several illnesses as presumptively linked to Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water. Presumptive means the VA treats the disease as service-connected without requiring the veteran to prove the connection again. The VA currently presumes the following illnesses are related to Camp Lejeune exposure:
- Adult leukemia
- Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Parkinson’s disease
Other Conditions Associated with Exposure
Beyond the presumptive diseases list, the VA notes several other conditions that may qualify when medical evidence supports a connection to exposure. These include:
- Breast cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Female infertility
- Hepatic steatosis
- Leukemia
- Lung cancer
- Miscarriage
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Renal toxicity
- Scleroderma
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022
On the legal front, in August 2022, Congress enacted the Honoring Our PACT Act, a sweeping law designed to expand healthcare and compensation for veterans exposed to toxic substances. One of the most significant components of this legislation is Section 804, known as the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022. This law created, for the first time, a direct right for victims of Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water to sue the federal government.
Who Was Covered Under the Law?
The Act applied to individuals who:
- Lived, worked or were otherwise exposed at Camp Lejeune
- Were present for at least 30 days
- Were exposed between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987
- Covered individuals included veterans, family members, civilian employees and individuals exposed at birth.
Burden of Proof in Camp Lejeune Cases
Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, claimants were required to show that their illness was connected to exposure to the contaminated water.
The statute required evidence demonstrating that:
- Exposure was a causal factor or
- It was at least as likely as not that the exposure caused the illness
This standard was more favorable to claimants than traditional personal injury litigation but still required credible medical and exposure evidence.
Filing Deadline Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act created a two-year window to initiate claims, beginning on August 10, 2022. That filing window closed in August 2024. As a result, new claims that were not initiated within that period are generally barred. That said, thousands of timely are still moving forward. In other words, while new filings are restricted, active claims continue through the system.
Why Camp Lejeune Cases Are Still Ongoing
Although the deadline to initiate new claims has passed, thousands of claims were timely filed and remain active. Common situations include:
- Claims that were timely filed but not resolved
- Administrative claims that were denied
- Claims awaiting conversion into federal lawsuits
- Wrongful death claims involving estates or surviving family members
Required Claims Process Under the Act
Before a lawsuit could be filed, the law required claimants to submit an administrative claim to the federal government. In practice, that meant submitting specific proof and a dollar-demand before stepping into court. The claim process required submission of:
Federal law generally limits recovery in court to the amount demanded in the administrative claim, making this step particularly significant. Once properly submitted, the government had six months to evaluate the claim before the claimant could proceed to court.
Filing a Lawsuit in Federal Court
If the claim is denied or not resolved within six months, you can file a lawsuit. All Camp Lejeune lawsuits must be filed in the: United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, it has exclusive jurisdiction.
Relationship to VA Disability Benefits
Practically speaking, Camp Lejeune lawsuits are legally separate from VA disability claims. Eligible individuals may receive:
- VA disability compensation
- VA healthcare benefits
- Compensation through a Camp Lejeune lawsuit
Pursuing one does not eliminate eligibility for others. You can pursue more than one avenue at the same time.
Attorney Fees in Camp Lejeune Cases
Camp Lejeune claims are typically handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients pay no legal fees unless compensation is recovered. While the Camp Lejeune Justice Act did not impose an explicit fee cap, many attorneys follow federal tort standards that limit fees to:
- 20% for administrative resolutions
- 25% for cases resolved through litigation
Lawmakers have floated additional caps, but none have taken effect.
Langino Law PLLC and Camp Lejeune Litigation
Langino Law PLLC continues to represent clients with timely filed Camp Lejeune claims. If you already have a claim on file, a quick status review can clarify the next steps and timelines. The firm evaluates cases carefully and does not accept every matter, focusing instead on claims that meet established legal and medical criteria.
If you previously filed a Camp Lejeune claim or believe a claim was filed on your behalf, you may still benefit from a legal review. A free case evaluation is available to assess the status and next steps of existing claims.
