In the wake of illnesses and deaths linked to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it will begin offering presumptive status to former Marines and other service members who served at the base between 1953 and 1987.
If you were stationed at Camp Lejeune between those years and believe that your illness may have been caused by contaminated water, this is important for you.
For any former Marine stationed at Camp Lejeune during that period, it’s a great relief to know that they now have access to new healthcare benefits that could help alleviate their symptoms or even possibly save their lives.
But before jumping for joy too early, let’s talk about what this means for your case. Is filing a lawsuit still an option? And if so, what are some things lawyers look for when evaluating whether someone qualifies for benefits? Let’s find out.
Table of Contents
The Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations is the time limit for filing a lawsuit. The statute of limitations for the Camp Lejeune Lawsuit is three years after the date of discovery, which means that you must file your claim within three years of discovering your illness or injury due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
The Discovery Rule
The discovery rule is a legal concept that allows you to file a lawsuit after discovering the injuries and their causes. It means that if you were exposed to toxic chemicals at Camp Lejeune in the past, you may be able to file a claim even if it was before January 1, 2020, when the statute of limitations would generally expire.
How does this apply to Camp Lejeune Lawsuits? The discovery rule applies because many people were unaware they had been exposed until recently. Often because they were not tested until after the military base closed in September 1988 or did not know about any potential health effects until later on in life. Therefore, lawsuits filed later could still be valid despite being filed outside of what is generally considered within the time limits set by law.
Did You Have a Job at Camp Lejeune?
If you had a job at Camp Lejeune, you could file a lawsuit. It includes civilians and military employees who worked there. It also applies to dependents of those who worked at the base, including children and spouses.
If someone in your family served their country by fighting for our nation’s freedom at Camp Lejeune during its years as a Marine Corps base (1942-1987), they might also be eligible for compensation. Even though they might not have lived long enough after returning home from war to apply themselves.
Did you live there for 30 days or more?
If you lived at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or more, you might be eligible to file a lawsuit against the government. The minimum amount of time a person must have spent living on the base is 30 days, but some people who lived there only briefly could still have been exposed to toxic chemicals and may be able to sue.
Did you develop an illness after living there?
You could file a lawsuit if you developed an illness after living there. Illnesses linked to Camp Lejeune water contamination include cancer, leukemia, and kidney disease. The list includes the following:
- Bladder cancer
- Brain tumors (meningioma)
- Breast cancer (in women)
- Colon or rectal cancer
- Kidney disease
- Lymphoma
- Liver disease
- Multiple myeloma (a type of bone marrow cancer)
The Law Is on Your Side in Camp Lejeune Lawsuit
According to ATSDR, around a million military and civilian staff and their families were probably exposed to the contaminated drinking water. If you were born, lived, or worked at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, you may be eligible to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit. The Federal Court has already certified this as a class action lawsuit that covers all people who fall into these categories.
The law is on your side in this case. The Federal Government has admitted that toxic chemicals were released into the water supply during those years and caused severe health problems for those who lived at Camp Lejeune and drank the water there.
Conclusion
If you or someone you love was exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you must learn more about your legal rights. You may be able to file a lawsuit against the government for damages caused by exposure to toxic chemicals such as benzene and trichloroethylene (TCE). Don’t hesitate to contact your lawyer today if you have any questions about whether or not this applies to your situation.