Former Residents at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune May Seek Reparations for Toxic Water Exposure on Base

​On July 16, 2022 the United States Senate voted to pass the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, a federal law giving former residents of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, military, civilians and their families who were exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune the right to seek reparations from the U.S. government. 

In summary:

• This bill allows certain individuals to sue and recover damages for harm from exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987.
• This action is available only to individuals who were exposed to contaminated water for at least 30 days.
• The bill prohibits the U.S. government from asserting specified immunity from litigation in response to such a lawsuit.
• The bill also prohibits an individual who brings such an action from bringing a separate tort action against the United States based on the same harm.

From 1953 to 1987, the water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including known carcinogens that are up to 280 times the standard safety level. Four core chemicals and 70 secondary chemicals were identified in the water. These included including: trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), vinyl chloride (VC), and benzene. These toxins may have exposed through drinking, cooking, cleaning and bathing water and caused serious health complications, including a variety of cancer diagnoses, Parkinson’s disease, stillbirths, infertility, miscarriages and more.

Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, anyone who lived or worked at the base between 1952 and 1987 for at least 30 days and was subjected to toxic water exposure on base to file a claim against the U.S. government. The Act prohibits the U.S. government from asserting specific immunity from litigation in response to any potential lawsuit.

If the Camp Lejeune Justice Act was not passed military family members and civilians who suffer from diseases, deformities, and loss of loved ones would otherwise not have an opportunity for reparations because they would be barred by the doctrine of specified immunity. However, now those individuals who are suffering, or have suffered due to one of the presumptive conditions associated with the toxic water exposure on base can seek compensation through the judicial system via a Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Exposure Lawsuit.

As a result of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, military veterans, their family members, and civilians now have access to the court systems.  If you were a former resident at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina at any time between 1953 to 1987, for at least thirty days, and consumed contaminated toxic water and developed cancer or Parkinson’s disease, infertility, or had a miscarriage or have been diagnosed or suffered any severe health complications contact Camp Lejeune Reparations Lawyer Timothy L. Miles for a free case evaluation about a Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Exposure Lawsuit.

Victims and their families can find more valuable resources on the legal system by visiting our Resources Center.

Timothy L. Miles

Timothy L. Miles is a nationally recognized shareholder rights attorney raised in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Miles was recentely selected by Martindale-Hubbell® and ALM as a 2022 Top Ranked Lawyer, 2022 Top Rated Litigator. and a 2022 Elite Lawyer of the South. Mr. Miles also maintains the AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®, their highest rating for both legal ability and ethics. Mr. Miles is a member of the prestigious Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers: The National Trial Lawyers Association, a superb rated attorney by Avvo, a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by Premier Lawyers of America (2019) and recognized as a Distinguished Lawyer, Recognizing Excellence in Securities Law, by Lawyers of Distinction (2019). ​1