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Partner with Our Leading North Carolina Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawyers
The U.S. Senate passed the Honoring Our PACT Act to improve healthcare and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances, which includes the Camp Lejeune Justice Act that allows those impacted from living and working on the Base to exercise their constitutional right to legal action against the U.S. government for toxic water exposure.
At Roberts & Harris PC, our dedicated Camp Lejeune injury and wrongful death attorneys applaud the legislation’s passing of this important — and long overdue — Act to ensure those who have fought so bravely for our country have access to not only the healthcare they are entitled to, but a legal remedy to compensate our service members for the grave damages that resulted from living and working on the Base.
From 1953 to 1987, water at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina contained volatile organic compounds that were stored underground at the base for decades, impacting the lives of tens of thousands of our armed forces and their families, including known carcinogens at up to 280 times the standard safety level.
The environmental study determined four core chemicals and 70 secondary chemicals were identified in the water including trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), vinyl chloride (VC), and benzene.
Exposure to these toxins through drinking, cooking, cleaning, and bathing water caused countless health complications to those living and working on Camp Lejeune, including a variety of cancer diagnoses, Parkinson’s disease, birth defects, stillbirths, infertility, miscarriages, and other ailments.
Why is the Camp Lejeune Legislation Important?
For nearly 35 years, some of our bravest U.S. military personnel and their families, contractors, and civilians suffered from the ongoing water contamination at Camp Lejeune, with little to no legal remedies in place to compensate them for the preventable illnesses and fatalities that resulted from the negligent storage of toxic chemicals on the Base.
Sadly, another two decades passed before the U.S. federal government initiated investigations into the allegations of contaminated water on Camp Lejeune in 2009.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act was necessary because, without this bill, military family members and civilians who suffer from diseases, deformities, and the loss of loved ones would otherwise not have an opportunity to pursue the damages they tragically suffered from the contamination.
With the passing of the newest legislation, family members, caretakers, civilians, and veterans who lived and worked at Camp Lejeune can seek reparations outside of Veterans Affairs (VA), which was previously their only recourse to recover presumptive benefits and compensation for family members’ out-of-pocket costs.
Now, those who suffer or have suffered from one of the presumptive conditions due to exposure, can seek compensation via the judicial system without the U.S. government asserting previously specified immunity.
If you believe you or your family members have been negatively impacted by the exposure to contaminated water on the North Carolina base, contact our dedicated civil litigation lawyers in Wake County today to discuss your case during a free consultation.
Who is Eligible to File a Camp Lejeune Injury or Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act allows military veterans, their family members, and civilians who lived or worked at the base between 1952 and 1987 for at least 30 days and who were exposed to its contaminated water to file a claim against the U.S. government.
Unlike previous legislation, the Bill prohibits the U.S. government from asserting specific immunity from litigation in response to any potential lawsuit.
Adults who lived on Camp Lejeune as children and suffered from toxic water exposure may also seek reparations, as well as primary caretakers, including spouses and children of the individuals directly exposed, on behalf of the poisoned. Even those without one of the presumptive illnesses may still have a claim.
Damages awarded from the Camp Lejeune Justice Act are decided in the courts and paid out to victims through a U.S. Treasury Department called the Treasury Judgment Fund.
If you or a loved one were exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune and developed health problems or lost a loved one from contact with the water on the Base, you may be entitled to compensation.
Contact our skilled civil litigation lawyers in Raleigh today for a free case evaluation.
What If My Camp Lejeune Case Was Previously Denied Due to the Statute of Limitations?
Due to an obscure North Carolina law that implements a strict 10-year statute of repose, thousands of impacted military personnel, families, and civilians who worked tirelessly to advance the strength of our country’s Armed Forces were previously prohibited to file claims.
North Carolina is the only state where such a statute exists and, despite recent amending for future cases, it does not apply retroactively and subsequently does nothing for Camp Lejeune victims seeking to file a claim outside the 10-year window.
As a result of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, individuals who were not already compensated for the damages caused by their exposure to the toxic water now have access to the court systems. That includes those who were previously rejected from filing a claim due to the statute of limitations.
How Can the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawyers at Roberts & Harris PC Help Military Personnel, Families, and Civilians Pursue a Claim?
At Roberts & Harris PC, our skilled civil litigation lawyers in Raleigh have been representing clients throughout North Carolina at both state and federal levels for more than four combined decades.
Our dedicated North Carolina civil litigation attorneys are trial-tested legal advocates who have collectively served as lead counsel in over one hundred jury trials that allowed our clients to reach the successful outcomes they deserved.
Our law firm partner, Patrick Roberts, was sworn into the North Carolina Bar in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where Camp Lejeune is located. He tried his first case there, defending a Marine accused of attempted murder, and over the years has proudly represented many soldiers and their families in Jacksonville.
In addition, Ranchor Harris has extensive experience in multi-district litigation and mass torts cases, allowing both attorneys to provide the skilled legal representation you and your family need to pursue actual results from the U.S. government.
We are proud to provide the necessary legal efforts to hold the North Carolina Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune liable for injuries and fatalities caused by contaminated water on the base, and failures by U.S. Marine officials to act on the issue.
Even if you are represented by an out-of-state law firm or attorney, Roberts & Harris can serve as local counsel for clients on these matters to ensure you have access to the justice you deserve for the damages you suffered during your brave service to our country.
Contact our skilled Raleigh civil litigation attorneys at Roberts & Harris PC today at (919) 249-5006 or online to learn how we can help provide exceptional legal solutions for your unique needs today.