Camp Lejeune | Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to the frequently asked questions about the Camp Lejeune water contamination and lawsuit. For more details and background, read this Camp Lejeune Water Contamination | What You Need to Know resource.

1.​ DO I NEED A LAWYER TO REPRESENT ME IN THE CAMP LEJEUNE LITIGATION?

We strongly recommend you hire an attorney to help with your Camp Lejeune lawsuit. Chemical exposure cases are highly complex and require significant legal, scientific, and medical expertise. An experienced chemical exposure and toxic tort attorney will be able to help you navigate through the complex legal process and will give you the best chance at a successful resolution of your case.

2. HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO FILE A CLAIM FOR CAMP LEJEUNE WATER CONTAMINATION INJURIES?

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 sets a 2-year time period to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit. The Act was passed on August 10, 2022, which means that you have until August 9, 2024 to file your Camp Lejeune lawsuit. If you believe you may have a claim, you should reach out to an attorney immediately. Do not wait until the deadline to file claims.

3. HOW MUCH WILL CAMP LEJEUNE VICTIMS GET?

It is too early in the litigation to even approximate the potential value of these claims. As the litigation develops and as cases go to trial and are settled, we will have a better idea of the true value of these claims. Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky have committed significant time and resources into this litigation and while we do not yet know how much Camp Lejeune victims will receive, we anticipate that eligible Camp Lejeune victims will receive significant compensation.

4. WHAT CONDITIONS ARE COVERED UNDER THE CAMP LEJEUNE LAWSUIT?

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, which allows us to file Camp Lejeune lawsuits, does not set out specifical medical conditions that one must have in order to file a lawsuit. While there is no defined list of medical conditions, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has published a list of conditions that are most strongly linked to exposure to chemicals in the water at Camp Lejeune. Those injuries are:

• Adult leukemia
• Aplastic anemia
• Bladder cancer
• Breast cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Female infertility
• Hepatic steatosis
• Kidney cancer
• Leukemia
• Liver cancer
• Lung cancer
• Miscarriage
• Multiple myeloma
• Myelodysplastic syndromes
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Neurobehavioral effects
• Parkinson’s disease
• Renal toxicity
• Scleroderma

If you were diagnosed with one of these injures after living, serving, or working at Camp Lejeune, we may be able to pursue a Camp Lejeune lawsuit on your behalf. However, it must be noted that just because you have one of these conditions and were at Camp Lejeune during the relevant timeframe, it does not mean that you will automatically receive compensation. Cases involving these injuries may be stronger cases, but we will still need to prove that your exposure to the water at Camp Lejeune caused your injury.

5. IS THERE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR CAMP LEJEUNE WATER CONTAMINATION INJURIES?

No, there is no Camp Lejeune class action lawsuit at this time. We and other firms around the country will be filing individual lawsuits for victims who were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and who suffered a related injury. Because of the number of similar claims that will ultimately be filed, this litigation may be referred to as a “mass tort.” This simply means that there are many similar claims that have been filed in the same court. We expect in excess of 100,000 claims to be filed meaning that this case has the potential to be one of the larger “mass tort” cases in history.

6. WHO QUALIFIES FOR THE CAMP LEJEUNE LAWSUIT?

The Honoring our PACT Act of 2022, which allows those who have been affected by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, is quite broad. The initial qualifying condition requires having lived, worked, or served at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953 and December 12, 1987, for a minimum period of 30 days. Additionally, the claimant must have been exposed to the contaminated water and suffered a harm as a result of the exposure. It is important to remember that just because a claim can be filed, does not mean all filed claims will prevail. Hiring lawyers who are invested in this process will help your chances of success.

7. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AT CAMP LEJEUNE?

The problem at Camp Lejeune was the drinking water. Between 1953 and 1987, the drinking water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with several toxic chemicals. The people who lived, worked, and served at Camp Lejeune were unaware of the contamination. They drank, bathed in, and cooked with the contaminated water. A portion of those people have suffered terrible, and irreparable injuries as a result of exposure to the contaminated water.

8. WHAT MADE THE WATER AT CAMP LEJEUNE TOXIC?

A variety of sources caused the water contamination at Camp Lejeune. Waste disposal practices at the local dry clean, ABC One-Hour Cleaners, was a big source of contamination. Additionally, leaking underground storage tanks, industrial area spills, and other waste disposal sites added to the problem.

9. IS CAMP LEJEUNE WATER STILL CONTAMINATED?

The government has taken steps to remediate the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

10. HOW DOES A CAMP LEJEUNE LAWSUIT WORK?

If you allow us to represent you in your Camp Lejeune lawsuit, we will first file the required Notice of Claim with the federal government. Thereafter, we will pursue a lawsuit, hire the appropriate experts, and guide you through the litigation process. We will take your case to trial or obtain a meaningful settlement for you. We want to make this process as easy as possible for you.