Water Contamination Attorneys Serving Our Veterans & their Families
A Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyer can help you make a claim for serious illnesses caused by toxic chemicals in the water supply at Camp Lejeune from 1953 to 1987. U.S. Marine Corps veterans, civilian employees, and their families may all be entitled to compensation.
Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi can help. Our lawyers have:
- A record of results, recovering millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients.
- Over 100 years of combined experience handling complex litigation.
- Multiple years of recognition as the Best in Our Field by fellow attorneys and leading legal publications and organizations.
Our former colleague, Judge Anthony Sciuto, served in the U.S. Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune. As such, we have a special interest in ensuring that our veterans and their families are properly represented.
Camp Lejeune lawsuits must be filed no later than August 10, 2024. Two years is not a lot of time to take legal action, so it is crucial to speak with a Camp Lejeune lawyer today.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 provides unprecedented (and long overdue) relief for individuals who were exposed to toxic water at the U.S. Marine Corps base in North Carolina. Signed into law as part of the Honoring our PACT Act, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act enables those who lived and/or worked on the base from the years 1953 to 1987 to file claims in federal court for illnesses linked to toxic water.
Individuals who may be eligible for compensation include:
- Veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune
- Civilian employees and contractors who worked on the base
- The families of servicemembers and employees who lived on the base
- Children who were exposed to contaminated water in utero
Camp Lejeune water contamination claims must be filed in federal court. A number of specialized legal procedures are involved, as well as a limited time to bring a claim (2 years from August 10, 2022 (the date the law was enacted)).
Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi has the skill, knowledge, resources, and experience to help victims of water contamination seek fair compensation. Please call (201) 585-9111 today for a FREE consultation. Our attorneys have offices in New Jersey and New York, and we serve clients nationwide.
Many lawyers advertising on TV are charging contingency fees of 40% of the recovery. We are not comfortable with that given the sacrifices that our veterans have made in the service of our country. Accordingly, we made the decision to limit our fee to 1/3 of the recovery.
Do I Have a Claim?
Several conditions must be met for a Camp Lejeune lawsuit to be viable. These include:
- You resided or worked at Camp Lejeune during the time period beginning August 1, 1953, and ending December 31, 1987.
- You were exposed to water “that was supplied by, or on behalf of, the United States” for a minimum of 30 days
- You suffered harm “that was caused by exposure to the water at Camp Lejeune” (see Honoring our PACT Act 2022 Sec. 804).
It is important to note that a Camp Lejeune Justice Act lawsuit is entirely separate from the VA disability benefits for health issues connected with the water contamination at Camp Lejeune. Veterans and their families can continue to receive benefits through the VA and also file a lawsuit for damages.
Tragically, some individuals exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune lost their lives before justice could be done. Both veterans and civilians who lost a family member to toxic water at the base can pursue compensation through a wrongful death claim.
Diseases Associated with Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune
For more than 30 years, the water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with toxic chemicals such as benzene, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, and vinyl chloride. Prolonged exposure to each of these chemicals has been linked to increased risk of cancer and other serious health issues.
People exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune have developed cancers including:
- Adult Leukemia
- Bladder Cancer
- Brain Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Lung Cancer
- Multiple Myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Prostate Cancer
- Thyroid Cancer
Other conditions associated with the toxins in the water at Camp Lejeune include:
- Aplastic Anemia
- Autoimmune Diseases
- Fatty Liver Disease (Hepatic Steatosis)
- Heart Disease
- Infertility in Women
- Kidney Damage and Kidney Disease
- Myelodysplastic (MDL) Syndromes
- Neurological Deficits
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Systemic Sclerosis/Scleroderma
Finally, the water contamination at Camp Lejeune resulted in an increase in miscarriages and fetal deaths. Children who were exposed to toxic chemicals through the water in utero were also at risk for a number of birth defects and other health issues, including:
- Cardiac Birth Defects
- Childhood Cancers
- Cleft Lip and Palate
- Cognitive Impairments
- Congenital Malformations
- Conjoined Twins
- Low Birth Weight
- Microcephaly
These lists are not inclusive. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, a bone marrow disease, a neurological condition, or other disease and you lived and/or worked at Camp Lejeune during the specified time period, you might have a viable claim for compensation.
Filing a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act is the “exclusive remedy” for individuals who became sick as a result of water contamination at the base. In other words, this federal law is the only option for pursuing compensation for diseases linked to toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune.
Camp Lejeune lawsuits must be filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The burden of proof lies with the plaintiff, who must:
“… produce evidence showing that the relationship between exposure to the water at Camp Lejeune and the harm is—
“(A) sufficient to conclude that a causal relationship exists; or
“(B) sufficient to conclude that a causal relationship is at least as likely as not.”
A Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyer can collect evidence on your behalf. Evidence that may be needed for your lawsuit includes:
Medical Records
A causal relationship must be shown between the harm you have suffered and exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Illnesses and other complaints must be thoroughly documented in your medical records, patient chart, etc.
Military Records
Veterans will need to present proof that they were stationed at Camp Lejeune. Our lawyers can help you obtain copies of your DD Form 214 (Record of Separation), discharge certificate, and other necessary documents.
Employment Records
Civilian employees and contractors will need to prove that they worked at Camp Lejeune and were exposed to toxic water during the 1953 to 1987 time period. Tax returns and civilian personnel records can help to establish that you were employed at Camp Lejeune and the dates you worked on base.
Records of Your Residence
Military and public records can show that you and your family lived at Camp Lejeune during the dates when the water was contaminated by toxic chemicals. If you lived on base for 30 days or more, you have a strong case for the “causal relationship” required to file a lawsuit.
Proof of Damages
Finally, you need to present evidence of the losses you and your family have sustained as a result of a water contamination-related disease. Proof of harm can be found in medical bills and other receipts, testimony from friends and family members, and much more.
Am I Entitled to Compensation?
Cancer and other illnesses can have a major impact on your life. The loss of a child or other loved one – even if it was decades ago – can cause you and your family immeasurable pain.
Our Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyers can pursue the compensation you deserve. You may be entitled to recovery of the following damages:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- The loss of earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Disability
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of the enjoyment of life
Every case is unique. If you or a member of your family was exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and later developed a serious illness, it is important to speak to a knowledgeable lawyer as soon as possible.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act supersedes any prior laws governing these claims. If your claim was previously denied, you may be able to file a lawsuit under the new law.
Handling Your Claim
Our firm is partnering with the law firm of Cohen, Placitella & Roth to handle Camp Lejeune lawsuits. Not only has Cohen, Placitella & Roth obtained some of the largest trial verdicts in toxic injury cases in the country, they have a demonstrated commitment to veterans and their families outside the courtroom.
For more than a decade, Cohen, Placitella & Roth has worked with former marine officers in building and supporting the Veteran’s Career Transition Program, which is dedicated to helping veterans leaving active duty find jobs. They also started and support ”Semper Fi Santa,“ which helps military families struggling financially especially during the holidays.
I cannot express how grateful and pleased I am to have had Christopher DiGirolamo and his paralegal Christine Carrino represent me in connection with my personal injury action.
What had happened to me was an event that was about to completely change my life.
Initially I was unable to go to the offices of Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi because of my injuries. I had been hit by a motor vehicle while walking in a crosswalk. Christopher came to me. He offered not only expert legal advice but helped significantly with other things like obtaining police reports, how to handle telephone calls, photographing the scene and even advice about warding off “adjusters” who came knocking on my door. Most importantly, Christopher listened. His compassion, knowledge and understanding cannot be overstated.
I, as a lawyer with medical knowledge who needed a lawyer, would consider myself to be somewhat of a challenging client. Christopher took all this in stride and was fearless in offering guidance and advice when I was having difficulty looking at things objectively. Christopher allayed my anxieties and made me feel better each and every time we spoke. He put things in perspective for me while at the same time, not sugar coating the difficult days ahead that were in store for me, both physically and throughout the legal proceedings. Christopher asked me about my preferences and my choices. He was always interested in my ideas and my point of view. Christopher balanced my convictions with his undeniable objectivity and expertise.
Throughout the protracted course of discovery and pre-trial conferences, Christopher went out of his way to communicate with me and keep me informed. When Christopher was in court we engaged in many real time texting sessions. He respected my decisions about strategy and was constant in upholding his integrity. With Christopher’s tenacity and wit, the case was ultimately resolved without trial.
Christopher and the law firm of Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi, P.C. made every effort to accommodate me in whatever way they could. I offer my thanks and gratitude.
Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi has a team of dedicated attorneys, knowledgeable and give 110% to each one of their cases.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you and your staff for a very satisfying outcome to my recently settled case. I thank you for taking the case and the work you did on it. I really felt like I was in “good hands” with your firm. Everyone was professional and very capable.
I was very pleased to work with Mike Maggiano. He was personable, always on top of things, and made me feel this case was important to him, too. He represented me well, especially at the mediation. I appreciated everything you have done for me and my family during this difficult process. Again, thank you for everything.
Contact a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawyer Today
Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi is a Top-Rated Personal Injury Law Firm. We represent people who have been injured or lost relatives through no fault of their own.
Thousands of people are likely eligible to file lawsuits for diseases developed as a result of toxic water contamination at Camp Lejeune. Our team is ready to meet the challenges of these cases, which may involve going to trial in federal court.
Our team of 30 people is dedicated to fighting for the best outcome in your case. We collect evidence on your behalf, partner with leading experts, calculate the full value of damages, and represent you aggressively in settlement negotiations and (if necessary) at trial.
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Please complete the form on this page or call (201) 585-9111 today for a FREE case review with a Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyer. Our attorneys serve clients nationwide from offices in New Jersey and New York.
