Camp Lejeune Liver Cancer Lawsuit Attorney

Since its opening in 1941, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, has served as temporary or permanent housing for hundreds of thousands of marines, navy personnel, and civilians. Unfortunately, many of the camp’s former residents and employees have suffered serious, even fatal, health conditions and birth defects that are believed to be the result of drinking or bathing in contaminated water while at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987.

Liver cancer is one of the health conditions that has been directly linked to contaminants found in the Camp Lejeune drinking water. Recognized by the Veterans Administration as a presumptive condition associated with the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, liver cancer is a life-threatening disease that is often diagnosed too late to be treated effectively

If you were a Camp Lejeune resident who is suffering from liver cancer, or you are the surviving family member of a Camp Lejeune resident who died from liver cancer, you may be entitled to substantial compensation from the U.S. government. The Camp Lejeune liver cancer lawsuit attorneys at Boyers Law Group can help you navigate the complex claims process to try and maximize the compensation you receive for your physical injuries and emotional trauma.

What Was the Problem with the Camp Lejeune Drinking Water?

For decades, marines, their family members and civilian employees who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune have suffered serious illnesses they believed were linked to contaminated drinking water and bath water at Camp Lejeune. The causation argument begins with the fact that the Hadnot Point and Tarawa Terrace treatment plants provided drinking water to Camp Lejeune, and numerous analyses have shown that the water was contaminated with carcinogens.

Samples taken and analyzed from the Hadnot Point distribution system were conducted by the base in May and July 1982, December 1984, and throughout 1985. In 1982, those samples showed extremely high levels of trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE). Samples of the Tarawa Terrace distribution system were conducted by the base in May and July 1982 and from February 1985 onward. During the July 1982 distribution system sampling, high levels of TCE, PCE, benzene, and vinyl chloride were also detected. TCE, vinyl chloride, and benzene are classified as human carcinogens, while PCE is classified as a “likely” or “probable” human carcinogen.

By early 1985, the contaminated supply wells were permanently shut down. By that time, however, thousands of marines, veterans, family members and civilians who worked at the camp had been exposed to the contaminants. Throughout the years since 1985, many victims of this unfortunate exposure have suffered from serious medical conditions and life-threatening diseases, including bladder cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Parkinson’s disease.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s Report on Camp Lejeune’s Toxic Water

Under the Superfund laws, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is charged with assessing the presence and nature of health hazards at specific Superfund sites, including Camp Lejeune. After completing several epidemiological studies, the ATSDR concluded that evidence exists to support an association between drinking water at Camp Lejeune that was contaminated with TCE, PCE, benzene, and/or vinyl chloride and at least 16 diseases, including liver cancer.

The ATSDR has published the following study results and conclusions:

TCE. The Camp Lejeune mortality studies found an increased risk of liver cancer among Marines/Navy personnel but not among civilian workers. The ATSDR concluded that there is equipoise and above evidence for causation for TCE and liver cancer.
PCE. The epidemiological evidence for PCE and liver cancer is insufficient to determine whether a positive association exists; therefore, the ATSDR concluded that there is below equipoise evidence for causation for PCE and liver cancer.
Vinyl Chloride: Studies show a relationship between vinyl chloride and angiosarcoma of the liver as well as hepatocellular carcinoma. The ATSDR concluded that there is sufficient evidence for causation for vinyl chloride and hepatocellular carcinoma as well as angiosarcoma of the liver.
Benzene. Because only one study was conducted, the epidemiological evidence is insufficient to determine whether there is a connection between benzene and liver cancer.

Do I Have a Valid Camp Lejeune Liver Cancer Claim ?

Signed into law on August 10, 2022, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) finally provides a definitive pathway for liver cancer sufferers who believe that the contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune caused or contributed to the development of their cancer. Liver cancer is one of several “presumptive injuries” caused by water contamination at Camp Lejeune.

To be eligible to file a Camp Lejeune liver cancer claim, both of the following must be true:

You or your loved one served, lived, worked, or were in utero at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987.
You or your loved one was subsequently diagnosed with liver cancer or a related condition.

If you or your loved one meets these two criteria, an experienced Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit attorney from Boyers Law Group can help you understand the claims process and submit a claim for the full, fair compensation you deserve.

How Do I File a Camp Lejeune Liver Cancer Claim?

If you meet the qualifications to pursue a Camp Lejeune liver cancer lawsuit, the first step is to file a claim with the Office of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the Navy’s Tort Claims Unit (TCU). It is important to note that if you filed a Camp Lejeune claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act that was denied, it might be necessary to re-file a claim under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA).

Because the claim form establishes both your right to pursue compensation and the type and extent of compensation to which you may be entitled, it is in your best interest to consult with an experienced Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit attorney before submitting a claim. Claims under the CLJA are subject to a two-year statute of limitations, meaning you will effectively forever waive your right to obtain compensation if you do not act within two-years of passage of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.. Additionally, there are many things that must be done to preserve your legal rights as soon as possible.

How Much Is My Camp Lejeune Liver Cancer Lawsuit Worth?

Congress has set aside over $6 billion dollars for Camp Lejeune claims. The amount of compensation to which you may be entitled will depend on various factors, such as the severity of your illness, the long-term prognosis, the extent to which your illness has impacted your life and ability to work, and how much pain and suffering you have endured because of your liver cancer.

In general, however, the CLJA allows eligible victims to be compensated for both economic and non-economic damages, which may include, but are not limited to:

Physical pain and suffering
Mental anguish, depression, anxiety, stress
Diminished capacity to enjoy life
Past and future medical expenses
Lost income and diminished earning capacity
Other damages recoverable under the CLJA

If you are a surviving family member of someone who would have met the criteria for filing a Camp Lejeune lawsuit but who died because of liver cancer, you may also be entitled to pursue a claim for damages suffered by you and your family member.

If you received benefits or monetary compensation from the Veterans Administration (VA), Social Security disability or another government agency because of the liver cancer, you are still eligible for compensation in a Camp Lejeune lawsuit. Pursuing a CLJA claim will not cause you to lose your VA compensation arising out of these injuries.

An experienced Camp Lejeune lawsuit attorney from Boyers Law Group will make sure you file a claim correctly and within the stipulated timeframe for doing so. We will then do everything in our power to maximize your compensation for any and all damages for which you are entitled to a recovery under the Act.

Contact an Experienced Camp Lejeune Liver Cancer Lawsuit Attorney at Boyers Law Group

If you have been diagnosed with liver cancer, or you lost a family member to liver cancer that you believe is related to time spent at Camp Lejeune, the Camp Lejeune lawsuit attorneys at Boyers Law Group can help. We have the experience necessary to understand the complex federal laws and procedures related to filing a Camp Lejeune lawsuit as well as the resources needed to aggressively pursue your right to compensation.

We know you and your family have suffered terribly because of the contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune and are committed to zealously protecting and advocating for your right to full and just compensation for the damages you have endured.

For a free consultation and expert advice on your Camp Lejeune liver cancer lawsuit, please contact us today by calling our office at 305-512-7600 or by filling out the “Tell Us What Happened” form on our website