Camp Lejeune Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Lawsuit Attorney

Hundreds of thousands of armed services personnel and civilians have lived and worked at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune since it opened in 1941. Sadly, many of the people who spent time there, or who were in utero at the camp, have been plagued with major health problems, suffered birth defects, and even died because of contaminated drinking water supplied to the camp for over four decades.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is one of the many serious health conditions that has been linked to the contaminated Camp Lejeune drinking water. A type of cancer that affects white blood cells that can form tumors throughout the body, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) can be treated effectively, depending on several factors, including early detection, type of NHL, and age of the patient. Unfortunately, however, many patients suffer with serious symptoms and the effects of their treatments and others do not survive.

If you have non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or you are the surviving family member of someone who died with NHL that you believe is linked to time spent at Camp Lejeune, you may be entitled to substantial compensation from the U.S. government. To find out if you qualify for this compensation and for help navigating the claims process, consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney is in your best interest.

The Camp Lejeune contaminated water lawsuit attorneys at Boyers Law Group have more than twenty-five years of experience helping families who have been harmed by dangerous premises and products, and/or who have sustained serious accident injuries, achieve justice and obtain the full, fair compensation they deserve. We want to put our experience, legal acumen and considerable resources to work helping you successfully navigate the Camp Lejeune claims process and get the compensation to which you are entitled for the physical injuries and emotional trauma you have suffered.

Please call us at 305-512-7600 or by fill out the “Tell Us What Happened” form on our website to get the help you need with your claim for damages related to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma from the drinking water at Camp Lejeune.

What Do I Need to Know about Camp Lejeune Drinking Water?

Camp Lejeune was constructed dangerously close to several different potential sources of water contamination. Unfortunately, it took decades before authorities finally acted on complaints and concerns about the drinking water at the camp. In the interim, armed services personnel, civilian employees, and family members developed serious illnesses believed to be linked to the drinking water at the camp.

Both the Hadnot Point and Tarawa Terrace treatment plants supplied water to Camp Lejeune. In the decades after the camp was opened, concerns over the safety of the drinking water at the camp became more frequent and more alarming. Nevertheless, the U.S. government repeatedly assured the public that the drinking water met current drinking water safety standards.

Eventually, water samples were taken and analyzed from the Hadnot Point distribution system in May and July 1982, December 1984, and throughout 1985. The 1982 Initial Assessment Study (IAS), conducted by an outsider, found extremely high levels of trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), along with other contaminants, in 22 of the 76 sites sampled.

Vinyl chloride and benzene were also detected in the Hadnot Point distribution system during sampling conducted on or after December 1984. 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 all classified as human carcinogens, while PCE is classified as a “likely” or “probable” human carcinogen.

In 1985, the supply wells from the Hadnot Point and Tarawa Terrace distribution systems were permanently closed. That means, however, that drinking water contaminated with known carcinogens was supplied to everyone living and working at Camp Lejeune for over four decades.

What Is the Relationship between Camp Lejeune’s Contaminated Water and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma?

In 2011-2012, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) conducted a morbidity study. They surveyed 214,970 Marines who were stationed at Camp Lejeune and 5,440 civilians who had been employed there between April,1975 and December,1985, as well as 16,736 Marines, spouses, and their children who had lived at Camp Lejeune and had participated in an earlier ATSDR survey. For comparison purposes, they also surveyed 41,761 Marines who were stationed at Camp Pendleton and were not also at Camp Lejeune and 4,384 civilians employed at Camp Pendleton between April,1975 and December,1985..

The ATSDR’s health survey was used to obtain information on specific health outcomes, residential history, and potential confounding variables.  When the study was completed and results were analyzed, the ATSDR concluded that “Marines and Naval personnel, residents (including infants and children), and civilian workers were exposed to trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), dichloroethylene (DCE), vinyl chloride, benzene, and other contaminants in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune from the 1950s through February 1985. Exposures to these chemicals increase the risks for cancers, birth defects, and other health-related problems.”

Moreover, 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 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The ATSDR published the following study results and conclusions relating to the contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune and the eventual development of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma:

• There is sufficient evidence of a causal connection between exposure to TCE and the later development of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
• There is sufficient evidence of causation between exposure to PCE and the development of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
• There is sufficient evidence to establish a link between exposure to benzene and the development of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
• There is insufficient evidence to support a causal connection between exposure to vinyl chloride and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Do I Have a Valid Camp Lejeune Claim?

Over 80 years after the camp opened, and four decades after the initial study confirmed the presence of contaminants in the camp’s drinking water, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) was passed as part of the PACT Act in 2022. The CLJA allows an injured party to file a claim with the government if they believe that the contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune caused or contributed to the development of their non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or to the death of a family member who died with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The CLJA contains a list of “presumptive injuries” that includes non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Among the other presumptive injuries are liver cancer, leukemia, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, multiple myeloma, aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes.

To be eligible to file a Camp Lejeune non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma claim, both of the following must be true:

1. 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.
2. You or your loved one was subsequently diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or a related condition.

How Do I File a Camp Lejeune Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Claim?

To initiate a Camp Lejeune non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma lawsuit, a claim form must be filed with the Office of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the Navy’s Tort Claims Unit (TCU). This form protects your right to pursue compensation as well as establishes the type and extent of compensation to which you may be entitled.

Given the importance of the initial claim form, it is in your best interest to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney when preparing the claim form. An experienced attorney will help you understand the claims process, protect your legal rights and help make sure you apply for and receive the maximum compensation to which you are entitled.

It is important to keep in mind that if you previously filed a Camp Lejeune claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act and that claim was denied, you may be entitled to compensation under the CLJA. However, you must re-file your claim with the TCU.

You should also note that a two-year statute of limitations applies to claims under the CLJA. Therefore, if you or a loved one has suffered from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma related to drinking contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, it is very important to get an accurate, complete claim filed as soon as possible.

How Much Is My Camp Lejeune Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Lawsuit Worth?

The amount of compensation you may receive from the government depends 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 your ability to work, and how much pain and suffering you have endured because of your non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In addition, if you received benefits or monetary compensation from the Veterans Administration (VA), Social Security disability, or another government agency because of your non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the amount of compensation you receive may be offset by the value of the benefits you previously received.

In general, however, the CLJA authorizes compensation for your losses and suffering, including:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental anguish, depression, anxiety, stress
• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost income and diminished earning capacity
• Other damages you and your family have suffered

If you are a surviving family member of someone who died due to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma related to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you may also be entitled to pursue a claim for damages suffered by you and your deceased family member.

Discussing your case with an experienced personal injury attorney will help you understand the eligibility criteria for filing a claim, the claims process and the amount of compensation for which you may be eligible. Please call us at 305-512-7600 or fill out the “Tell Us What Happened” form on our website today so we can put our experience and knowledge to work helping you finally obtain justice.

Contact Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys for the Help You Need with Your Camp Lejeune Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Lawsuit

If you have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, or you lost a family member to the disease, and you believe the lymphoma is related to Camp Lejeune’s water, the attorneys at Boyers Law Group can help you get the compensation you deserve for all the damages you have suffered. We have the experience necessary to understand the complex procedures related to filing a Camp Lejeune lawsuit, as well as the resources needed to aggressively pursue your right to compensation.

We are committed to seeking justice for all victims injured because of exposure to the contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune and want to help you. Contact us today for your free initial consultation by calling 305-512-7600 or by filling out the contact form on our website.