Posted in News,Personal Injury on October 4, 2022

Many individuals throughout the state of Montana served time at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Unfortunately, those who served at Camp Lejeune from the 1950s through the 1980s could have been exposed to cancer-causing chemicals in the water supply at the base. There may have potentially been millions of individuals exposed, including military service members, their family members, civilian workers, and others.

Here, we want to examine the Camp Lejeune water contamination claims and discuss what Montana residents can do if they were stationed at Lejeune at any time from 1953 through 1987.

What Happened at Camp Lejeune?

Camp Lejeune has been used to train members of the marine core since 1942. This facility is approximately 250 square miles in size and is located in Onslow County, North Carolina. Aside from the Marines, other branches of the military have also been stationed at the base for various assignments.

Water contamination was uncovered when testing was done at the facility in the 1980s. This testing determined that there were various types of hazardous chemicals at dangerously high levels in the water at Camp Lejeune. This is the water that individuals used to drink, cook, bathe, etc. 

The chemicals found at the time of testing included vinyl chloride, benzene, trichloroethylene (TCE), and perchloroethylene (PCE). Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that these chemicals were 240 to 3,400 times higher than acceptable safe levels.

Who is Affected?

Individuals who served at Camp Lejeune in the 1950s, 60s, 70s, or 80s could have been affected. This includes not only service members but also civilian workers, family members of those who served at the base, and others.

The chemicals have led to various types of illnesses for those affected. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Adult leukemia
  • Bladder cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
  • Aplastic anemia
  • Other myelodysplastic syndromes
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Miscarriage in women

Can Those Affected Receive Compensation?

Individuals who served at the base, as well as others who may have been affected, may be able to recover various types of compensation for their losses. Those who are successful in their water contamination claims may be able to receive up to $3,000 monthly for their medical expenses.

Various details of each person’s situation could influence how much compensation they receive. We strongly encourage all individuals who believe they have been harmed as a result of water contamination at Camp Lejeune to reach out to a skilled attorney who has extensive experience handling these claims and similar claims.

Recovering compensation from the military and from the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) can be challenging, and there are multiple steps that individuals must go through in order to recover compensation. This includes establishing the person’s military history for times spent at Camp Lejeune. 

For family members or those who were not in the military but still spent time at Camp Lejeune, there will be steps involved to determine how much compensation they should receive.

Overall, individuals who spent at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune, anytime ranging from August 1, 1953, to December 31, 1987, may be able to recover compensation.