Have you or a loved one suffered breast cancer after exposure to toxic water at Camp Lejeune? You may be entitled to a settlement payout from a Camp Lejeune breast cancer lawsuit. For many marines and their families, breast cancer is yet another devastating and potentially fatal condition caused by exposure to the contaminated water at the North Carolina Marine base.
Primarily a cancer of women, breast cancer also occurs in men but is rarer. Studies have shown that breast cancer in men and women who spent time at Camp Lejeune may be linked to exposure to industrial solvents polluting the marine base’s water supply.
If you are diagnosed with breast cancer and served, lived or worked at Camp Lejeune during the mid-1950s to late 1987, we urge you to get in touch with a disability lawsuit attorney at Marc Whitehead & Associates. You might be eligible for significant compensation through a Camp Lejeune breast cancer lawsuit against the federal government.
The PACT Act and the Camp Lejeune Justice Act Allows New Legal Action
As of August 10, 2022, thousands of toxic exposure victims who experienced diseases, miscarriages, birth defects, or the loss of loved ones can now claim long overdue reparations. The reason is new legislation called the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, or PACT Act. This Act contains another newly enacted law called the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, a.k.a. CLJA.
The CLJA offers compensation specifically to marines, military families, and civilians harmed by polluted tap water at the Jacksonville, N.C. Marine Corps Base. The CLJA overrides a previous North Carolina law blocking Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuits.
As a result, restitution previously denied to these families is finally available.
We are here to help make that happen. A Camp Lejeune breast cancer lawyer at Marc Whitehead & Associates will take every legal step to obtain the maximum payout you’re entitled to. Our firm is handling Camp Lejeune cancer lawsuit and settlement cases in all 50 states.
Did the Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune Cause Breast Cancer?
In 1982, two of the eight water treatment plants on the marine base were found to be contaminated up to 280 times the standard safety level by chemicals classified as volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
For over three decades, marines, their families, and others regularly drank, cooked, and bathed in the polluted water.
A Camp Lejeune breast cancer lawsuit will focus on four VOCs known to be harmful to the human body that plagued the water at extremely high levels:
- Trichloroethylene (TCE) – a solvent used as a degreaser for metal parts
- Tetrachloroethylene – a.k.a. Perchloroethylene (PCE) – used for dry cleaning and metal degreasing
- Benzene – a solvent used to make industrial chemicals and is a component in fuel
- Vinyl Chloride – an industrial chemical used to produce polyvinyl (PVC) plastic
These chemicals have been linked to higher cancer rates and other health disorders when someone is sufficiently exposed over time. Seventy secondary chemicals were also identified in the water.
Various federal and public health authorities, including the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), have conducted targeted studies to determine adverse health effects of exposure to Camp LeJeune’s polluted water supply. Studies are still ongoing.
- ATSDR male breast cancer study: This study evaluated the contaminated drinking water and the occurrence of male breast cancer at Camp Lejeune. Findings suggested possible associations between male breast cancer and being stationed at Camp Lejeune and cumulative exposure to Tetrachloroethylene (PCE), t-1,2 dichloroethylene (DCE), and vinyl chloride.
Also, in this study, increasing exposures to trichloroethylene (TCE), PCE, DCE, and vinyl chloride showed possible associations with earlier age at the onset of male breast cancer.
- ATSDR Mortality Study: Researchers investigated specific causes of death in 4,647 full-time civilian workers employed at Camp Lejeune during 1973-1985. The causes of death included various diseases and cancers, including breast cancer.
- ATSDR Study – TCE, PCD, and Vinyl Chloride: Scientists assessed health effects linked with trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride exposure. This study confirmed positive findings in at least one study that evaluated exposure to TCE and PCE and the increased risk for breast cancer.
With all CLJA claims, the effects of exposure to any chemical depend on:
- When you are exposed (as a child? during pregnancy?)
- How much you are exposed to
- How long you are exposed
- How you are exposed (did you breath, drink or bathe in it?) and
- What your lifestyle conduct and habits are.
Contact us for a Camp Lejeune breast cancer lawsuit consultation to find out if you have a case. It’s a fast, reliable way to learn if you are eligible for benefits and how much your case may be worth. There’s no obligation to you or your family, and your legal consultation is entirely confidential.
Symptoms of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer occurs when cells in your breast grow and divide uncontrollably, creating a mass of tissue (tumor). Genetics, family history, lifestyle (e.g., being overweight, alcohol consumption), and environmental factors such as toxic exposure may increase your risk of breast cancer.
Signs and symptoms of breast cancer can include:
- A change in the size or shape of your breast.
- A breast mass or lump, which can start out pea-sized.
- A lump or thickening in or near your breast or in your underarm
- A change in the skin on your breast or nipple (dimpled, puckered, pitted, scaly, reddened, or swollen).
- Pain in the nipple area.
- An area of the breast looks noticeably different than other areas.
- A hard, marble-like area under your skin.
- A clear or bloody fluid discharge from your nipple.
How to File a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit for Breast Cancer
To pursue a Camp Lejeune breast cancer lawsuit or settlement, you must follow the U.S. Navy’s administrative claim process. Our attorneys will help you acquire the documents needed to file a Camp Lejeune injury claim.
- Eligibility extends to anyone who lived, served, worked, or was otherwise exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. This includes military service members, military family members, contractors, or civilians staying or working on the base, including in-utero exposure.
- You must show that your exposure to Camp Lejeune water occurred at any time beginning August 1, 1953, and ending on December 31, 1987 and that you spent 30 days or more on the military base. Days do not need to be consecutive. Veterans must submit service records, and civilians should have proof of residence on the base.
- You have been diagnosed with breast cancer (or other illness) after your time at Camp Lejeune, along with medical records and invoices showing the costs of treatments.
To begin the Camp Lejeune legal process, you must file your administrative claim with the Office of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the Navy’s Tort Claims Unit.
The Navy has six months to answer and settle your claim. After six months, if the Navy has either (1) denied your claim or (2) not acted on your claim, you may then file a Camp Lejeune breast cancer lawsuit in Federal Court.
All claims will be filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
What Kinds of Health Benefits Are Available for Camp Lejeune Breast Cancer Survivors?
In addition to your CLJA settlement payout, the PACT Act provides improved VA health benefits to military veterans who were exposed to Camp Lejeune water.
- Breast cancer is among the VA’s list of 15 covered health conditions, meaning you won’t have to pay a copay for health care and breast cancer treatments.
- Every Veteran enrolled in VA health care will receive an initial toxic exposure screening and a follow-up screening at least once every 5 years. Veterans who are not enrolled and who meet eligibility requirements will have an opportunity to enroll and receive the screening.
Certain VA benefits are available to the spouse, dependent child, or parent of a Veteran who died from a service-connected disability.
- Family members of veterans who developed breast cancer from Camp Lejeune exposure may be covered or reimbursed for VA health care and treatment for their breast cancer.
- Camp Lejeune breast cancer survivors who are family members of a Veteran are also eligible for:
- monthly VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payment;
- a one-time accrued benefits payment, and
- Survivor’s Pension.
Note: Claims under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) are separate from VA claims. A veteran’s settlement or court award from a Camp Lejeune breast cancer lawsuit would not reduce any VA disability benefits you currently receive for breast cancer or other impairment
Marc Whitehead & Associates represents Camp Lejeune lawsuits and VA benefits in all matters.
We have an in-depth understanding of the Camp Lejeune toxic water tragedy and the multiple cancers and illnesses associated with these cases. As accredited veterans’ attorneys, we can also ensure you receive all VA healthcare benefits available to Camp Lejeune breast cancer survivors.
What Can I Earn Compensation for in a Camp Lejeune Breast Cancer Injury Claim?
Our lawyers will consider many factors to determine how much compensation you should pursue, including:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- The extent of your pain and suffering (mental and physical)
- Disability
- Loss of the enjoyment of life, loss of companionship
If a loved one has died due to contaminated water exposure, you may justify compensation for medical expenses, burial costs, lost benefits, and more in a wrongful death claim.
Contact Us about a Camp Lejeune Breast Cancer Lawsuit
The time window to file a Camp Lejeune breast cancer lawsuit is advancing. There’s a two-year statute of limitations on Camp Lejeune claims. This means you cannot file a lawsuit after August 10, 2024, or six months after your administrative claim is denied, whichever is later.
We know you have questions about your case, and we welcome your call to (800) 562-9830 to discuss your case and get the answers you need. Each CLJA claimant must prove and win their case on its merits. Tell us about your situation so we can get started fighting for you.
