Summer is a time for scary stories told around a campfire. But while most scary stories are fictitious and based on folklore, this one is real… and justice might finally be on its way. It’s the long and silent story of the water contamination at Camp Lejeune!

Camp Lejeune is an active military base on the coastal beaches of Onslow County in Eastern North Carolina. The heavily amphibious military base is great for Marine Corps training and readily available deployments. But given that their specialty is water, providing it shouldn’t be an issue, right?

For decades the purportedly potable drinking water at Camp Lejeune had been contaminated with a class of chemicals called “volatile organic compounds” (VOCs), putting the health of hundreds of thousands of military personnel, families, civilians, and even unborn children at risk.

But what can anyone affected do about this? Well, for a long time they couldn’t do anything! But times are changing, and soon enough REAL action can be taken!

Were you affected by the Camp Lejeune water contamination debacle? Think you might have a claim? Tell Shub Law today and we’ll tell you all you need to know about your rights!

Want more information about the situation? Let me tell you…

History

The infamous military base was established for Marine Corps use in 1942 and quickly became a place to call home for thousands of military personnel and their families, as well as a routine work destination for thousands of civilians and contractors. It was common sense for Camp Lejeune to have its own water supply system for its residents to drink from and bathe with.

Starting in 1953, the improper disposal of cleaning solvents in the soil near the established water wells of Camp Lejeune led to the contamination of the camp’s water.

Between 1953 and 1987, marine personnel, their families and civilian employees stationed at Camp Lejeune had been accustomed to drinking, bathing, and cooking with Camp Lejeune’s tap water — water contaminated with toxins at concentrations from 240 to 3400 times the permitted safety levels.

These volatile organic compounds, namely perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), are heavy duty cleaning solvents believed to have been incorrectly disposed of on or near the military base. These, along with over 70 other chemicals including benzene, were discovered in 1984 as the main players of the contamination, leading to the EPA’s decision to shut down all contaminated wells by 1985.

The Aftermath: Effects of the VOC Exposure

Sadly, for many this subject is sore, and the water is far from under the bridge. From various forms of cancer to prenatal problems to disabling diseases and disorders, the contamination of Camp Lejeune’s water supply seriously affected the health and lives of as many as 500,000 people over the course of thirty years.

Here is an extensive list of this wide range of effects that have been scientifically linked to the water contamination at Camp Lejeune:

It’s a real shame that for thirty years ordinary, everyday people were using water contaminated with heavily toxic chemicals on a regular basis without being aware of it; that mothers or those expecting who drank the water were far more likely to have issues during pregnancy, and just as horrible that their children could carry on their suffering; that an entire community was subject to a slew of diseases and disorders and had no idea that the thing we all need to survive was the very thing that was killing them.

And so, you might wonder “what has been done to remedy this?”

Can’t Look Away for Much Longer

Well, this problem isn’t much of a secret, though the military base would want all affected individuals to forget.

Truth is, though the evidence against Camp Lejeune is overwhelming, North Carolina legislature has blocked any form of litigation trying to make its way to court.

Due to its statute of repose, there cannot be a lawsuit filed against any class or civil matter ten years after the event has occurred. Unfortunately, this has halted Camp Lejeune victims from being able to seek justice and from getting the financial compensation that they deserve!

Though some Veterans can receive VA or disability benefits from the government, many still feel like there is something that needs to be done — someone who needs to pay. Lives were ruined, loved ones were lost, and many believe Camp Lejeune is getting away with it.

Soon enough, however, lawyers and legislators alike believe that a current law on the Senate floor will be passed, allowing eligible claimants –those affected during the thirty-year period at Camp Lejeune– to file a well-deserved lawsuit in the Eastern District of North Carolina. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act, currently awaiting final approval, is the answered cry many victims were hoping for. Maybe finally we’ll be able to see some good.

Where Does that Leave You?

Were you affected by the Camp Lejeune water contamination crisis? How do you know if you even have a claim? You might not know the first thing about the law, and you probably have so many questions but don’t know how or where to start addressing them.

That’s where we come in.

Tell us your story and leave the bulk of the work to us. Our team is small, but we know how to fight the big guys! Curious about your rights as a Camp Lejeune victim? We’ll tell you everything you need to know!