Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawyer

All throughout the U.S., hundreds of thousands of Marines have filed legal claims for illness linked to exposure to contaminated water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Many Marines have suffered serious conditions, like leukemia, while others lost their lives. In Central Florida, many people are still filing legal claims or waiting for compensation. However, many of these people are now able to file a lawsuit.

If you (or someone you care about) live in the area and have an illness linked to exposure at Camp Lejeune, our firm can help you collect compensation. During a free consultation, we’ll explain exactly how one of our firm’s Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyers will help, such as by helping you participate in a potential class-action lawsuit.

What Years Was the Water Contaminated at Camp Lejeune?

Between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, the water supply was contaminated at Camp Lejeune. Toxins from a nearby dry-cleaning company were in the water at levels far beyond considered safe. This caused the water to become highly toxic.

The water came from the water-distribution plants at Hadnot Point, Tarawa Terrace, and Holcomb Boulevard, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) The other on-base treatment plants were not contaminated. The toxins were in drinking and bathing water in training and residential areas. Many Marines and others exposed to this water suffered personal injuries and illness and have been suffering for decades.

In 2012, congress passed the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act. This act lets sick veterans and others obtain recompense for their illnesses and related medical costs. As of July 2022, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 is close to being enacted, and this act will allow veterans and others to sue for compensation.

Is Camp Lejeune Water Still Contaminated?

The water is no longer contaminated, but many people are still sick. Today, many people are still filing claims for compensation.

Do I Qualify for a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit?

If you were stationed at Camp Lejeune from the 1950s to the 1980s, you may have been exposed to toxins in the drinking water. You can qualify for a legal claim or lawsuit if you can show that:

• You were stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune (or Marine Corps Air Station New River), North Carolina
• You were a veteran, Marine, Naval Person, civilian worker, or resident (or a family member of one)
• You were on active duty
• You served between August 1953 and December 1987
• You served for at least 30 days
• You weren’t discharged dishonorably
• You have a health condition that qualifies

What Health Conditions Qualify for a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit?

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) lists the conditions that qualify for a Camp Lejeune claim or lawsuit. However, there may be other conditions that could qualify. The current list includes:

• Leukemia
• Parkinson’s disease
• Bladder cancer
• Liver cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Multiple myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Aplastic anemia
• Any other myelodysplastic syndrome

What Are the Damages for Water Contamination Illnesses Linked to Camp Lejeune?

Your illness may be causing pain, disability, financial damages, and related damages. You can be compensated for these damages through a claim with VA (or a lawsuit against the government). Generally, your type of compensation depends on the severity of your medical condition and damages.

There are two different types of Camp Lejeune water contamination benefits you might qualify for. You may qualify for the standard monthly benefits, which could amount to several thousand dollars. In addition to that, you may also qualify for special monthly benefits, which would add to your compensation.

Wrongful Death Damages

Sadly, many people have died due to being exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The families of these people can seek wrongful death damages, which can provide some relief for financial losses and recompense for the loss.

If your family lost a loved one due to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, our firm may be able to help you seek wrongful death damages. We have both Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyers and wrongful death attorneys to help you.

Additional Damages

You may qualify for additional damages via a lawsuit against the government. Our firm can tell you more during a free consultation.

How to File a Claim for Camp Lejeune Water Contamination

VA offers an online claims service on their website, but you may not want to file your claim just yet. First, you should understand VA’s system for determining a claimant’s compensation. If you can understand this system, this may help you recover more compensation.

Upon receiving a claim, VA will look at the claimant’s medical condition to see if it’s on their list of qualifying conditions. If it isn’t, VA may deny the claim. If the condition is on the list, they’ll look at the claimant’s damages and then assign a disability rating to the claimant’s condition. This disability rating determines the claimant’s recovery amount. If the rating is too low, the recovery amount will be too low.

Many claimants find their assigned disability rating is too low. As a consequence, they’re unable to qualify for the special monthly benefits or sufficient benefits. Other claimants find their claims are denied because their medical conditions don’t qualify. One of our water contamination lawyers in Florida can help you understand VA’s system better and present your claim to VA convincingly. We can also help you decide whether to file a lawsuit instead.

Can I Sue for Camp Lejeune Water Contamination?

You may be one of the many people who have already filed a Camp Lejeune water contamination claim. Alternatively, you may be one of many who haven’t filed any action yet. Regardless, you may have another option available to you.

In January 2022, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 was introduced in the House of Representatives, and in June, the act passed both the House and the Senate. As of July 2022, the bill is close to becoming federal law. Once it’s enacted, it will establish a two-year timeframe from the date of enactment for veterans and others to file a lawsuit for compensation.

A personal injury lawsuit or wrongful death suit may help you recover more compensation than you would through a simple claim. One of our firm’s Florida Camp Lejeune water contamination attorneys can help you file any legal action for compensation.

Is There a Camp Lejeune Class-Action Lawsuit?

In 2011, there was an MDL class-action lawsuit for Camp Lejeune water exposure. This lawsuit was filed against the government under the Federal Tort Claims Act. The suit alleged personal injury and/or wrongful death due to toxic exposure and the government’s failure to warn about toxic exposure.

Unfortunately, this class action was dismissed. However, it had merit, and in 2022, there will likely be a new class action based on the same allegations.

What Your Camp Lejeune Lawyer Can Do

You may be ready to file your claim or lawsuit or have already filed a claim. Regardless, there’s a lot of one our lawyers can do for you. Perhaps most importantly, your lawyer can take over your entire case for you while you focus on your health and family.

If you leave your case or legal action to a lawyer from our firm, your lawyer can:

• Collect evidence for your case/legal action, such as medical documents and a written statement from a medical professional
• Fill out your claim for you correctly and thoroughly, and then file your claim or lawsuit on your behalf in accordance with the correct procedure
• Help you argue to VA that your situation qualifies for compensation, and you deserve the special monthly benefits
• Push to get a stalled claim resolved quickly
• Check that your assigned disability rating reflects your situation
• Appeal a decision from VA, such as a low disability rating or claim denial
• Potentially sue the government for compensation
• Help you meet the deadline for a lawsuit
• Bring another lawsuit if you already filed one and it was denied
• Potentially help you participate in a class-action lawsuit

We Can Handle Veterans Affairs

Veterans Affairs tries to be fair when evaluating a claim for compensation. However, they can be unfair sometimes and devalue or deny a claim. As a result, the claimant can’t recover the compensation they need and deserve and will have to try to appeal the decision.

You may be in such a situation. If so, we can assist you. We can file a supplemental claim, request a higher-level review, or demand a board appeal. Regardless, we can handle the situation for you and push for the compensation you deserve.

We Can Handle the Government

If you choose to sue the government, we can hold them accountable for you through a lawsuit or potential class-action lawsuit.

About Our Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Attorneys in Central Florida

David C. Dismuke is our law firm’s founder and lead attorney. He’s a Florida Bar board-certified civil trial lawyer with over 18 years of experience handling personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Central Florida. He can help you with your case if you’d like to file a claim or lawsuit or participate in the Camp Lejeune water contamination class-action lawsuit.

David and his legal team have received numerous awards and provide their clients with respect, personalized service, and every resource they can get in the industry. If you become our next client, we’ll treat you like an individual, not a file, and we’ll treat your family like our own family. We believe in standing up for the underdog, even if it means taking on a government department like Veterans Affairs.

You can expect us to fight hard for a fair resolution to your case. If we must sue the government and take your case to court, we will.

What Our Clients Have to Say

In addition to our many awards, we’ve received positive client feedback. You should be confident you’ll have an excellent experience with us, just as many of our other clients have. This is what our clients have to say:

“Dave is a great man, very caring and attentive to his clients. I went to Dismuke law after having a horrible experience with another law firm. The way I have been treated since he took on my case years ago is far superior to my experience with any other law firm. I would highly recommend Dismuke Law!” – Erica C.

“Dave and his team go above and beyond for their clients every single day. They are friendly, caring, and make you feel comfortable. I would recommend them to anybody!” – Matt I.

What We’ve Achieved for Our Clients

Our clients approve of us because we fight for them and achieve results. Some examples of our victories include the following:

A judgment of 10 million dollars – Attorney David C. Dismuke obtained a judgment of $10,000,000 for a client who suffered injuries in an auto accident.

A jury verdict of 7.25 million dollars – A Polk County jury awarded a judgment of $7,250,000 and issued a formal statement regarding the Sheriff’s Office not pursuing earnest criminal charges.

A judgment of 1.1 million dollars – David C. Dismuke settled a wrongful death case for $1,100,000.

About Hiring Your Attorney

Upon calling our firm for the first time, we’ll offer you a complimentary consultation. During this consultation, we’ll provide a case review and tell you more about our attorneys.

If you decide to hire one of our attorneys for your case, your attorney can work for you on contingency. This means your attorney will provide their services at no cost unless your attorney recovers compensation for you.

Hiring an attorney should be affordable, and this contingency arrangement makes it easily affordable for everyone. We’ll tell you more about the contingency arrangement during your consultation.

Contact Us Today for a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawyer

If you or someone you care about got sick at Camp Lejeune, there are many options. You can pursue compensation via a claim, a lawsuit, or potentially a class-action lawsuit, and Dismuke Law can help. David C. Dismuke and his team can take over your case and file your legal action for you. Alternatively, we can appeal a decision VA made that you disagree with. Just “Ask Dave” about what he can do for you.

You deserve compensation, and you’ve been waiting a long while. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Dismuke Law. We’ll fight hard on your behalf for the damages you’ve been waiting for. Call us today at (863) 250-5050 for your free consultation and case review.