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Case Overview
Between August 1953 and December 1987, Marines, civilian workers and their families were potentially exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune. Many people have since developed severe health conditions related to the water, including liver cancer. Learn more about the link between the toxic water and liver cancer — and the resulting Camp Lejeune litigation.
Why are people filing Camp Lejeune liver cancer lawsuits?
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 created a two-year window for victims of toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune to file claims for compensation with the Department of the Navy (DON). Although the claims deadline passed in August 2024, people are now filing Camp Lejeune liver cancer lawsuits after having their initial claim denied or not receiving a timely response from the DON.
What happened at Camp Lejeune?
In 1982, several volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were discovered in two water treatment facilities at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. These VOCs include:
- Benzene
- Tetrachloroethylene/perchloroethylene (PCE)
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Vinyl chloride
Studies link exposure to trichloroethylene to an increased risk of a liver cancer diagnosis. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune could be tied to a higher rate of death from liver cancer.
While the alleged toxic exposure happened more than 30 years ago, service members and their loved ones, as well as anyone who worked on the base and met criteria had from August 10, 2022, to August 10, 2024, to file claims for damages.
To help veterans and their families seek justice for the consequences of toxic exposure, Congress passed the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 — which included the Camp Lejeune Justice Act as one of its sections.
Deadlines for filing Camp Lejeune liver cancer compensation claims
The deadline to file initial Camp Lejeune claims was August 10, 2024. If you filed your claim by this date, there are two other deadlines to be aware of:
- If 180 days (six months) have passed since filing your claim with the DON and you haven’t received a response, you may be able to file a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
- If the DON denied your claim, you have six months after the denial date to file a lawsuit in the same court.
Evidence linking Camp Lejeune toxic water to liver cancer
In May 1982, investigators discovered that the drinking water coming from Hadnot Point was contaminated with a number of volatile organic compounds. Hadnot Point is one of the eight water treatment facilities serving Camp Lejeune. The main compound contaminating the water was trichloroethylene (TCE).
Among other health concerns, TCE has been linked to an increased risk of liver cancer.
According to the ATSDR, 1,400 parts per billion (ppb) of TCE were found in the drinking water at Hadnot Point in May 1982. The current acceptable limit for TCE is 5 ppb.
Other conditions that have been linked to Camp Lejeune water contamination
A number of other severe health conditions, including several types of cancer, have been linked to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. These conditions include:
- Aplastic anemia
- Bladder cancer
- Cardiac birth defects
- Kidney cancer
- Leukemia
- Liver cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Other kidney and end stage renal diseases
- Parkinson’s disease
- Systemic scleroderma
- Systemic sclerosis
Liver cancer symptoms
Service members, contractors or civilians who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune between August 1953 and December 1987 may be at elevated risk for a number of conditions, including liver cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following symptoms may be signs of liver cancer that could be linked to toxic exposure from the drinking water on the base.
Symptoms of liver cancer | |
|---|---|
Discomfort in the upper abdomen on the right side | Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) |
A swollen abdomen | Unusual tiredness |
A hard lump on the right side just below the rib cage | Nausea and vomiting |
Weight loss for no known reason | Loss of appetite |
Easy bruising or bleeding | Pain near the right shoulder blade or in the back |
Our history of representing veterans
Motley Rice has a long history of helping veterans and their family members seek justice for preventable harms that have caused personal injuries and wrongful deaths.
We have represented claimants in litigation for:
- Exposure to asbestos and other toxic materials
- 3M earplugs and hearing loss
- EFP roadside bombs by terrorists
- Exposure to toxins released from burn pits at military facilities
- Veterans or active-duty soldiers harmed or killed in a helicopter or other type of plane incident
Why are people filing Camp Lejeune liver cancer lawsuits?
Evidence linking Camp Lejeune toxic water to liver cancer
Liver cancer symptoms
Our history of representing veterans
About the Author
Fidelma L. Fitzpatrick
Member
Fidelma Fitzpatrick represents people and communities in toxic tort and environmental matters, including property damage and personal injury claims. Her experience with complex civil litigation has led her to represent other victims of corporate malfeasance, including thousands of women who suffered health problems after receiving medical devices such as Essure®, pelvic mesh/sling products and IUDs, as well as people harmed by consumer products such as chemical hair straighteners.