HADDONFIELD, NEW JERSEY — Gerald J. Williams, Partner, Williams Cedar LLP, says that any member of the United States Marine Corps who became seriously ill while stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina or anyone who lived or worked near the base may be able to seek legal action against the federal government, thanks to federal legislation that could soon become law.
On March 26, 2021, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright of Pennsylvania introduced the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021. The bill would allow those who were exposed to contaminated water while stationed at or living near the base for 30 days cumulatively between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987 to sue the federal government for all the harm they suffered. It became part of the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022, which passed the House in March and passed the U.S. Senate on June 16. It is currently awaiting the president’s signature.
Established in 1941, Camp Lejeune has been used as a major training ground for the Marines, who use the lake as a staging ground for simulated amphibious assaults and other training exercises. It is estimated that the camp has up to 47,000 people living on base at any time, with up to 150,000 people living in the surrounding community. Because of these activities, the drinking water at the base was contaminated with toxic chemicals that caused a variety of severe health problems, many of which resulted in long-term disabilities or even fatal diseases.
Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, any veteran, reservist or National Guardsman who was stationed at the military base during that aforementioned time period can seek legal recourse. They must have been honorably discharged and suffered from one of the presumptive medical conditions: adult leukemia; aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes; non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma; liver cancer; bladder cancer; kidney cancer; multiple myeloma; and Parkinson’s disease.
“We urge all members of the U.S. Marine Corps and those who lived on the base who have become ill with the following conditions — adult leukemia, aplastic anemia, other myelodysplastic syndromes, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, liver cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, multiple myeloma, and Parkinson’s disease — to contact the firm immediately and file a claim,” Mr. Williams says.
Williams Cedar represents individuals and communities who have been exposed to toxic chemicals and whose water, soil, air or work environment has become polluted by harmful chemicals. They also represent clients in personal injury lawsuits such as toxic torts, in which a client claims they have been harmed by exposure to a hazardous substance. Occupational toxic torts are more common because the worker has suffered long-term exposure to harmful chemicals on the job site. In addition, the firm has successfully represented our veterans with their disability claims.
For more information, call (856) 470-9777 or visit williamscedar.com.
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About Williams Cedar, LLP
Williams Cedar, LLP is a personal injury law firm that serves areas throughout the State of New Jersey, with offices located in Haddonfield. The firm is focused on the practice of personal injury law, employment law, and civil rights litigation, serving victims of negligence and civil rights violations throughout New Jersey. They assist clients with a variety of claims, including product liability claims, toxic torts, wage and hour violations, police misconduct, and malicious prosecution, among others. For more information, call (856) 470-9777 or visit williamscedar.com.
