Camp Lejeune is a United States Marine Corps base located in Jacksonville, North Carolina. The water there was found to be contaminated from 1953 until 1987. Many are questioning whether or not there is a tie between Camp Lejeune and birth defects.
Can Camp Lejeune Cause Birth Defects?
According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the chemicals that were found in Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water did indeed lead to a higher risk of birth defects. An array of studies have been conducted, and they confirmed that utero exposure did increase the chances of birth defects.
Camp Lejeune’s water was contaminated with a variety of chemicals, including trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE). These chemicals not only harmed pregnant women and increased their risk of miscarriage or pregnancy disorders, but they also affected the unborn infants. The study that was done showed that the infants at Camp Lejeune were four times more likely to have serious birth defects compared to others.
Victims in Utero
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 will allow compensation for cases of birth defects. As a result, victims who were not yet born when they were exposed have the same legal rights as victims who were adults at the time of exposure. The right to seek compensation is also available for their family members.
Numerous birth problems have been linked to the water at Camp Lejeune, according to scientific research. Infants who were exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune were reported to have the following health problems:
- Neural tube birth defects
- Spina bifida
- Anencephaly
- Oral clefts
- Hematopoietic disorders in children
The Camp Lejeune water poisoning is one of the worst man-made environmental disasters in American history and has had disastrous effects on the health of those who drank the tainted water. You are entitled to compensation if the water exposure caused you or your child to be born with a birth defect.
Settlement Amount
The settlement amount for cases of Camp Lejeune birth defects has not been confirmed yet since the lawsuit is still in its early stages. However, the projected settlement amount is estimated to be similar to other tort cases related to birth defects. Previous product liability cases involving neural tube birth defects, spina bifida, anencephaly, oral clefts, or hematopoietic disorders in children that led to permanent conditions have a very high value. It is thought that such cases will pay out between $700,000 and $1,000,000 or more.
Cases that are not so severe or do not result in permanent conditions are estimated to have a lower payout sum. These cases may be worth anything between $100,000 and $400,000. The ranges will depend on the condition in question.
Since the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 (CLJA) was passed, many people have filed for compensation. Moreover, the period to file a claim is very limited. Parties will only have a two-year window after the law was passed to submit their claims. Since the law was signed by President Joe Biden on August 10, 2022, the final deadline is August 2024. With that in mind, this is the perfect time to look for and hire a lawyer.