Parkinson’s Disease is a serious illness that has been linked to the chemicals found in the water at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. If you were diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease after spending time at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, you may be entitled to compensation.
At White Law PLLC, we can help you pursue compensation related to Parkinson’s Disease, as well as a variety of other illnesses which have been linked to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Give us a call or fill out our online contact form today to schedule a free case review with one of our Camp Lejeune injury lawyers.
What Happened at Camp Lejeune?
Between 1953 and 1987, the primary water supply for Camp Lejeune was contaminated with a variety of toxins. These pollutants were found at levels greatly exceeding the maximum safety limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While this contamination was discovered in the early 1980s, the reports were suppressed until later in the decade.
Once the contamination was finally revealed, cleanup began. Unfortunately, this was too late for the approximately one million people who were exposed to these toxic chemicals. In addition to Parkinson’s Disease, the chemicals found in the water at the base have been linked to a number of other neurological disorders, cancers, and birth defects.
Chemicals Found in the Water at Camp Lejeune
Several chemicals were found in the primary water supply at Camp Lejeune. However, the most prominent pollutants were trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), dichloroethane (DCE), vinyl chloride, benzene, and lead.
The primary drinking water sources at Camp Lejeune were the Tarawa Terrace water plant and the Hadnot Point treatment plant. At Tarawa Terrace, PCE was found in the water at a rate of 215 parts per billion (ppb). That level of contamination is 43 times the maximum safety level of five ppb, as determined by the EPA.
At the Hadnot Point plant, the levels of TCE were even more significant. The level of TCE in the water there was registered at 1,400 parts per billion, which is a shockingly high 280 times the maximum safety limit of five ppb.
Illnesses Linked to the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
Parkinson’s Disease has been linked to the chemicals found in the water at Camp Lejeune, with those exposed contracting the illness at a far greater rate than average. However, Parkinson’s Disease is far from the only illness that has been linked to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
The many illnesses which have been found to have a connection with the Camp Lejeune water supply include:
- ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
- Immune disorders
- Leukemia
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma
- Renal cancer
- Liver cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Lung cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Aplastic anemia (and other bone marrow conditions)
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Epilepsy
- Brain damage
- Cardiac defects
- Fatty liver disease
- Hepatic steatosis
- Renal toxicity
- Scleroderma
- Miscarriage
- Birth defects
- Infertility
If you have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease or one of the other conditions listed above after exposure to the Camp Lejeune water supply between 1953 and 1987, you should talk to a Camp Lejeune water contamination attorney about your options for pursuing compensation. Even if you have been diagnosed with an illness not listed above, you may still have a claim.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act
Until the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) passed on August 10, 2022, victims of the Camp Lejeune contamination were barred from filing a lawsuit to recover damages by North Carolina law. Finally, decades after the contamination occurred, victims can pursue a lawsuit to collect the compensation they deserve.
To collect compensation, you must have been stationed at Camp Lejeune for 30 days or more between August 1953 and December 1987. Additionally, you must have been diagnosed with one of the related conditions listed above, such as Parkinson’s Disease. You must also show that it is more likely than not that your exposure caused your illness.
An experienced attorney can help you prove your claim.
Filing a Claim for Parkinson’s Disease
Before you can file a lawsuit for your Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis, you must first submit a claim to the U.S. Government Tort Claim Unit (TCU). The TCU will then have 180 days to attempt to settle or deny your claim. If your claim gets denied, you can then file a lawsuit.
It is critical to note that the CLJA gives Camp Lejeune victims a limited window in which they can file a claim. Potential claimants will only have two years to file, which means that all claims must be submitted before August 10, 2024. If you fail to meet this deadline, your chance to recover compensation for your damages will likely pass you by.
Contact a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Attorney Today
If you were diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease after being exposed to the contaminated water at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, you should not attempt to recover compensation on your own. At White Law PLLC, our team of dedicated Camp Lejeune water contamination lawyers has the experience necessary to give you the best chance of collecting damages.
Contact us today to learn more about your rights and options for pursuing compensation. You can get started by giving us a call or using our online contact form to schedule a free case review. A member of our team will review your case and answer all your questions.
If you choose to retain our services, we will immediately get to work building your case so you can get the money you need as soon as possible.