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The Camp Lejeune training base in North Carolina was affected by contaminated water from 1953 through 1987, which affected military members, family members, and civilians. Those exposed have developed several adverse health effects, including miscarriage, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and more.
The experienced lawyers at Schmidt and Clark could help you file your lawsuit if you or a family member were exposed to water contamination at Camp Lejeune. We have represented thousands of personal injury cases and would love to represent you.
Table Of Contents
- Quick Summary
- What Caused the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination and What Chemicals Were in the Water?
- How Bladder Cancer Is Linked to the Camp Lejeune Water Supply
- Causes of Bladder Cancer
- Symptoms of Bladder Cancer
- Camp Lejeune Bladder Cancer Lawsuits Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act: Helping Victims Exposed
- Burden of Proof
- Average Settlement
- FAQs
- Free Lawsuit Evaluation
Quick Summary
- The water contamination at Camp Lejune occurred from 1953 to 1987 due to a local dry cleaner’s disposal process.
- Several studies have linked bladder cancer to the chemicals in the water at Camp Lejeune.
- Bladder cancer is the fourth most diagnosed cancer in humans. Bladder cancer can be caused by infection, smoking, genetic predisposition, or chemical exposure.
- Symptoms of bladder cancer include blood clots in the urine, frequent urination, urination several times a night, urination but not being able to, etc.
- The Camp Lejeune Justice Act has paved the way for individuals to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit.
What Caused the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination and What Chemicals Were in the Water?
In the 1980s, it was discovered the Camp Lejeune water supply was contaminated with chemicals. The primary toxic substances in the contaminated drinking water were perchloroethylene, PCE, trichloroethylene, or TCE.
The water supply was contaminated with these chemicals between August 1953 and December 1987. The levels of these volatile organic compounds were found to be in the water at several thousand times the maximum safe limits [1].
The primary contamination of the local water treatment plant, Tarawa Terrace, was a local dry cleaning company that used these chemicals. Their disposal process contaminated the water supply.
Related Article: Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit
How Bladder Cancer Is Linked to the Camp Lejeune Water Supply
Several scientific studies have been completed to evaluate the effect of the contaminated water on the service members and citizens who lived and worked at Camp Lejeune.
The Agency For Toxic Substances published a detailed study on the health impacts of the water at Camp Lejeune in 2014. The study found that the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune was connected to an increased risk of bladder cancer. Those exposed to TCE and PCE in a water supply had higher rates of bladder cancer [2].
The Environmental Protection Agency published reviews on TCE and PCE in 2012 which found both chemicals were carcinogenic [3]. The International Agency For Research On Cancer reached the same conclusion in 2013 [4].
“There was also a study of children born while living on Camp Lejeune.That study followed over 1,000 children born on Camp Lejeune and found increased birth defects, especially neural tube defects, which include spina bifida and blood cancers, leukemia and lymphoma”
– Dr. Richard Clapp, Epidemiologist, University Of Massachusetts
Causes of Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer is the fourth most common malignity and the second most commonly diagnosed tumor, behind prostate cancer. Bladder cancer is the fourth most diagnosed cancer among men.
The American Cancer Society approximates there will be 81,180 cases of bladder cancer in 2022 in the United States, 61,700 in men and 1,480 in women, and 17,000 deaths. Ninety percent of all forms of bladder cancer are transitional cell carcinoma [5].
It is a well-known fact that contaminated water can cause bladder cancer. Other risk factors for bladder cancer include schistosomal infection, smoking, genetic predisposition, and exposure to chemicals like PCE [6].
The severity of bladder cancer is described in stages, similar to other cancers.
These stages include [7]:
- State 0: Abnormal cells on the lining of the bladder
- Stage I: Spreading to the tissue layer, which is adjacent to the inner lining of the bladder
- Stage II: Cancer spreads to the muscle tissue of the bladder
- Stage III: Cancer spreads to the fatty tissue around the bladder
- Stage IV: Cancer has reached the abdominal wall or the lymph nodes.
Symptoms of Bladder Cancer
The symptoms of bladder cancer include [8]:
- Blood or clots in the urine
- Pain or burning during urination
- Frequent urination
- The need to urinate during the night several times
- Needing to urinate but not being able to
- Pain in the lower back on one side of the body
Bladder Cancer Complications
There are several complications associated with bladder cancer. These complications include:
- Urinary diversion
- Sexual dysfunction
- Erectile dysfunction
- Ureter swelling
- Anemia
Other Health Issues Linked to Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
Consuming the toxic water at Camp Lejeune has been linked to many other health effects, including:
- Prostate Cancer
- Lung Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Adult Leukemia
- Aplastic Anemia
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Renal Toxicity
- Multiple Myeloma
- Miscarriage, infertility, and birth defects
Camp Lejeune Bladder Cancer Lawsuits Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act: Helping Victims Exposed
The new Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 has allowed for Camp Lejeune claims to be filed by individuals exposed to contaminated water that developed bladder cancer or another adverse health outcome.
This new law provides a way for service members, workers, or their families impacted by the contamination to receive compensation for their losses [9].
Burden of Proof
If you believe that the Camp Lejeune water caused your bladder cancer diagnosis or other negative health effects, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit.
You will need to prove a few key elements, including:
- First, you must show that you lived or worked at Camp Lejeune for 30 days between January 1953 and December 1987.
- Second, you will have to link your exposure to your diagnosis. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act has made it possible to cite one verified scientific study as proof linking your diagnosis to exposure.
You can receive compensation for medical expenses, ongoing healthcare, lost wages, loss of financial support due to the death of a family member, or pain and suffering.
Average Settlement
An average settlement is a simple guess because of the newness of these cases. The average settlement for a bladder cancer case is around $300,000.
Below is a list of previous bladder cancer settlements.
- A 2020 case of a man that died from advanced bladder cancer. While being treated for hypertension, a urinalysis showed hematuria, but the doctor never informed the man of the results. The man received his bladder cancer diagnosis shortly before death. The case resulted in a $325,000 settlement.
- A 2019 case of a man who developed advanced bladder cancer. Before his diagnosis, he was diagnosed with kidney stones and a bladder mass. The doctors never followed up on this bladder mass, which caused his cancer to advance. The case settled for $8,000,000.
- A 2017 case of a man that died from bladder cancer. Before diagnosis, he was under a urologist’s care, and the tests showed suspicious results, including atypical cells that suggested cancer. The man wasn’t diagnosed until three years later. The physician failed to follow up on the tests, which caused his cancer to advance. The settlement for this case was $300,000.
- In a 2015 case, a man was prescribed Actos and developed bladder cancer six years later. He alleged failure to warn against Actos’ manufacturer. The settlement was $3,652,636.
- A 2014 case of a woman diagnosed with bladder cancer five years after taking Actos. The woman sued the company for defective design and failure to warn. The case settled for $2,050,000.
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FAQs
1. Is the Water at Camp Lejeune Still Contaminated?
No, today, the water at Camp Lejeune is safe and not contaminated. Today it is considered safe to bathe in, drink, and use for cooking.
2. How Long Will the Bladder Cancer Camp Lejeune Lawsuits Take To Settle?
They will take 14 to 26 months to settle. It will likely take a year before settlements are seen in the earliest cases.
3. What Are the Lawyer Fees for the Camp Lejeune Lawsuits?
The lawyer fees for the Camp Lejeune lawsuits are limited to 20 to 25 percent of the settlement. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act spells out the permissible fees that an attorney can charge.
4. Has Any Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Been Settled?
No Camp Lejuene lawsuit has been settled as of April 2022. Due to the new nature of most of these lawsuits, no settlements have been made.
Free Lawsuit Evaluation
If you or a deceased family member resided or worked at Camp Lejune between 1953 and 1987 and developed bladder cancer or any other adverse health effect, we can help you with a free lawsuit evaluation.
The qualified lawyers at Schmidt & Clark, LLP can help you with evidence collection, doctor’s testimony, expert witnesses, filing your lawsuit, and representing you in court if necessary.
References:
- https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/camp-lejeune-water-contamination/#:~:text=What%20was%20in%20the%20drinking,Perchloroethylene%20(PCE)
- https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/morbiditystudy_factsheet.html
- https://www.americanbar.org/groups/environment_energy_resources/publications/trends/2011_12/march_april/epa_releases_final_tce_health_assessment/
- https://oehha.ca.gov/media/downloads/crnr/pceurf090816.pdf
- https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/bladder-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
- https://www.iccp-portal.org/system/files/resources/IARC%20World%20Cancer%20Report%202020.pdf
- https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/bladder-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/staging.html
- https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/bladder-cancer/symptoms-and-signs
- https://www.hillandponton.com/camp-lejeune-bladder-cancer/