Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit

Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps military base in Onslow County, NC, opened in 1942. It covers 150,000 acres and spans 11 miles of North Carolina’s coast, making it the country’s second-largest USMC base.

For years, millions of military servicemembers were stationed there, along with their family members and civilians. 

Unfortunately, there’s evidence that from 1953 to 1987 the water supply at Camp Lejeune was heavily contaminated by dangerous chemicals and toxins.

The most notable toxins included trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), Benzene, and Vinyl chloride (VC), which are all associated with increased risks of cancer, neurologic disorders, and other serious health conditions.

It’s believed that a nearby dry cleaner, which opened near Camp Lejeune in 1953, dumped these and other toxic chemicals near local water well fields, causing mass contamination. Additionally, the military itself is accused of allowing the water wells to become contaminated through its own use of these VOCs on the base.

Lawsuits allege that the government knew that the water supply was contaminated yet fails to:

• Take necessary steps to prevent contamination and provide potable water, or 
• Warn servicemembers or residents about the potential risks of consuming the water supply.

As a result, millions of service members and residents were exposed to these dangerous chemicals for the better part of three decades. Many of those individuals – including children who were in utero and/or born at the military base – are struggling with debilitating health issues.

Lawsuits have been filed to hold the government accountable for its negligent actions.