Marines May Seek Justice On Behalf Of A Deceased Family Member

Thousands of children were stillborn, born with birth defects, and also developed leukemia because their pregnant mother drank contaminated Camp Lejeune tap water

Thursday, August 11, 2022 - Experts estimate that more than one million individuals drank the Camp Lejeune tap water from 1953, the earliest time the Marine Corps knew about their polluted wells, until 1987 when the last well was shut down. Thousands of Marines and civilian Camp Lejeune employees have developed cancer as a result. Many have died having battled the disease for years or decades. Marine and civilian families have been decimated by having to uproot their careers and any sense of normalcy to battle the disease. Developing cancer from Camp Lejeune drinking water also has prevented those returning from war from the ability to make a smooth transition back to civilian life. Up until a few days ago, soldiers had no recourse to compensate them for their injuries caused by drinking Camp Lejeune water. The passage of the Honoring Our Pact Act now enables them to file a Camp Lejeune cancer lawsuit against the federal government and seek real lump-sum monetary compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Significant punitive damages are also expected which could increase monetary compensation ten-fold or more. If you or a loved one served at Camp Lejeune during any 30 days from 1953-1987, you should speak with a Camp Lejeune water attorney to potentially file a lawsuit.

One Marine whose child died from leukemia, her mother having drank Camp Lejeune tap water while pregnant, calls the passage of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act the next step in a "Journey For Justice." Retired Marine Corps Master Sgt. J.M. Ensminger told the Military Times the story of him and his wife living on the base and drinking the tap water for 12 years during which time his wife was pregnant and gave birth to his daughter Janey. Janey was diagnosed with cancer despite the family having had no history of cancer on either side. Janey was the only one of four children conceived while the family was stationed at Camp Lejeune and the only one to develop cancer. According to WebMD, "leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells. Abnormal white blood cells form in the bone marrow. They quickly travel through the bloodstream and crowd out healthy cells. This raises the body's chances of infection and other problems."

The Marine Corp failed to warn the family or others that the local water wells were contaminated with toxic volatile organic compounds from the base's waste disposal pits. Those living at Camp Lejeune were kept in the dark about the dangers to their health. VOCs are carcinogenic and build up in a person's system to levels that cause cancer. "Volatile organic compounds VOCs, including PCE (perchloroethylene), a dry-cleaning solvent, and TCE (tricholoroethylene), an industrial degreaser. Another cause of Camp Lejeune cancer was the presence of benzene, a component of gasoline and known carcinogen."

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