It is widely known that the drinking water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with volatile organic compounds for almost 35 years. This means that anyone who resided here between August 1953 and December 1987 has a chance of being affected by the contaminated water and developing severe ailments. Additionally, these individuals are eligible for healthcare and disability benefits.
To date, almost a million people who lived at the military base have been affected, including civilians, veterans, and their family members. The adverse health effects resulting from the tainted water are numerous, including ovarian cancer, autoimmune diseases, pancreatic cancer, and many more.
Women at Camp Lejeune reported miscarriages, and the toxic water is believed to be the cause. This article will address the issue and explore compensation options.
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Camp Lejeune Toxic Water and Birth Problems
In September 2023, NBC News reported that mothers at Camp Lejeune suddenly noticed that their babies were dying, and they weren’t aware of the reason. The report shares the account of Jeri Kozobarich, who noticed something inexplicably wrong when she arrived at the Marine Corps base in North Carolina in 1969. This made women file their Camp Lejeune toxic water lawsuit and seek justice.
She was seven months pregnant at the time, and during a reception for officers’ wives, she inquired about another pregnant woman’s due date. To her shock, the woman replied that her baby was stillborn. Kozobarich later discovered during a routine medical check-up that her baby girl, too, had died in her womb.
Kozobarich is just one of several women who faced such a tragic predicament with their pregnancies. The cause of these heartbreaking experiences lies in the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Federal officials have confirmed that the toxic water in this region has led to a myriad of health issues, including birth defects.
Women who resided at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 quietly suffered stillbirths, miscarriages, and various other pregnancy-related complications. Unfortunately, many of these women have felt that their losses went unnoticed.
As they seek justice, they face yet another challenge.
Regrettably, their legal complaints undergo a strict scrutiny process, leaving many of them feeling dismissed. LaVeda Kendrix, a Marine veteran of 65 years who endured nine miscarriages and one stillbirth, expressed that she feels invisible.
How The Fight for Justice Has Been So Far?
Last year, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act was enacted, allowing victims to opt-in for litigation against the government. To do so, they needed to prove that they had stayed at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days during the contamination period.
According to TorHoerman Law, the new law provides a path for victims who suffered from the polluted water at the base to have their medical costs and health damages covered. It can also help them with healthcare benefits. The act incorporates the Federal Tort Claims Act, which supersedes the North Carolina statutes that previously prevented victims from taking legal action against the toxic waters at Camp Lejeune.
Unfortunately, litigating cases involving female infertility and miscarriages remains a challenge. In most instances of adverse birth outcomes, obtaining the necessary medical data to support arguments and claims is difficult.
Women at Camp Lejeune had to wait nearly 40 years before they could file a claim, and this delay is certainly not their fault, as it was due to the lack of records. Considering that birth defects affect one in 33 babies nationally every year, seeking compensation and justice becomes more challenging.
Is Justice and Compensation on the Cards?
The answer depends on how one plans their legal battle. It’s necessary for women affected by the toxic waters of Camp Lejeune to seek legal recourse under the guidance and expertise of a lawyer. It’s not a wise decision to tackle this fight alone, as the legal systems are complicated and the cases have been ongoing for a while.
Hence, the primary task here is to get in touch with a lawyer who can help develop a solid case and present it in court, so that the verdict is in the victim’s favor. For this, it is necessary to share every piece of evidence with the lawyer. They will assess the same and use the ones that make a case compelling.
Furthermore, a lawyer will also share information about the settlement amount, which can vary between $10,000 and $1,000,000 based on individual suffering and other factors. It helps to have practical expectations. When you cooperate with your lawyer and follow their guidance, you can get covered for your suffering and damages.
Conclusion
It’s not a new fact that the polluted waters at Camp Lejeune have resulted in various health hazards. Delays in obtaining justice and compensation have also been common. However, when it comes to miscarriages and stillbirths, women face added challenges as they must undergo strict scrutiny to substantiate their claims.
However, this should not discourage you or anyone you know from filing a legal complaint if you suffered a miscarriage at Camp Lejeune during the contamination timeframe. Once you’ve received a medical evaluation and obtained the necessary data, consider filing a legal complaint. This action can help raise awareness and prompt the legal system to expedite the processing of claims.