Camp Lejeune Birth Defects Lawsuits & Claims

Camp Lejeune Birth Defect Claims Due to Toxic Water

Children born at US Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina may be at higher risk for serious birth defects, such as congenital heart problems, due to serious chemical contamination in the water at Camp Lejeune. If you served at the base between 1953 and 1987 and gave birth to a child with birth defects, you and/or your child may be eligible for a Camp Lejuene birth defect claim or lawsuit.

Victims of Camp Lejuene water contamination-related birth defects may file claims directly against the federal government due to recently passed legislation, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (part of the PACT Act signed in August 2022).

At Riddle & Brantley, we want to help clients born with birth defects after their mothers were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Give us a call at 1-800-525-7111 for a FREE consultation where we can help you understand your options. You will never pay any attorneys fees unless we win compensation for you, so get in touch with one of our experts to see if you qualify for a Camp Lejeune birth defects lawsuit.

IMPORTANT: Certain diagnoses may not qualify if not accompanied by another diagnosis for a separate condition. Call 1-800-525-7111 for a free case review and we’ll evaluate your claim.

Our firm is actively representing clients in Camp Lejeune lawsuits and claims, and we have strong ties to the military, with an office just down the road from the base in Jacksonville, NC. We also have decades of experience handling claims and lawsuits in the Eastern District of North Carolina, where these cases must be filed.

“This settlement changed me and my family’s lives.”

–Linda B., Riddle & Brantley client

Can Water Contamination Cause Birth Defects?

An investigation published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health observed that birth defects were higher in locations where industrial pollutants were present in high amounts — such as at Camp Lejeune.

While research is ongoing to establish what specific defects are caused by what contaminants, there is ample evidence to back up the idea that if a mother is exposed to contaminated water while pregnant, her child is more likely to be born with defects than one who was not exposed.

What Chemicals Were Found In the Water at Camp Lejeune?

Due to improper disposal of industrial solvents at a local dry cleaning operation and other mishandling, many former service members, family members, and civilian employees at Camp Lejeune began showing signs of serious health issues, including giving birth to children with birth defects, after being exposed to the water at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) found trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), vinyl chloride (VC), and benzene around Camp Lejeune that were far above a safety threshold set by EPA officials. These chemicals include known human carcinogens, and elevated levels of exposure to many of them can cause serious health issues.

We are actively investigating claims of birth defects potentially caused by contaminated water at US Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.

Did Chemicals Found in Camp Lejeune’s Water Cause Birth Defects?

There is significant research linking birth defects with exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The ADSDR made special note of its findings related to neural tube defects, which are serious birth defects that can manifest as spina bifida (improper formation of the spine) and anencephaly (improper formation of the brain and skull).

In the ATSDR’s evaluation of health issues related to toxic chemical exposure at Camp Lejeune, they found that mothers exposed to TCE-contaminated water were more likely to have a child with a neural tube defect than those who were not exposed.

The study also found that exposure to PCE and vinyl chloride in the water during the first trimester of pregnancy also made women more likely to have a child with leukemia or non-Hodgkin lymphoma than those who were not exposed. However, the ATSDR did state that this link was weaker than that of neural tube defects.

Heart Defects

Industrial solvents found in the water at Camp Lejeune may also contribute to an increased risk of congenital heart defects, according to research published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. In addition, the EPA has found that TCE exposure may have detrimental effects on the development of rat fetuses’ hearts. While we can’t test this hypothesis on humans, studies like this can be used to alert us of potential risks.

For more on these specific defects, please visit out Camp Lejeune cardiac defects page.

How to File a Camp Lejeune Birth Defects Lawsuit or Claim

Victims of Camp Lejeune water contamination can now file claims, even if their claim was previously denied, thanks to recently-enacted legislation passed on August 10, 2022 that seeks to help injured veterans and their families receive the justice they deserve.

IMPORTANT: Certain diagnoses may not qualify if not accompanied by another diagnosis for a separate condition. Call 1-800-525-7111 for a free case review and we’ll evaluate your claim.

To file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit, you must meet the following criteria:

• Were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune for 30 or more days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987
• Were diagnosed with one of the following conditions:
  • Birth defects
  • Bladder cancer
  • Brain cancer
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • CNS cancer
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Uterine cancer
  • Colon cancer
  • Laryngeal cancer
  • Oral cavity and pharyngeal cancer
  • Thyroid cancer
  • Cervical cancer
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Leukemia (various types, including AML)
  • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL)
  • Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
  • Liver disesase (including NAFLD)
  • Renal toxicity
  • Miscarriage
  • Female infertility
  • Scleroderma

How Riddle & Brantley Can Help You with Your Birth Defects Claim

Riddle & Brantley can assist you in understanding your options for a Camp Lejeune Birth Defect claim and work hard to help you get the justice you deserve. We offer free consultations and you will not have to pay attorney fees unless we win compensation for you.

In addition to receiving numerous prestigious memberships and awards, our Camp Lejeune birth defects lawyers have received a lot of praise for providing outstanding service that goes above and beyond to make our clients feel like their needs matter (see disclaimer below).

“They turned a heartbreaking situation completely around.”

–Tonya T., Riddle & Brantley client

You will be cared for as an individual and treated like family at Riddle & Brantley. One recent client, Susan S., said, “You’ll walk in the door as a client but leave as family. They’re the absolute best.” We are so proud of the words our clients use to describe their experience working with us.

Results for Injured Victims

We have secured over $665 million for our clients since 2000 alone (see disclaimer below), and we would like to give you the same care and attention so you can file your Camp Lejeune birth defects lawsuit and get the compensation you need and deserve.

Please contact us at 1-800-525-7111 and let’s see how we can help.

Justice Counts for our veterans, their family members, and civilian military contractors at US Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, who were exposed to dangerous toxins in the water. Call 1-800-525-7111 for a FREE, no-obligation consultation today and let’s review your claim.

*** Disclaimer: The results mentioned are intended to illustrate the type of cases handled by the firm. These results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and they should not be construed to constitute a promise or guarantee of a particular result in any particular case. Every case is different, and the outcome of any case depends upon a variety of factors unique to that case.

*** Disclaimer: An attorney must meet certain requirements to join these organizations or receive these awards. For more information on Membership Criteria for Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers “Rising Star” designation, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, The National Association of Distinguished Counsel, AV Preeminent designation by Martindale-Hubbell, the Litigator Award, and other memberships, awards, and accolades, please visit our Membership Criteria page. These awards and memberships should not be construed as a promise or guarantee of a similar result. Each case is different and must be evaluated separately.