Camp Lejeune Liver Disease Lawsuit
Camp Lejeune Liver Disease Claims Due to Toxic Water
The discovery of toxic chemicals in the water at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 has led to speculation that the contaminated water caused serious health problems such as liver disease. If you were diagnosed with liver disease or other qualifying condition after being exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, you might be eligible for a Camp Lejeune lawsuit.
Riddle & Brantley is ready to help you decide if filing a Camp Lejeune liver disease claim or lawsuit is right for you. Call us at 1-800-525-7111 and we will help you evaluate your options with no obligation. We are ready to act, and thanks to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (passed as part of the PACT Act on August 2, 2022), even our clients who have been previously denied will be able to seek the justice they deserve.
Did Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune Cause Liver Disease?
Between 1953 and 1987, the drinking water at Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps installation in North Carolina, was found to be contaminated with high levels of trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), vinyl chloride, benzene, and a variety of other toxic chemicals. In the years following the contamination, many people who drank and bathed in the water developed severe liver diseases.
The most common type of liver disease being investigated as linked to Camp Lejeune water is called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition characterized by excess accumulation of fat in the liver. It is the most common type of liver disease, affecting up to 30% of people in the United States. NAFLD is often caused by a combination of factors including obesity, poor diet, and genetic predispositions. In addition to increasing the risk of developing other diseases, NAFLD can cause several serious complications including steatohepatitis (inflammation and scarring of the liver), cirrhosis (scarring and swelling of the liver), and death.
Recently, scientists have linked environmental exposure to industrial chemicals as another possible factor that contributes to NAFLD development, which puts Camp Lejeune service members and others in the area at potentially higher risk for liver disease.
Evidence that Camp Lejeune Water Caused Liver Disease
To be clear, there is significant evidence that links dangerous levels of the chemicals found in the water at Camp Lejeune with an increased risk of liver disease. We hope that these findings strengthen the cases of so many service members who have suffered from liver disease after being exposed to water at US Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
TCE and Liver Disease
Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a common solvent used in many industries, including dry cleaning, paint stripping, and printing. It is also used as a fire retardant in carpets and in building materials. TCE can be found along with other chlorinated solvents in the environment. It can enter the body through skin contact or inhalation. TCE can damage the liver by interfering with liver function, causing fatty changes and an increased risk of cirrhosis.
Several studies in animals have observed that regular exposure to TCE can cause these fatty changes and research has demonstrated that TCE exposure is a significant risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Vinyl Chloride and Liver Disease
Vinyl chloride is a chemical compound that is commonly used in the manufacturing of plastics, rubber, and other materials. It can be found in a wide variety of products like food packaging, household items, and furniture. Vinyl chloride as found in the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune has been linked to liver disease because it can disrupt the production of proteins that are needed for the body to function properly.
When vinyl chloride enters the body, it binds with proteins called chaperones. The binding prevents them from doing their job properly — they are unable to bind and activate enzymes needed for cell metabolism. This leads to an increase in fat production by the liver cells. In turn, this results in fatty liver disease and contributes to the development of NAFLD.
Many studies have observed this phenomenon, and one particularly relevant one observed that petrochemical workers who were regularly exposed to vinyl chloride seemed at higher risk for developing NAFLD than they otherwise would be.
Symptoms of Liver Cancer
The chemicals contaminating the toxic water at Camp Lejeune may cause liver cancer. The liver is a vital organ located in the upper right portion of the abdomen, between the diaphragm and stomach. Its primary functions include filtering blood, generating bile, and storing glycogen. There are several types of liver cancer; however, the most prevalent forms include hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, hepatoblastoma, and metastatic cancer.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
The most common form of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma, most often found in patients with other chronic liver diseases such as hepatitis B or cirrhosis. Symptoms include:
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Enlarged liver (usually presenting as a knot or feeling of fullness under the ribs on the right side)
- Enlarged spleen (generally presenting as a knot or feeling of fullness under the ribs on the left side)
- Stomach pain
- Pain near the right shoulder blade
- Stomach swelling or enlargement
- Itchiness
- Jaundice (yellowing of eyes and/or skin)
Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
This form of liver cancer originates in the bile ducts. Symptoms are similar to those associated with hepatocellular carcinoma, including:
- Abdominal pain
- Dark-colored urine
- Light-colored feces
- Itchiness
- Unintentional weight loss
- Fever
- Jaundice (yellowing of eyes and/or skin)
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Hepatoblastoma
Hepatoblastoma is another common type of liver cancer, particularly in children under three. It accounts for the most significant portion of liver cancer diagnoses in children. Common symptoms include:
- A knot or swelling in the abdomen
- Abdominal pain (often localized to the location of the knot or swelling)
- Weight loss
- Appetite loss
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Metastatic Liver Cancer
Metastatic liver cancer has spread to the liver from another part of the body. It is often associated with a poor prognosis. Common symptoms include:
- Appetite loss
- Weight loss
- Dark urine
- Swelling of the abdomen
- Bloating
- Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and/or skin)
- Pain in the right shoulder
- Pain in the upper right abdomen
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Confusion or other cognitive issues
- Fever
- Excessive sweating
- Enlarged liver
How to File a Camp Lejeune Liver Disease Lawsuit or Claim
If you meet hte following criteria, you may be eligible to file a Camp Lejeune lawsuit:
- 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:
- Liver disease
- Bladder cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Lung cancer
- Brain cancer
- Breast cancer
- Colon cancer
- Laryngeal cancer
- Oral cavity and pharyngeal cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Leukemia (various types)
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL)
- Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
- Ovarian cancer
- Rectal cancer and colon cancer
- Parkinson’s disease
- Heart defects
- CNS cancer (central nervous system cancer)
- Renal toxicity
- Fatty liver disease (NAFLD or hepatic steatosis)
- Epilepsy
- Miscarriage
- Birth defects
- Female infertility
- Hepatic steatosis
- Scleroderma
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.
“What if My Previous Camp Lejeune Claim Was Denied?”
Prior to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, the Navy historically denied all claims related to the health effects of the water contamination. However, under the Justice for Camp Lejeune Act, service members, family members, and civilian workers that were denied will now have the opportunity to file claims directly against the federal government. These claims will allow victims to seek compensation for liver disease and other health problems linked to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune.
Experienced Trial Attorneys Handling Camp Lejeune Liver Disease Cases
With offices in Jacksonville, North Carolina just down the road from US Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Riddle & Brantley has been serving veterans, their families, and civilian workers in the area since 1985. We have extensive experience filing claims and trying cases in the Eastern District of North Carolina, the jurisdiction in which Camp Lejeune toxic water claims must be filed.
Local to Jacksonville, NC and Serving Clients Nationwide
Riddle & Brantley can help you determine the best legal course of action for your situation. We will evaluate your Camp Lejeune liver disease claim, and can file it on your behalf in the Eastern District of North Carolina if you choose to work with us.
Please call us at 1-800-525-7111 for a free, no-obligation consultation concerning a potential Camp Lejeune liver disease lawsuit or claim. We would love to help however we can.
The consultation is free and you won’t pay a dime in attorney fees unless we win your case and you receive compensation. It’s as simple as that. We can consult with you from anywhere, by phone, email, text, or even video conference.
“By far the best law firm that actually cares about helping veterans.”
–B.F., Riddle & Brantley client
Results for Our Clients
We’re a law firm that takes great pride in helping our clients get the best possible outcomes for their cases. Since 2000 alone, our firm has recovered over $665 million for our injured clients (see disclaimer below). But beyond our results, we are so happy to hear so many of our clients describe their experience working with our team in glowing terms:
“No matter the claim or case, it feels like Riddle & Brantley is there for their client and not just a big payday.”
–Christopher F., Riddle & Brantley client
Award-Winning Trial Attorneys
Our Camp Lejeune liver disease lawyers have also been recognized by many prestigious memberships and awards (see disclaimer below), including:
- Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Super Lawyers
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40
- Super Lawyers “Rising Stars”
- The National Association of Distinguished Counsel
- AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell
- The Litigator Award
We believe wholeheartedly that our military veterans, their families, and civilian workers who lived and worked at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 deserve nothing but the best care from our country and our firm, and we want to help you get the justice you deserve.
Call 1-800-525-7111 or fill out the simple form below to get in touch with a Camp Lejeune liver disease lawyer at Riddle & Brantley. We believe Justice Counts for those who suffered due to the toxic water on the base and would love to help however we can.
*** 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.