Birmingham-based law firm Riley & Jackson, P.C. is helping U.S. Marines and their families formerly stationed at Camp Lejeune to settle their claims over exposure to contaminated water on the base.
On Wednesday, Congress passed bipartisan legislation called the “Honoring Our PACT Act,” which allows individuals who were stationed at the North Carolina base from 1953-1987 to file their claims. President Joe Biden actively supported the bill’s passage and is expected to sign it into law.
The hazardous chemicals that infiltrated the water is linked to a wide-range of health conditions and illnesses. Those exposed to the chemicals could have experienced cancer, birth defects, Parkinson’s disease, and other potentially life-threatening injuries.
In a statement to Yellowhammer News, Riley & Jackson, P.C. lauded the bill’s passage and touched on their efforts to help veterans present their claims.
“At Riley & Jackson, we represent veterans and their families injured by toxic water contamination at Marine Base Camp Lejeune, claims that we have been investigating for over a decade,” said the firm. “Veterans and their families who were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, and as a result became sick with deadly cancers and other diseases, have been denied the relief they deserve for too long.”
“We were glad to see the bi-partisan legislation finally pass Congress this week giving these injured heroes and their families the rights they so richly deserve,” the firm added. “We look forward to President Biden signing the bill into law and giving injured veterans and their families the right to present their claims— a right every American should have.”
Riley & Jackson, P.C. is presently scheduling free consultations with those considering filing claims.
The contaminated water was primarily found in two treatment plants, the Tarawa Terrace Treatment Plant and the Hadnot Point Treatment Plant.
Tetrachloroethylene, also known as perchloroethylene (PCE), and Trichloroethylene (TCE) were the main toxic chemicals found at the plants. The chemicals are used in dry cleaning and in cleaning metal parts of machines. The contamination was a result of leaking from underground storage tanks and waste disposal sites.
Benefit coverage is available to those who lived in the following areas:
- Camp Lejeune Greater Sandy Run
- Stone Bay Rifle Range
- Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River
- Camp Geiger
- Camp Johnson/Montford Point
- Tarawa Terrace
- Holcomb Boulevard
- Hadnot Point
- Camp Lejeune Military Reservation
- Onslow Beach
Dylan Smith is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.