For decades, service members, their families, and civilian workers at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune drank, bathed in, and were exposed to water poisoned by toxic chemicals. You stood up for your country, or supported those who did, only to be betrayed by the very ground beneath your feet.
Justice isn't just about a settlement; it’s about accountability. But to hold the powerful accountable, you need a formidable arsenal of evidence. Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, the burden of proof is on us to show that you were exposed to the contaminated water for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987.
Here is how you document your exposure to build a case that cannot be ignored.
1. Establish Your Presence: Military and Employment Records
The foundation of your claim is proving you were physically there. Corporate and government entities rely on bureaucracy; we use that same bureaucracy to pin them down.
Official Military Personnel File (OMPF): This is the most critical document for veterans. It confirms your stationing at Camp Lejeune and the exact dates of your service.
Housing Records: If you lived in base housing like Tarawa Terrace or Hadnot Point—areas known for high contamination levels—rent receipts, base housing office records, or even old utility bills are vital.
Employment Records: For civilian contractors or non-military employees, social security earnings statements or payroll stubs from your time on base serve as undeniable proof of presence.
2. Connect the Harm: Comprehensive Medical Documentation
Exposure is only half the battle; the other half is documenting the resulting injury. The toxic cocktail of TCE, PCE, benzene, and vinyl chloride found in the water has been linked to various cancers, Parkinson’s disease, and reproductive issues.
VA Medical Records: If you have received treatment through the VA for a "presumptive condition," these records are foundational.
Private Healthcare Records: Gather all diagnostic reports, hospital admission summaries, and pathology reports from private doctors.
Chronological History: Create a timeline of when your symptoms first appeared in relation to your time at Camp Lejeune. Precision empowers your claim.
3. Humanize the Toll: Personal Evidence and Testimony
Numbers and dates tell a story, but voices provide the soul. We aren't just fighting for "claims"; we are fighting for people whose lives were forever altered.
Buddy Statements: Reach out to those you served with. Witness affidavits from fellow Marines or neighbors who can vouch for your presence and the health struggles you endured can bolster a case where the paperwork might be thin.
Personal Journals and Photographs: Old photos of you on base or journals documenting your daily life and subsequent health decline provide a human element that a sterile medical report cannot.
4. Organize for Battle
The path to justice is often long, and the opposition is well-funded. Do not give them the opportunity to stall your case due to missing information. Keep a dedicated file (digital and physical) of every piece of correspondence, every medical bill, and every travel record related to your treatment.
Stand With Farrell & Fuller
You have fought enough on your own. Now, let us take the frontlines for you. At Farrell & Fuller, we don't measure success in headlines; we measure it in lives changed and justice delivered. If you or a loved one suffered because of the toxic water at Camp Lejeune, you deserve a partner who is as relentless as you are.
Demand the justice you earned. Contact Farrell & Fuller today at (888) 387-6661 for a free, no-strings-attached consultation.