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Why It Is Important To Hire A Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Attorney

Learn Why It Is Crucial To Hire An Experienced Attorney If You Are Pursuing A Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Case, Especially If The VA Is Denying Your Claim

WASHINGTON D.C., VIRGINIA (October 24, 2022)  – It has been several months since President Biden signed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act which is aimed to help people harmed by the contaminated water at the marine base.

It has been estimated that more than 1,000,000 people were exposed to the contaminated water the North Carolina marine corps base. From 1953 and 1987 industrial chemical seeped into the water containment systems at the base.

These chemicals came from improperly disposed of pollutants and also run-off from a dry cleaner. Thousands of people at the base were becoming seriously ill or dying.

Much of this was happening before the military even realized that the water at the base was contaminated. Veterans, their families and workers were drinking the water and taking baths in it every day for many decades.

It was not until 1982 that the Marine Corps learned the the drinking water had volatile organic compounds (VOCs). If you lived, worked or stayed at Camp Lejeune for at least one month from  August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, you may be able to file a claim for damages.

There are a number of presumptive conditions that have been linked to long term exposure to the chemicals at Camp Lejeune.

  • Adult leukemia
  • Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
  • Bladder cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
  • Parkinson’s disease

Many people think that they will automatically receive benefits by filing a claim with the VA if they stayed at Camp Lejeune and became ill. But this is unfortunately not the case.

There have been many people with novel illnesses who have been denied benefits by the VA. Jane Shepard is one of those people.

She developed  Dercums disease after being exposed to benzine, vinyl chloride and other VOCs while staying at Camp Lejeune. The VA has not recognized Dercums disease as one of the presumptive diseases that it covers.

This is why it is so important to hire an experienced attorney if you became ill after staying at Camp Lejeune. An attorney can pursue a claim and help maximize your benefits even if the VA does not recognize your illness as a presumptive condition.

If you worked or stayed at Camp Lejeune, our team of experienced Camp Lejeune attorneys at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. are here to help in any way that we can. We are representing nearly 200 plaintiffs who were injured by the contaminated water at the marine base. We can examine all of the unique facts of your case free of cost and let you know if you have a claim that can be pursued. Our attorneys work entirely off of a contingency fee basis and only get paid if they are able to successfully resolve your case. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.

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Jeff Korek
Jeff S. Korek
Senior Trial Partner
New York State Bar #2089290

Jeff S. Korek is a New York trial lawyer and Senior Trial Partner at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C., where he has practiced since 1992. Over more than three decades of practice, Jeff has represented clients in complex personal injury and medical malpractice cases and has secured significant verdicts and settlements, including $10 million and $20 million recoveries in medical malpractice matters involving childbirth complications, as well as an $18 million settlement in Gardener v. City of New York.

Jeff has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America since 2006 and has received multiple “Lawyer of the Year” honors, including for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs in New York City in 2016 and Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs in New York City in 2020. He has also been repeatedly selected to Super Lawyers, including the Top 100: New York – Metro list. With decades of experience handling complex cases, a strategic approach to litigation, and a strong commitment to clients, Jeff Korek has built a distinguished practice in New York personal injury and medical malpractice law.