President Barack Obama signed the Janey Ensminger Act into law in 2012, named for the 9-year-old girl who died from leukemia after exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, where her father, Jerry Ensminger, lived when she was born.
The new rule allows military and non-military family members to file claims under VA’s benefits program for healthcare-related illnesses caused due to exposure to toxins found in the base’s water supply for at least 30 days between 1953 and 1987.
Do you suspect you might qualify for VA healthcare benefits under the Janey Ensminger Act? The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC are legal advocates.
We can explain your VA benefits eligibility and answer any questions you have during a free consultation. Call our product liability attorneys at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form today for immediate legal advice and schedule a free consultation.
All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team remains private through an attorney-client relationship.
The Janey Ensminger Act protects the legal rights of veterans who have become ill due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
What is the Janey Ensminger Act of 2019?
Janey Ensminger’s life was taken from her at nine years old when she passed away due to cancer caused by exposure at Camp Lejeune.
The Janey, an act named after a daughter whose life was cut short but left behind memories that will never fade away, gives others hope for their future and helps heal those wounds.
The family discovered severe health concerns when retired Master Sergeant Jerry Ensminger in the United States Marine Corps realized his daughter had been diagnosed with cancer.
After digging, he discovered that the water at Camp Lejeune, where he had been stationed years before, was contaminated with various chemicals.
These chemicals had been seeping into the water supply for over two decades, and it is believed they were responsible for Janey’s cancer.
Has The Camp Lejeune Justice Act Been Passed?
Congress responded to this tragedy by creating and enacting the Janey Ensminger Act, providing medical treatment to those exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. It also requires the Marine Corps to notify individuals who may have been exposed so they receive the help they need.
The Janey Ensminger Act is helping to bring justice to the victims of the Camp Lejeune water contamination scandal. It is providing them with the medical treatment they need and deserve and bringing awareness to this tragic event so that others can be helped.
Codifying the Janey Ensminger Act for Veterans Affairs Benefits
The Janey Ensminger Act of 2019 is critical legislation that will codify the work done on behalf of military service men and women and their family members sickened by toxic exposures at Camp Lejeune.
The bill provides transparency regarding how agencies such as VA, HHS, or ATSDR collect data related to these illnesses to be more scientifically accurate while respecting privacy concerns.
Additionally, the bill will improve communication between these agencies so that veterans and their families can get the care and benefits they need and deserve.
Finally, the Janey Ensminger Act will establish a fund to provide medical care for those sickened by toxic exposure at the military base.
The new law is an important step forward in ensuring that our military service members and their families receive the care and benefits they have earned.
The Toxic Water Contamination Problem in Camp Lejeune
Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, is a United States Marine Corps Base. It is also home to one of US history’s most severe water contamination exposure problems.
Camp LeJeune’s drinking water was not fit to consume for over thirty years because of harmful chemicals that caused severe health problems for those who drank or bathed in it.
This contamination has affected military personnel and their families stationed at the base during those years and civilians whose workplaces were on the base.
The extent of this water contamination is still being studied. Still, early findings suggest a wide range of toxic chemicals, including benzene, vinyl chloride, and trichloroethylene, were present in the water wells from 1953 to 1987.
This problem is ongoing, as those exposed experience adverse health effects, including cancer, birth defects, and neurobehavioral issues.
The toxic water at Camp LeJeune has led to numerous cancer cases, birth defects, and other illnesses. Unfortunately, because of statutes of limitation, many of these victims cannot seek justice through the legal system.
Qualifying Family Members for Disability Benefits Provided through the Janey Ensminger Act
President Obama signed the Janey Ensminger Act, establishing a presumptive service connection for specific diseases, illnesses, and cancers related to Camp Lejeune water contamination.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) committee determined that people meeting the qualifications of exposure to contaminated water do not have to prove how their illness occurred.
Instead, the Camp Lejeune water contamination victim must only show that they lived or worked on the Marine Corps Base during any such period between 1953 and 1987 for at least 30 days (consecutive or nonconsecutive) that they developed their condition.
The Janey Ensminger Act provides benefits and compensation for all family members living on the base during that specific time or fetuses in utero when the mother resided there.
Some benefits include medical services, hospital care, nursing home care, and other funds for any temporary or permanent disability related to exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the water. These conditions could include:
- Bladder Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Hepatic Steatosis
- Infertility
- Kidney Cancer
- Leukemia
- Lung Cancer
- Miscarriage
- Multiple Myeloma
- Myelodysplastic Syndrome
- Neurobehavioral Effects
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Parkinson’s disease
- Renal Toxicity
- Scleroderma
Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer to Resolve a Water Contamination Compensation Claim
Do you suspect that exposure to contaminants in the water at Camp Lejeune led to your severe medical condition? Recent changes to the Janey Ensminger Act of 2019 now provide financial benefits to all family members of veterans harmed by toxic substances at the military base.
The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC can review your claim to file for benefits under the new law. Our team of environmental lawyers has represented military families in similar cases and understands how to obtain maximum compensation on your behalf.
We accept all Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuits on a contingency fee arrangement. This promise ensures you do not pay any upfront legal fees until your injury attorney resolves your case through a negotiated settlement or jury trial award.
Call our product liability lawyer at (888) 424-5757 or complete our online form to arrange a free consultation. All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team remains private through an attorney-client relationship.
Resources:
- Congress.gov – Janey’s ActÂ
- Govtrack.us- Janey Ensminger ActÂ
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