Military Water Contamination Case Demonstrates Importance of Accountability in Litigation

When thinking of a ‘negligent’ individual, group or corporate concern, many different images may come to mind. However, one organization or organizational image that is not normally associated with negligence is the U.S. Marine Corps. These men and women are highly disciplined, focused, and trained to be vigilant and responsible because in their line of work, these traits can mean the difference between life and death. This sterling reputation is hard to reconcile with a recent lawsuit filed against the U.S. Government concerning the distribution of contaminated water to U.S. Marines, their families, and civilian employees at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina between the early 1950s and 1985.

Laura Jones, a Marine wife who contracted lymphoma after living at Camp Lejeune with her husband, brought the suit in question. The suit alleges that the government knowingly distributed highly contaminated drinking water to the camp’s population while also subsequently disseminating disinformation to those involved to minimize the chance of the incident being exposed. The Department of the Navy finally confirmed that there was tainted water on the base due to a chemical agent used on an off base dry cleaner. The Department stops short, however, of saying that this contamination could be conclusively linked with health issues, despite the fact that the chemical agent in question is a known carcinogen. This will be the substantial burden of proof of the plaintiff; we’ll see how the lawsuit plays out to see whether this burden can be met.

The case underscores what an important tool litigation is to ensure the safety of all of our citizens. No individual, organization, or other entity should be above suspicion when it comes to safety concerns and lawyers and lawsuits call these suspects to task, exposing them, when necessary. When a unit as prestigious for its attention to detail as the U.S. Marine Corps can allow such an apparently disastrous event to occur, it becomes obvious that negligence is not a problem that affects only a select few. Negligence affects all of us; lawsuits are an important solution to many of these problems, a solution that has long-standing, sometimes permanent effect.

The allegation that the Marine Corps knowingly contaminated its Marines and their families, those who sacrifice so much for so little in return, is absolutely appalling. Avenues for effective and expedient litigation must always be available to hold wrong-doers accountable, even when, as this case demonstrates, the most seemingly responsible entities are involved. The brave men and women who serve in the armed forces and protect our way of life, place themselves in harm’s way to advance the cause of freedom. They know the grave military dangers of their service choices; they (and, especially, their family members) do not expect to be placed in danger by the simple (and necessary) act of drinking water. If the allegations of the lawsuit are true, Lawsuit Financial calls upon the government to do the right thing; compensate the victims appropriately and correct the offensive behavior so that our servicemen and their families are kept safe from unforeseen harm.