Insights on Bell Legal Group
The Bell Legal Group is a prestigious litigation firm located in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, founded by activist Dickie Bell in 1988. The firm has long focused its efforts on fighting for justice on behalf of victims of negligence and corporate wrongdoing, and it has obtained significant compensation for its clients over the more than 30 years since its founding . Drawing upon this considerable experience in complex litigation, the Bell Legal Group is now proudly representing Camp Lejeune victims in their efforts to obtain the compensation set out in the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022.
Overview of the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Problem
Over the years, many instinctively attributed the cancer and other sicknesses of veterans and their families who were stationed there, the base is a Marine training post, to that fact. It was just accepted that those who had served their country in this way may pay a heavy price for their service. Fewer knew that for more than three decades the water from a handful of wells located on the base was contaminated with highly toxic chemicals.
The contamination originated from leaks and spills at two waste disposal sites on the post from the 1950s until 1985. The toxins in the groundwater eventually found their way into drinking water wells, and the extent of the contamination did not come to public attention for decades.
A 2016 study commissioned by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) showed that the groundwater in parts of Camp Lejeune was contaminated with a number of highly toxic compounds known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). VOCs are considered carcinogenic, and exposure to significant levels is known to increase the risk of various types of cancers. Among the compounds detected at Camp Lejeune were Benzene, a recognized carcinogen; Trichloroethylene (TCE), a widely used industrial solvent; Tetrachloroethylene (PCE), another industrial solvent also known as "dry cleaning fluid," and Trichloroethylene (TCE), a widely used industrial solvent. (Source: Camp Lejeune: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Private Wells.Database of Abstracts on Exposure Pathways at Camp Lejeune (U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, CDC). These compounds were found to be present in multiple wells at Camp Lejeune in significant levels.
A 2007 epidemiological study commissioned by the ATSDR and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found a substantially heightened risk of certain cancers and birth defects among those exposed to the contaminated water. Among the results of the study was a greater than 30 percent increase in Stomach Cancer, a 40 percent increase in Neurological Birth Defects (Birth Defects of Unknown Etiology), a significantly higher than normal rate of certain childhood cancers and a 50 percent increase in Bladder Cancer.
Bell Legal Group’s Involvement in Camp Lejeune Litigations
For more than 30 years, Bell Legal Group has been a dogged advocate for those injured by exposure to toxic chemicals in the environment. From Agent Orange in Vietnam to Dirty Air at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii, and on to Vancon Industries’ Poison Dust and Texaco’s Leaking Lower Belle Chasse Pipeline, the lawyers at Bell Legal Group never turn away from a fight with large corporations that belch hazardous substances into the environment. And of course, from their home base in Charleston, S.C., where the group is closing in on $10 billion in settlements caused by its client Beazer Homes’ dumping of chromium into the drinking water of the entire Charleston Metro Area, the Bell lawyers now have joined in the fight on behalf of Marines and their families who lived and continue to live at Camp Lejeune and were sickened at starkly higher rates than the general public. Bell Legal Group believes it is well-placed to take its environmental litigation skills to the Camp Lejeune cases, given the firm’s long history of protecting and fighting for the little guy or gal against corporations out of control in their unbending quest for profits. Bell Legal Group is for the little guy, and those exposed at Camp Lejeune need advocates on their side more than ever.
Rights of Those Affected by Camp Lejeune Water Supply
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 is intended to give victims of the contamination at Camp Lejeune, which has been linked to an increased risk of certain cancers, a legal avenue through which to pursue compensation for harm suffered as a result of the water contamination. This act removes pre-existing legal barriers that formerly prevented service members and their families from filing claims related to the prolonged exposure to toxic substances at Camp Lejeune.
The act reestablishes the continuous 30-year window of time in which victims of contamination could have filed a lawsuit. This action also permits legal recourse for groups of people who may have been exposed to chemicals contained in the water at Camp Lejeune . Since the contaminants affected both men and women, as well as children in utero, the act allows for claims from a wide variety of individuals. This includes service members stationed at Camp Lejeune along with their family members and children, as well as women who were pregnant and stationed there. Anyone who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune during the stated time period has the potential to file a claim.
Veterans are allowed to file claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), which previously required that they have been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions and lived in the U.S. for at least one year after their service. This law provides an exception to those two requirements.
Latest in Camp Lejeune Lawsuits
Recent developments in camp Lejeune litigation: In early March 2018, a federal judge in South Carolina dismissed the case of Jared Harry Reed v. 28th Composites, et al., a wrongful death claim alleging Camp Lejeune contamination against a subcontractor and architect. Surprisingly, a move to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction was the first major ruling on any Camp Lejeune case. The 28 Composites decision is significant for potential impact on the larger pre-trial proceedings in the Camp Lejeune litigation. This ruling signals that the MDL Judge will likely look favorably upon Defendant arguments supporting full discovery and settlement talks will continue to be put on hold until all discovery is complete and experts have been designated in the MDL. Panel and lower courts gradually appear to be pushing back on plaintiffs’ attempts to sidestep the MDL process because it saves their clients money and time and may ultimately increase recovery for their clients. In addition, during a February 2018 Progress Conference, the MDL Judge initially hesitated to set a trial schedule until October or November of 2019. He reiterated that the technical aspects of the proceedings will take time and that the discovery proceedings likely will not be completed until the fourth quarter of 2018. With thousands of Plaintiffs still to be drafted into the MDL, the parties will need plenty of time to prepare for trial. Therefore, Bell Legal Group remains hopeful for a settlement before trial date but will continue to advocate on behalf of victims until they are fully compensated for their injuries.
How to Seek Help from Bell Legal Group
If you or a loved one experienced health problems as a result of exposure to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune and are looking for legal assistance, the team at Bell Legal Group is here to help. Our law firm is currently accepting Camp Lejeune claims, and we encourage anyone affected to reach out to us as soon as possible to get started. Bell Legal Group founder and attorney Clay Montgomery served at Camp Lejeune in 1968 and lost his father to esophageal cancer just seven months later. He is deeply familiar with the seriousness of this situation and has been steadfast in working with victims of the Camp Lejeune water contamination to help them receive just compensation. Anyone who reached out to an online advertisement from our firm will find Camp Lejeune information and frequently updated newsletters about the defective water system at Camp Lejeune. Bell Legal Group is committed to serving all clients with care , and our process for Camp Lejeune cases is no different. The first step is contacting us, which can be done by phone at 1-888-202-5058 or through our convenient online contact form. We will arrange a Camp Lejeune consultation over the phone. There is no charge for this consultation. We will gather some background information about your time at Camp Lejeune and answer any questions you may have about the claim process. If we do take on your case, it is ultimately up to the client whether to file a federal or state Camp Lejeune claim. Bell Legal Group can walk you through the steps for both claims and designate the most suitable venue, depending on the circumstances. A Camp Lejeune claim is a unique endeavor, and it benefits from the guidance and expertise of a dedicated firm like Bell Legal Group to avoid any pitfalls and secure a fair settlement.