95: Marines Suing Federal Government Over Toxic Water - Ed Bell & Brian Amburgey Honest Offense with Eric Cervone

Between 1953-1987, people who lived and worked at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina were exposed to contaminated water that’s caused death, illness, and life-altering health conditions. Senior military leaders allegedly knew of the risks and concealed knowledge of the problem. 

A recent report found that the VA  made errors on thousands of claims related to the exposure, wrongly denying veterans over $14 million in payments.

Ed Bell is the founder and senior partner of Bell Legal Group. Ed led the charge to pass the Camp Lejeune Justice Act in 2021, which allows veterans to sue the government for harm from exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Ed now works to ensure that Marines and others who were at Camp Lejeune are able to receive the compensation they are owed. 

Brian Amburgey is a retired Marine who trained at Camp Lejeune in the 1980s. He has worked with Ed to bring attention to the contaminated water issue, as is currently suing the government under the Camp Jejune Justice Act.

00:00 Introduction

1:30 How Ed got involved in the Camp Lejeune issue

7:50 How Brian got involved in advocating for Marines

13:20 How did nobody in Congress know about the issue 

18:30 The frustration of nobody listening 

21:00 Why Ed  & Brian stuck with the Camp Lejeune case despite years of no progress 

29:10 The betrayal Marines feel 

31:00 The support from Congress once they learned of the issue

38:30 Brian's medical issues and why he's suing

40:50 Problems with the VA and how to fix veteran medical care 

48:00 What steps Marines who were exposed to contaminated water should take 

50:50 Closing words  

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Bell Legal Group: https://www.belllegalgroup.com

VA information on Camp Lejeune water contamination health issues: https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/camp-lejeune-water-contamination

Camp Lejeune Justice Act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2192/text 

Camp Lejeune water contamination claims total about 5,000 so far, U.S. Navy says: https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/camp-lejeune-water-contamination-claims-total-about-5000-so-far-us-navy-says-2022-09-12

Veterans Were Denied $14 Million in Payments Because VA Mishandled Lejeune Water Claims: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/08/26/veterans-were-denied-14-million-payments-because-va-mishandled-lejeune-water-claims.html 

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