All across America and around the world, this is Veterans Radio.
This is Veterans Radio.
Welcome to Veterans Radio.
I am Jim Fausone.
I'm the officer of the deck today.
We've got some great programs for you.
I think you'll find very interesting.
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We want to welcome back to VeteransRadio to give us an update and a call to anybody who's
been waiting around too long.
This is Attorney Mike Cox back to talk to us about the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.
Mike, welcome back to VeteransRadio.
Jim, it's great to be back on VeteransRadio again.
As you know, I'm especially proud because I'm a veteran.
You are.
You're a Marine.
You've been in the whole family, but we've talked to you in the past about the Camp Lejeune
Justice Act.
For those who may recognize his name or his voice, Mike was the Attorney General for the
State of Michigan for a number of years and now is out in private practice doing all kinds
of good work on a variety of issues.
One that's near and dear to your heart is trying to take care of some veterans who got
exposed to toxic water when they were at Camp Lejeune.
Why don't you with that set up, go ahead and talk to us what's going on.
Absolutely, Jim.
You know, and the general in your house knows that long before I was Attorney General, I
was the 0311 Infantry Corporal in the United States Marine Corps.
In fact, I was stationed on Camp Lejeune in 82 and 83 with the Second Marine, Second
Marine Regiment.
I was served there during the 30 years where Marines were literally poisoned through negligence
and later on kind of wanton disregard by higher ups in the Defense Department.
But again, that was, you know, there's now an opportunity for your listeners who haven't
done anything yet.
The cutoff is August 10 of this year because it was on August 10 of 2022 where President
Biden signed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act in a rare feat of bipartisanship overwhelmingly
supported by Republicans and Democrats to bring some justice to several hundred thousand
Marines sailors and employees on Camp Lejeune base between December of 1952 and excuse me,
August of 1952 and December of 1987 who were subject to horrible, horrible toxins, benzene,
PCE, vinyl chloride, methylene chloride, DCE and has led many, many to suffer bladder
cancers, esophageal cancers, kidney cancers, Hodgkin's disease, you know, Parkinson's,
bile duct cancer and a variety of diseases that the federal government has admitted through
its own studies were directly related to the water that we all drank either out of water
buffaloes or in KP duty or just in showers or while we're at Camp Lejeune.
Yeah, it's really amazing the extent of time and the different ways people got exposed.
But Congress finally stepped in and said, okay, we're going to give a limited opportunity
for Marines and I want you to expand who can file claims, but Marines who were there during
that period to file claims down in administrative process, but really this goes to North Carolina.
Who can file claims and what do they have to do by August 10th of 2024?
Okay, so anyone who was at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August of 1952 and
December of 1987, so 30 days on base and you could be a Marine, you could be a semen, you
know, someone who served as a corpsman or other support services on the base, you could
be a civilian employee or you could be and we have a number of clients who were family
members of Marines or sailor station there, especially, you know, children, minors, you
know, who many of them who were there with their parents for extended tours are some
of the most impacted and it even includes Jim's civilian employees who may have worked
on base during that time.
So if you were a Marine soldier, you know, who had temporary duty there or training on
the Marine base at Camp Lejeune, a sailor or a dependent, a child, a spouse of any
of those who did at least 30 days on base between August of 1952 and December of 1987,
and if you've suffered a variety of diseases and I'll cover some of them, but it's bladder
cancer, breast cancer, sapha geal, kidney liver, lung cancer, bile duct, colorectal,
there's a seri, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia, there's also a series of neurological issues
like Parkinson's and other autoimmune diseases, even teeth issues and mouth issues.
If there were miscarriages or infertility in your family, all those could relate back
to the time at Camp Lejeune.
And now that we're in the last 10 days, if someone in your family or you, you know, were
impacted, I suggest you call lawyer.
Of course, we'd love you to call our firm and our number is 734-591-4002 or go on to
our website at mikecoxlaw.com, but it's really, look, I'm a Marine, I want all Marines or
sailors who are impacted to get somehow or their family members.
So if you don't come to us, talk to somebody soon, you go online, there's a ton of firms
out there that can help you out.
It's very, very important you do that over this next 10 days as we head up to the deadline.
And I want to get across to people, even if your dad is dead, he was a Marine, you understand
he was at Camp Lejeune, the spouse, the children still have an opportunity to file this claim.
They may be the ones sitting on the sideline going, well, dad's dead.
You still want them to get in touch with you, right, Mike?
Absolutely.
Wrongful deaths are a big chunk of our client base.
You know, for people who lost those extra years with a loved one, a parent, you know,
that's the serious blow, and as you know, Jim, in the civil law, that's a very common
claim and that's part of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act.
And the most important thing is don't wait, reach out now.
Another thing is a lot of people think this will impact any VA benefits that they may get.
It will not.
Let me repeat, this will not impact your benefits.
There's no cost to you.
There's no downside.
You should do it for yourself, do it for your family, and certainly make the call or send
the email in these waning days before we come to, you know, August 10th, which is a Saturday,
to reach out to us or someone else.
Because this is Veterans Radio.
Jim, you and the Brigadier General bring great advocates for veterans over these many, many
years and I'm glad that you're reminding folks of this very, very important program.
We just wanted to get out this last shout out before the window closes and that'll be
that.
You've got to get in now.
So don't sit on the sidelines because you think dad's dead or you're not really sure
if this is a real deal or if it'll impact your VA benefits as my cox former Attorney
General says it will not.
So reach out and let's make sure you get those benefits that you're entitled to under the
Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022.
Mike, thanks for taking some time with us on Veterans Radio today to get the word out.
And thank you, Jim.
And I want to thank everybody for listening to Veterans Radio today.
I am Jim Fawcone.
It's been a pleasure to be your host.
I'm a Veterans Disability Lawyer at Legal Help for Veterans and you can reach us at
800-69-348-00 or legalhelpforveterans.com on the web.
You can follow Veterans Radio on Facebook and listen to its podcasts and internet radio
shows by visiting us at veteransradio.org.
That's veteransradio.org.
And until next time, you are dismissed.
If you have a VA claim denied by the Board of Veterans Appeals, contact Legal Help for
Veterans at 1-800-693-4800.
They're experts in handling cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
And the number again, 1-800-693-4800.
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Charles S. Kettles Chapter, Ann Arbor, Michigan, VFWGRAPH, O'Hara Post 423 in Ann Arbor, and
the American Legion Press Corn Post 46 also in Ann Arbor.
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keeping Veterans Radio on the air.
And until next time, you are dismissed.