If you or a loved one were exposed to toxic water, the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawyers at Fob James Law Firm want to help you.
The water at Camp Lejeune from 1953 until 1987 contained toxic chemicals. Folks who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune during this time frame were exposed to harmful chemicals.
The toxic water caused serious diseases such as cancer, parkinson’s, non hodgkin lymphoma, and many others.
Our biggest concern is making sure you get the justice and the compensation that you deserve. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Contact a North Carolina Camp Lejeune Lawyer today for a free case evaluation.
The deadline to file a Camp Lejeune claim was August 10, 2024. As a result, we cannot help with your case unless your claim was properly filed before the deadline.
Camp Lejuene Water Contamination FAQ
Who Qualifies for a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Settlement?
Contamination of water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and military installations near Camp Lejeune [e.g. Marine Corps Air Station New River (MCAS NR)] occurred over a span of 35 years, exposing an estimated one million people to chemicals that have been linked to diseases like Parkinson’s disease, kidney disease, fertility problems, and several types of cancer.
Between 1953 and 1987, water treated and distributed by the Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point systems on Camp Lejeune Marine Base was determined to have contained unsafe levels of toxic chemicals like trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (also known as perchloroethylene, or PCE), vinyl chloride, and benzene.
Veterans, family members and others who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station New River (MCAS NR) between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987 and were diagnosed with the injuries listed below may be entitled to compensation.
What Injuries Are Linked to Camp Lejeune’s Water Contamination?
The cancers and diseases that have been strongly linked to exposure to Benzene, TCE, and PCE include the following:
- Leukemia
- Bladder Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Multiple Myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Aplastic Anemia
- Scleroderma
- Myelodysplastic Syndromes
- Kidney Disease
- Lung Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
Other injuries linked to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune include the following:
- ALS (Lou Gerhig’s Disease)
- Birth Defects and Injuries
- Brain Damage
- Cardiac Defect
- Fatty Liver Disease
- Hepatic Steatosis
- Infertility
- Miscarriage
- Neurobehavioral Effects
- Parkinsonian Syndrome
- Renal Toxicity
- MDS Syndrome
- Breast Cancer
- Rectal Cancer
- Brain Cancer
- Uterine Cancer
- Other Cancers
What Is the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022?
On June 16, 2022, the United States Senate voted in favor of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, advancing the piece of legislation that opens the door for new claims on behalf of Veterans and military families injured by exposure to contaminated water at the military base.
The significance of this law is that it enlarges the time period for victims to file claims. Most toxic tort claims are barred two years after the date of discovery or after a requisite period of time has passed regardless of the date of discovery. This is known as the statute of limitations and the statute of repose.
Prior to this new law, victims claims were barred by the statute of limitations or the statute of repose in virtually every state, including North Carolina, because the exposure occurred so long ago (1953-1987).
Now that this law has passed, victims of water contamination at Camp Lejeune can file claims to seek the compensation they deserve.
What Can I Recover From a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit?
Every case is unique, but people who file claims can potentially recover money for some of the following damages:
- Past and future medical bills (including medication, hospital stays, and in-home care)
- Pain and suffering including mental anguish
- Psychological damage
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- The loss of enjoyment of life
- Broadly speaking, a plaintiff could be entitled to compensation for any past and future costs associated with their injury
How Long Do I Have to File a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Claim?
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act establishes a two-year time-frame from the date of the law’s enactment during which veterans, their families, and others exposed to contaminated drinking water on the military base can commence legal action.
The CLJA went into effect on August 10, 2022. Claims must be filed with the JAG by August 10, 2024. If the JAG denies a victim’s written demand, the victim has only 180 days from the receipt of the denial to file a lawsuit.
Do not delay. Contact Fob James Law Firm toll-free at 833-684-0503 for a free consultation and case analysis by our North Carolina Camp Lejeune Water Contamination attorneys.
How Do I File a Camp Lejeune Water Claim Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act?
According the bill, victims must first comply with 28 U.S. Code § 2675 before filing a lawsuit. This means that victims must submit a written claim to the Office of the JAG. The JAG will have six months to evaluate the claim.
If the DOD does not respond to the written demand within six months, then the claim will be deemed constructively denied.
After a denial, the victims will then have 180 days to file a lawsuit in the District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
What Do Camp Lejeune Victims Have To Prove?
Victims of the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination will have to prove the following:
- Proof that you served or lived at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987;
- A current diagnosed condition; and,
- Evidence sufficient to conclude that a causal relationship exists between the diagnosis and toxic water exposure (or that a causal relationship is as least likely as not).
Fortunately, many victims will be able to meet the evidentiary burden by citing prior studies and findings by the VA and other government agencies.
Will A Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Affect My Disability From The VA?
No, your claim under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) is a separate claim, and you are entitled to different damages like pain and suffering.
It is possible that some disability benefits you have received from the VA in the past may offset part of your CLJA recovery.
However, the VA has made clear your disability benefits will not be impacted by any award you received for your Camp Lejeune claim:
What Are The Attorney Fees In Camp Lejeune Lawsuits?
Fob James Law Firm operates on the contingency-fee-basis, which means we only get paid a percentage of the recovery if we successfully resolve your case.
Our fees come out of a favorable settlement or jury award, not out of your pocket. Importantly, if we do not obtain a recovery then you owe us nothing.
Fob James Law Firm charges every Camp Lejeune toxic water client a 20% or 25% contingency fee.
Specifically, if your Camp Lejeune claim is resolved before litigation, the attorney’s fee is 20% of the settlement. If your claim is resolved after filing a lawsuit, the attorney’s fee is 25% of the total recovery.
For an in depth analysis explaining why lawyer fees in Camp Lejeune lawsuits should be capped at 20-25%, please read our article, What Are The Attorney Fees For The Camp Lejeune Lawsuit.
When Will the Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Be Settled?
No one knows when the Camp Lejeune lawsuits will settle. The filed lawsuits have been consolidated for the purpose of efficiency. The litigation is underway for tracks 1, 2, and 3.
The Federal Judges presiding over the litigation will schedule “bellwether” trials (test trials), likley beginning in 2025. These trials will hopefully apply pressure on the government to start reviewing and settling cases.
For cases that meet the criteria under the Elective Option, the government will make offers on its own time. The government first determines that a case qualifies under the EO before making an offer. Only a small percetange of cases actually qualify under the government’s narrow criteria.
This is completely speculative but for most cases we believe the time frame for settlement could be 2 years.
What Is The Average Payout for the Camp Lejeune Lawsuit?
We believe claims will be grouped into different tiers based on the injury. For example bladder cancer cases could be one tier and parkinsons’ disease cases could be another tier.
The government will likely implement a point system based on a myriad of factors (e.g. the number of years spent at Camp Lejeune). Claims with higher points will likely be offered more money.
This is basically what the government has implemented with its “Elective Option” (EO). The EO provides settlement offers to a limited number of cases that meet very strict criteria.
Under the Elective Option, settlement amounts are based on the qualifying injury and the number of years spent at Camp Lejeune. Read our article on the Elective Option for a breakdown.
To discuss the potential value of your case with an attorney, please contact us at 866-837-1010.
The Risk Of Cancer and Parkinson’s Is Real
In 2014, Frank J. Bove with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and several colleagues published a mortality study (the “Bove Study”) of civilian employees at Camp Lejeune exposed to water contaminated with solvents.
The study concluded that elevated toxins in the water system at Camp Lejeune increased the risk of cancers of the kidney, liver, esophagus, cervix, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin lymphoma and ALS.
Furthermore, the federal government’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) conducted an extensive mortality study of military personnel at Camp Lejeune compared to personnel at Camp Pendleton.
Over the same time period, the Camp Lejeune group had higher mortality rates for the following causes of death:
- Cancers of the cervix, esophagus, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, prostate, rectum, and soft tissue
- Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Leukemias
- Multiple myeloma
- Multiple sclerosis
Moreover, a recent study conducted by JAMA Neurology concluded that marines exposed to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune had a 70% greater risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Updates
Last updated: November 3, 2025
Read our lawsuit blog to track the latest developments in the Camp Lejeune water contamination litigation, including bellwether trials, settlement updates, and federal court rulings.
NOVEMBER 3, 2025 Settlement Master Survey Process Underway
The Camp Lejeune Settlement Masters have begun circulating approximately 2400 claimant survey forms to better assess injury categories and claimant data. This marks a key step toward developing a settlement matrix and payment framework.
Attorneys representing large groups of claimants are coordinating with the Settlement Masters to provide anonymized case information and medical summaries.
While no final matrix has been filed yet, this survey process indicates that pre-negotiation groundwork is in motion, and a draft framework could be submitted to the Court in 2026. Keep in mind that the Settlement Masters’ effort to formulate a settlement matrix could end up being unsuccessful as the DOJ would have to agree to it.
OCTOBER 6, 2025 What Is Happening in the Camp Lejeune Litigation?
Expert discovery deadlines and Daubert briefing: The court’s schedule has expert discovery for the bellwether cases running through October 2025; multiple Daubert and dispositive motions were filed and must be resolved next.
Settlement Masters’ status filings / communications: Any new status report or proposed settlement matrix from the Settlement Masters will be pivotal; check EDNC docket and the court’s Camp Lejeune resources for new filings.
New case filings: The EDNC docket continues to receive new CLJA complaints (e.g., Oct 2, 2025 filings such as Carter v. USA).
Quick Data Points
- Reported number of filed CLJA cases on EDNC docket: ~3,600+
- Administrative claims submitted (public reporting): ~400,000+ (only a fraction qualify for or have been processed under EO)
Short Take – What This Means for Counsel and Claimants
- Near term (Oct–Dec 2025): Expect heavy briefing on expert admissibility and causation; many decisions will set the framework for first judge-trials and influence settlement values.
- Settlement possibility: Settlement Masters are actively working; a matrix or global framework remains the most likely path to large-scale resolution, but implementation will take additional months with precise rules still being negotiated.
- Operational reality: Because the government continues filing wide-ranging motions and the court must rule on expert evidence, bellwether trial dates have shifted later than early projections; calendar watch is critical.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2025 PLG and DOJ file barrage of “Daubert motions”
The plaintiff leadership and the DOJ filed Daubert motions last week. They seek to exclude each other’s expert testimony in the track 1 cases. These experts are offering opinions on causation. If Plaintiff’s experts are excluded, certain cases could be dismissed based on failure to meet the burden of proof. Daubert is a monumental pre-trial phase of this litigation. How the Judges rule will also impact non-discovery track cases.
JULY 7, 2025 Congressman introduces amendment to streamline CLJA claims
US Rep. Richard Hudson, R-NC9, and three co-sponsors introduced the Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act to streamline the process for adjudicating CLJA claims and resolve pending legal issues.
The bill addresses jury trial rights, general causation standards, expanded court access, and caps attorney fees. Legislative process continues, but it could cut current red tape.
JUNE 22, 2025 Camp Lejeune “settlement matrix” is in development
The Plaintiffs Leadership Group, DOJ, and Settlement Masters have been working toward creating a “settlement matrix and global settlement framework” using a point-based system to assess settlement value by exposure, location, illness, and treatment. Expect more details after bellwether trial mediations.
JUNE 2, 2025 Parties file joint status report
- 3,145 lawsuits and 410,000 CLJA claims have been filed.
- 144,527 CLJA claims currently contain at least one supporting document, approximately 55,109 of those alleging an EO injury.
- Parties propose that Track 1 leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cases be tried before Judge Dever.
- Depositions of water contamination experts have been completed. PLG will take supplemental deposition of expert Remy Hennet.
- DOJ is trying to produce TRICARE, Medicare, and VA offsets for the Track 1 trial cases one year after fact discovery closed.
- Phase I expert depositions have been taken; Phase II scheduled; Phase III in process of being scheduled.
APRIL 23, 2025 Status report reveals number of claims with an “EO” injury
The latest joint status report reveals that out of 140,000 claims submitted with at least one supporting document, only 18,000 list injuries covered by the “Elective Option” (EO). This number does not mean all qualify under EO, just that the claim form lists an EO injury.
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Leukemia
- Parkinson’s disease
- Bladder cancer
- End stage renal disease
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma
- Systemic scleroderma
MARCH 13, 2025 EDNC judge’s order offers glimmer of hope
The Plaintiff Leadership is preparing 25 cases for the first round of bellwether trials; all other cases remain stayed. Expert discovery for the bellwether cases runs through October 2025, with pre-trial motions to follow.
The EDNC Judges issued a Notice discussing settlement status. Special Masters and Magistrate Judge Gates are working with parties to develop a questionnaire to use with a settlement matrix. Bellwether mediations for the 25 cases will occur in summer 2025.
FEBRUARY 10, 2025 EPA to ban TCE and PCE chemicals
The EPA announced plans to ban TCE and PCE chemicals—contaminants prevalent at Camp Lejeune. TCE contaminated the Tarawa Terrace water system; PCE contaminated Hadnot Point. The ban is long overdue given the harm to victims.
JANUARY 5, 2025 Court extends expert discovery and motion practice deadlines
The PLG and DOJ filed a joint motion to extend expert disclosure and related motion deadlines. The Court granted the motion. The tail end of expert motion practice is October 31, 2025; bellwether trials in 2025 look increasingly unlikely.
DECEMBER 13, 2024 The Navy’s claims portal is a mess
The Navy’s online portal asks claimants to upload documents. In practice, it often flags documents as “not substantiated” to delay evaluation. This process effectively delays claim evaluation and meaningful settlement activity until after bellwether trials.
NOVEMBER 12, 2024 General litigation update
The litigation involves over 500,000 administrative claims. First track of 25 bellwether trials expected in 2025. Expert discovery ongoing; Daubert challenges may affect which cases proceed. Bellwether trials will be divided into four phases (water contamination, general causation, specific causation, damages).
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Read Our Blog To Stay InformedContact a North Carolina Camp Lejeune Lawyer Near Me for Help
At Fob James Law Firm, our job is to help you to the best of our ability and fight for you. If you’ve suffered an injury as a result of exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you should contact us immediately.
We can determine if you are eligible to file a claim or not. It won’t cost you anything to speak with us.
Additionally, you’ll never pay us anything until we successfully settle or win your case in court. Our North Carolina Camp Lejeune water contamination attorneys are experienced, dedicated, and they truly care about you.
We treat all of our clients exactly how we would want our own family members to be treated. Contact us right now at 866-837-1010 or set up a free case evaluation so we can help you.
Fob James Law Firm is affiliated with Foster Law and James Foster, member of the North Carolina bar.