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 Camp Lejeune Lawyer in Washington D.C. 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 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 Lawsuit In D.C.?
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 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 866-837-1010 for a free consultation and case analysis by our Washington DC 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 In Washington DC 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
For the latest news on the Camp Lejeune lawsuit, visit our blog. We update the litigation blog every week or month to give you the most recent information available.
April 23, 2025 – Status Report Reveals Number of Claims With An “EO” Injury
The latest joint status report filed by the Plaintiff leadership and DOJ reveals that out of the 140,000 claims that have been submitted with at least one supporting document, only 18,000 of those claims list injuries covered by the “Elective Option”. This does not mean all 18,000 claims qualify under the EO (e.g., 35 year latency requirement, date of diagnosis issues), just that the claim form lists an EO injury.
The significance is that out of those 140,000 claims, only 18,000 list at least one of the following the following diseases:
- kidney cancer
- liver cancer
- leukemia
- parkinson’s disease
- bladder cancer
- End stage renal disease
- non-hodgkin’s lymphoma
- multiple myleoma
- systemic scleroderma
This is a much smaller number than we expected. It also begs the question the DOJ/Navy is not trying to settle these 18,000 claims.
March 13, 2025 – EDNC Judge’s Order Offers Glimmer of Hope
The overall status of the Camp Lejeune litigation is unchanged from what we blogged back in November. The Plaintiff Leadership is working up 25 cases for the first round of bellwether trials. Pending those trials, all other cases are currently “stayed”. Right now, the parties are conducting expert discovery in the bellwether cases through October 2025. After that, the parties will file pre-trial motions to litigate remaining legal and expert discovery related issues. We do not think the bellwether trials will begin until 2026.
However, the Judges in the EDNC entered a “Notice” yesterday discussing the overall status of the Camp Lejeune litigation. In that Notice, the Judges shared information regarding settlement that we believe is a positive development. Back in 2024, the Court appointed two Settlement Masters and Magistrate Judge Gates to work with the parties on achieving a global settlement matrix. Not much information has been revealed regarding the status of global settlement discussions until now. According to the EDNC Judges, the Special Masters and Magistrate are working with the parties to develop a questionnaire to use in conjunction with a settlement matrix. The bellwether mediations for the 25 bellwether cases will occur in the summer of 2025. The Court’s goal is for the parties to agree to a global matrix-style settlement and settlement process after the bellwether mediations. We have a bellwether case and will be at this mediation. We will likely have more information about the status of settlement discussions at the mediation.
Please note that despite what you may read, there is no global settlement or process that has been agreed to. Furthermore, even if there is an agreed upon settlement process in the future, we do not know any details or what the settlement process may look like (e.g., the qualifying criteria; settlement amounts, etc.). Also, keep in mind that the parties may not agree to a global settlement matrix after the bellwether mediations. If so, the next phase of the litigation will be the first round of bellwether trials, likely in 2026.
February 10, 2025 – EPA To Ban TCE and PCE Chemicals
It only took decades, but the EPA announced plans to ban TCE and PCE chemicals. These chemicals were prevalent at Camp Lejeune and caused immeasurable damage to hundreds of thousands of victims.
TCE, in particular, contaminated the water system at Tarawa Terrace. PCE contaminated the Hadnot Point water system. Frankly, the ban is long overdue.
January 5, 2025 – Court Extends Expert Discovery and Motion Practice Deadlines
The PLG and DOJ filed a joint motion asking the Court to extend the deadlines for expert disclosures and related motion practice. The Court granted the motion and entered an Order setting new deadlines below:
The tail end of expert motion practice is October 31, 2025. After that date, the Court will rule on pending motions.
Based on these deadlines, it is looking increasingly unlikely that the Bellwether trials will start in 2025.
I’m sure you’ve read about the Navy’s online portal and how they are asking claimants to upload documents so their claims can be “reviewed”. The Navy makes it sound like they are evaluating claims to make settlement offers. This is not true. We have not seen or heard of settlement offers being made outside of the very narrow EO.
What they are really doing is finding stuff “wrong” with claim documents in order to delay the claim evaluation process. Once the Navy gets documents, they will come back and say the claim cannot be substantiated for a myriad of reasons. Below are common excuses used by the Navy to say “claim not substantiated”.
- “we will only accept certified copies of medical records” (note that for many claimants these records no longer exist);
- “we can’t read the seal or stamp on your document” (e.g., Letters of Administration, Birth Certificate, etc.)
- “the DD214 doesn’t specify the time spent at Camp Lejuene or housing records”
In many cases, the government has the military and housing records in their possession, but they will not give them to us. Suffice it to say, this entire process is a game.
As we’ve said before, we do not think there will be a real claim evaluation or settlement process until after a number of belwether trials. The only way cases are going to get resolved is if there is a negotiated settlement process.
November 13, 2024 – General Update on the Camp Lejeune Litigation
Below is a general overview of the current state of the Camp Lejeune litigation as of November 2024.
I. Timing
The Camp Lejeune toxic water litigation involves over 500,000 administrative claims. The significant number of claims, coupled with the fact that the defendant is the US government, means this litigation will likely be going on for a very long time.
The first track of “bellwether” test trials are still expected to take place in 2025. There are a total of 25 cases going to trial. Our hope is that after the first round of bellwether trials are complete, the government will begin making reasonable settlement offers.
II. Expert Discovery
The Court has ruled that plaintiffs have the burden of proof on general and specific causation. In order to prove causation, plaintiffs rely on expert testimony. The parties are actively engaged in “expert” discovery. This includes working with water contamination experts, medical experts/doctors, etc. Plaintiffs have the burden of proof on causation, Later this year, the parties will exchange expert reports and take depositions of each expert.
After expert reports are exchanged, there will likely be “Daubert” challenges, in which the Court will rule on the admissibility of each expert’s testimony and opinions. The Daubert rulings could have an impact on which cases are allowed to move forward in the litigation, and that is something that we will definitely keep you informed of when the time comes.
Plaintiffs’ general causation expert reports are currently due in December 2024 and Plaintiffs’ specific causation experts are currently due in January 2024. Daubert rulings will likely take place in early to mid 2025 prior to the bellwether trials.
III. Trial Framework
The Judges have ruled that the 25 bellwether trials will be divided into four phases:
- Phase 1 is the “water contamination” phase,
- Phase 2 is “general causation”,
- Phase 3 is “specific causation”, and
- Phase 4 is “damages.”
The parties are still working on resolving exactly what evidence will be presented in each phase of trial, but the general framework of each phase is summarized below.
During the “water contamination” phase of trial, the parties will present evidence on the levels of water contamination at Camp Lejeune from 1953 to 1987 and the Court will make a determination on what chemicals were in the water at that time. The plaintiffs will also present evidence on the various pathways of exposure (for example, drinking, showering, inhalation, etc.) during this phase of trial.
Second, during the “general causation” phase of trial, the plaintiffs will be required to prove that a particular type of harm (for example, kidney cancer) can generally be caused by the toxic water exposure to a degree of scientific certainty.
Third, during the “specific causation” phase of trial, the plaintiffs must prove that their specific injuries (for example, that particular plaintiff’s kidney cancer) was caused by the toxic water exposure to a reasonable degree of scientific certainty.
Finally, during the “damages” phase of trial, the plaintiffs will present evidence on the damages suffered as a result of the toxic water exposure. This includes, but is not limited to, pain and suffering, lost wages, medical bills, etc. or, for wrongful death cases, the lost value of your loved one’s life.
Related: Read Our Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Blog for Prior Updates
Contact a Camp Lejeune Lawyer Near Me In Washington DC
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 Washington DC 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.