Lawsuit Update Center
From the early 1950s to the later 1980s, the Marine Corps base at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina provided residents and employees with drinking water that was heavily contaminated with toxic chemicals.
Extensive scientific research has revealed that the poisoned water supply at Camp Lejeune had a devastating impact on the long-term health of base residents, who have suffered significantly higher rates of birth defects, cancer, and neurological conditions.
Our lawyers are not taking new clients in this litigation. The purpose of this page is to give you the latest update in the Camp Lejeune litigation and to answer what we think are some of your key questions.
The Latest Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Update
February 2025
Case Filings & Dismissals: Over 2,450 cases have been filed under the CLJA, with 103 dismissals. Case assignments remain balanced among the four presiding judges.
Administrative Claims & Settlement Discussions: The Department of the Navy is currently processing 408,000 administrative claims and rolling out an upgraded Claims Management Portal to streamline filings. This number keeps falling, thankfully. Approximately 6,000 claims meet the criteria for early settlement under the Elective Option, with the Navy working to expedite review.
Trial Framework & Legal Disputes:
- The Parties remain divided on proof requirements for water contamination and general causation.
- Track 1 cases involving Leukemia and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma will be tried under Judge Dever.
- The scope of Phase I hearings remains under discussion, with both sides seeking guidance from the Court.
Discovery & Expert Disputes:
- The PLG has completed multiple expert designations.
- The United States is reviewing Phase II expert reports and may challenge compliance.
- Independent Medical Exams (IMEs) continue to be a point of contention, particularly regarding timing and scope.
Overview of Camp Lejeune Military Base
The U.S. Marine Corps base and training facility at Camp Lejeune is one of the largest military installations in the country. Covering an area of 151,000 acres at the mouth of the New River on the Carolina coast, Camp Lejeune is currently home to the Marine Special Operations Command and the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force.
Lejeune has been a base of operations and barracks for the USMC since 1942. The base has two residential areas that feature on-site military housing (including housing for officers with families) for longer-term residents and barracks for short terms assignments. These residential accommodations are supported by daycares, schools, and recreational facilities. There is also a hospital and dental center on the base.
Lejeune is home to roughly 40,000 active-duty personnel and 50,000 dependents at any given time. It is estimated that between 1950 and 1990, over 1 million people lived or worked on the grounds at Camp Lejeune. This population was relatively young and mostly male. About 60% of the Lejeune personnel and dependents were between the ages of 15 and 25, and 75% were male.
Camp Lejeune Lawsuit: Settlement Updates & Key Information for 2025
What is the current status of the Camp Lejeune lawsuit?
How many Camp Lejeune claims have been filed?
Has anyone received a Camp Lejeune settlement?
When will the Camp Lejeune lawsuit be settled?
What are the expected Camp Lejeune settlement amounts?
The highest Camp Lejeune settlement amounts are expected to go to cancer victims, their families, and individuals with Parkinson’s disease claims. Initially, we estimated that settlements for Parkinson’s disease cases could range between $1 million and $1.5 million per claimant. However, the actual payouts under the Elective Option have fallen short of those projections. Additionally, the (hopefully temporary) loss of the right to a jury trial has likely lowered the overall expected settlement averages. While our initial estimates may have been too optimistic, our attorneys still anticipate that some claimants will receive compensation offers approaching seven figures.
Settlement amounts will vary significantly from case to case. Rather than a flat payout for all claimants, the compensation structure will likely involve a complex point-based system that accounts for various factors, ensuring that those who have suffered the most receive higher settlement amounts.
How can I check the status of my Camp Lejeune claim?
What illnesses qualify for Camp Lejeune settlements?
The list of qualifying illnesses for Camp Lejeune lawsuits includes several serious and life-threatening conditions that have been scientifically linked to prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals in the base’s water supply. These illnesses primarily stem from exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride—highly toxic substances that contaminated the water at Camp Lejeune for decades.
The conditions that may qualify for compensation under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) and related settlement programs include:
Cancers Linked to Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
- Leukemia – This cancer affects the blood and bone marrow and has been strongly linked to benzene exposure, a key contaminant found in the water at Camp Lejeune.
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma – A cancer of the lymphatic system, often connected to exposure to industrial solvents and chemicals like TCE and PCE.
- Bladder Cancer – Studies have shown that exposure to TCE and PCE increases the risk of bladder cancer, particularly among individuals with prolonged exposure.
- Kidney Cancer – Strongly associated with TCE exposure, kidney cancer is one of the most common diagnoses among veterans and residents exposed to Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water.
- Liver Cancer – The liver processes toxins in the body, making it especially vulnerable to damage from chemicals like vinyl chloride and benzene.
Neurological Disorders
- Parkinson’s Disease – One of the most widely studied conditions related to Camp Lejeune water exposure, Parkinson’s disease has been linked to prolonged exposure to TCE and other solvents, which damage dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. Individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s after living or working at Camp Lejeune may qualify for significant compensation.
Other Life-Threatening or Debilitating Conditions
- Multiple Myeloma – A cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow, associated with benzene exposure.
- Esophageal Cancer – Linked to chronic exposure to solvents and industrial chemicals like those found at Camp Lejeune.
- Breast Cancer – While commonly associated with genetic factors, research suggests that environmental toxins, such as those in the Camp Lejeune water supply, may contribute to an increased risk of breast cancer in both men and women.
- Lung Cancer – Smoking is a major risk factor, but chemical exposure, particularly to benzene and vinyl chloride, has also been linked to lung cancer development.
- Hepatic Steatosis (Fatty Liver Disease) – Linked to exposure to industrial solvents and chemical toxins that affect liver function.
Birth Defects and Conditions Affecting Children
- Neural Tube Defects – These birth defects affect the brain and spinal cord and have been linked to maternal exposure to toxic chemicals during pregnancy.
- Cardiac Birth Defects – Studies have shown a correlation between exposure to TCE and congenital heart defects in newborns.
- Low Birth Weight & Miscarriages – Exposure to harmful chemicals during pregnancy has been associated with a higher risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and low birth weight.
Autoimmune Disorders and Other Health Conditions
- Aplastic Anemia & Other Bone Marrow Disorders – Conditions where the body fails to produce enough new blood cells, often linked to benzene exposure.
- Scleroderma – A chronic autoimmune disease affecting the skin and connective tissues, associated with exposure to industrial solvents.
- Renal Toxicity – Chronic kidney disease and other renal dysfunctions have been linked to exposure to TCE and PCE.
What is the latest update on Camp Lejeune bellwether trials?
Are Camp Lejeune settlements taxable?
What should claimants do while waiting for a settlement?
Camp Lejeune’s Poisoned Water Supply
The residential areas at Camp Lejeune are serviced with drinking water by two water-supply systems: (1) the Hadnot Point Water System and (2) the Tarawa Terrance Water System. Both of these systems used a series of water-supply wells to collect groundwater which was pumped to a treatment plant and then delivered to the base.
In the early 1980s, new federal environmental laws and regulations were enacted, requiring the Marine Corps to test the drinking water supply at Lejeune. This initial testing revealed, for the first time, that both of the residential water supply systems at Lejeune were delivering drinking water with critically high levels of harmful chemicals.
It was determined that water at Lejeune contained 3 harmful chemicals: Trichloroethylene (TCE), Perchloroethylene (PCE), Perchloroethylene (PCE), and benzene. The polluted water at Camp Lejeune was servicing the heart of the base’s residential areas, including family housing, schools, barracks, administrative offices, and the base hospital.
When the water contamination was the first discovery at Lejeune, the findings were reported to the USMC officers in positions of authority at the base. However, these reports were ignored, and the USMC took no immediate action to address the water issue. It would not be until several years later that the contaminated water supply was addressed.
Chemicals in the Lejeune Water Supply
The early testing results of the water supply at Camp Lejeune identified over 70 chemicals at more than 240 to 3400 times the maximum safe levels set by health agencies. Among these were 3 specific industrial chemicals that are known to be very harmful to the human body:
- Trichloroethylene (TCE): TCE is a strong metal degreaser and solvent widely used for cleaning ordinance, weapons, military equipment, and machinery.
- Perchloroethylene (PCE): PCE is another chemical cleaning solvent mostly used for dry cleaning garments.
- Benzene: benzene is a natural component of crude oil with several commercial applications.
The PCE contamination in one of the water supply wells at Lejeune was caused by a commercial dry-cleaning business called ABC One-Hour Cleaners, which operated just off-base near the supply well. The ABC dry cleaner business used PCE in its operations and improperly disposed of it by dumping it out back, which is how it got into the groundwater.
The source of the benzene and TCE contamination was less direct. Both of these chemicals were regularly used on the base for weapon and equipment maintenance, and they were often dumped into the ground or improperly disposed of. Over the years, these chemicals were poured directly into the ground or stored in metal drums that eventually rusted and leaked.
Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune Caused Cancer
All 3 of the hazardous chemicals that were poisoning the water at Camp Lejeune for almost 4 decades are known to be toxic and have been shown to cause specific types of cancer, birth defects, neurologic disorders, and other adverse health consequences. Medical research has concluded that chronic exposure to PCE, TCE, and benzene can cause significantly higher rates of certain types of cancer, including:
- Breast cancer
- Leukemia
- Bladder cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Lung cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Other adverse health effects and diseases have also been linked to TCE and PCE exposure. These include aplastic anemia (and other myelodysplastic syndromes) and neurologic disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.
Birth Defects from Camp Lejeune Water Supply
Exposure to chemicals such as TCE, PCE, and benzene during pregnancy has resulted in abnormally high rates of certain types of birth defects. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) performed a retrospective study on the rate of birth defects in pregnant women who lived at Camp Lejeune from 1968 to 1985.
Birth defect rates in mothers who lived at Camp Lejeune were compared to the rate of birth defects in pregnant women who lived at Camp Pendleton (another military base in California), where the water supply has never been contaminated. Neural tube defects were five times more likely in children with gestational exposure to the contaminated water at Lejeune. This was clear evidence that the contaminated water at Lejeune was causing higher rates of neural tube birth defects (e.g., spinal bifida).
Law Allows Camp Lejeune Victims to Get Compensation
Although the water contamination at Camp Lejeune impacted thousands of lives, these victims have never been able to get justice or compensation. A law in North Carolina known as a “statute of repose” imposes a strict 10-year limit on how long someone can wait before filing a civil lawsuit.
North Carolina’s statute of repose has effectively blocked all lawsuits brought by Lejeune victims seeking financial compensation. In 2016, an MDL involving numerous cases brought by former Camp Lejeune residents was dismissed based on the North Carolina repose statute.
Congress addressed this situation with a new law, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (“CLJA”), that gives Camp Lejeune victims the right to bring civil lawsuits. The CLJA was incorporated into a large bill called the Honoring Our Pact Act (HOPA) that was signed into law six months ago.
