For decades, families of service members at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune have been drinking water contaminated with toxic industrial chemicals. Today, the fight for justice continues, and if you or someone you love has been affected, there are steps you can take in 2026 to seek justice.
What Happened at Camp Lejeune?
From August 1953 to December 1987, drinking water at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina was contaminated with dangerous levels of industrial solvents. The main contaminants included trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene, benzene and vinyl chloride.
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These chemicals are linked to cancer, neurological diseases and other serious health conditions. Approximately one million Marines, Navy personnel and civilian workers and their families were exposed to these chemicals before the contamination became public knowledge.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act: What It Did
In August 2022, Congress passed the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. This act includes Section 804, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA), which for the first time clears longstanding legal barriers and creates a federal pathway for eligible individuals to file compensation claims against the US government.
The deadline for filing new administrative claims under the CLJA is August 10, 2024. As of that date, the Navy has received more than 408,000 claims and more than 3,700 individuals have since filed lawsuits under federal law.
What Can Still Happen in 2026?
The deadline to file a new claim has passed, but the legal process is still ongoing. In fact, for most claimants, the most significant developments are yet to come. Here are some of the remaining open issues:
1. Federal Lawsuits for Claimants Who Were Denied or Unresolved
Under the CLJA, if your administrative claim has been denied or the government has failed to resolve it within six months, you have the right to file a civil lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The six-month period starts from the date of the denial. If your case is still pending and unresolved, it is crucial to consult an attorney immediately in order to protect your right to pursue legal action.
2. The Elective Option (EO) Settlement Program
The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Navy have established the Elective Option (EO), a settlement track that assumes a causal link between exposure to certain substances and qualifying illnesses. This eliminates the need for claimants to independently prove causation, and allows for faster resolution of claims.
Settlement amounts are based on the severity of illness and the duration of exposure. As of April 2026, the DOJ has reported settlement offers exceeding $794 million, with over $543 million already paid out to claimants. If you receive an EO offer, you have 60 days to accept or reject it. Rejecting the offer preserves your right to continue litigation.
3. Bellwether Trials Scheduled for 2026
Approximately 24 important cases covering bladder cancer, kidney cancer, leukemia, Parkinson’s disease and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are scheduled for trial in federal court in 2026. These significant cases will help establish compensation standards for hundreds of thousands of outstanding claims still pending.
4. VA Disability Benefits – No Deadline
In addition to the CLJA litigation, the VA provides disability benefits and healthcare for eligible veterans who served at Camp Lejeune and developed presumptive conditions. There is no deadline for filing a VA disability claim. Conditions that qualify for benefits include adult leukemia, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, aplastic anemia, Parkinson’s disease and neurobehavioral effects. It’s important to note that receiving a VA rating for disability will not prevent you from pursuing a CLJA settlement, although it may affect the final amount of compensation.
Who Qualifies?
The basic eligibility criteria for the CLJA state that a person must:
- Have lived, worked, or served at Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station New River for at least 30 days in total between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987.
- Have been diagnosed with a qualifying illness that is linked to exposure to contaminated water.
- Not have received a previous court judgment against them for the same injury.
Exposure in utero is important. Surviving family members and representatives of the estate may also file claims for wrongful death on behalf of those who have passed away after developing a qualifying condition.
How Tabak Law Can Help
At Tabak Law, we understand that every case has a real person behind it who is facing a difficult situation – whether it’s due to disability, injury, or some other life-altering challenge. Our goal is simple: to help our clients transition from hardship to hope, by delivering results with compassion, integrity, and unparalleled legal expertise.
If you or a family member was exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and has been diagnosed with a serious illness, please contact Tabak Law for a free, no-obligation case review. Schedule a free consultation today to discuss your options.
