Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Verdicts

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act opened up a path for people to file administrative claims to potentially receive compensation for their injuries. Some people have received Camp Lejeune payouts through the Elective Option, but no lawsuits have been decided yet.

Qualifying people who were rejected for compensation or didn’t receive a decision regarding their administrative claims within six months of filing are now filing Camp Lejeune cases in North Carolina federal court. 

To help those harmed by the Camp Lejeune water contamination, Congress passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) as part of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (the PACT Act). 

This legislation was passed to help compensate people, and families of people, who developed diseases related to their time at Camp Lejeune. But not all claimants were satisfied with the decision they received, and others didn’t receive a decision at all. Lawsuits remain a way for some victims to potentially collect compensation for diseases connected with Camp Lejeune.

Camp Lejeune case criteria

People eligible to file a Camp Lejeune case must meet the criteria listed below. These individuals:

• Were exposed at Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987
• Or, were exposed “in utero” to toxic Camp Lejeune water (their mother was pregnant with them at the time of her exposure)
• Did not receive a dishonorable discharge from military service
• Were diagnosed with one or more of the following conditions:
  • Adult leukemia
  • Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
  • Bladder cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Renal toxicity

More than 2,000 plaintiffs have filed civil Camp Lejeune lawsuits in United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina — the exclusive jurisdiction and venue for CLJA cases. No cases have gone to trial yet, so there are no Camp Lejeune verdicts or resolutions in any of the lawsuits yet. 

The district court is also in the process of identifying cases to serve as bellwether trials, which will function as test cases for the remaining trials. The cases selected for Camp Lejeune bellwether trials will allow plaintiffs and defendants to see how judges respond to their arguments.

The court decided that the first track of cases will involve people diagnosed with: 

• Bladder cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Leukemia
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Parkinson’s disease 

This page will be updated as more news about Camp Lejeune lawsuit verdicts and resolutions becomes available.

Anticipated Camp Lejeune payouts

Camp Lejeune “payouts” can refer to several ways of receiving money:

• VA benefits claims: Monthly compensation the VA pays to injured or disabled veterans. Historically, the VA has denied many claims for Camp Lejeune injuries.
• Elective Option (EO) settlements: Voluntary settlements offered by the Department of Justice (DOJ), based on a tier system. Some legal experts believe the EO settlements are insufficient for the injuries people experienced.
• Settlement in response to CLJA claim: Compensation offered in response to a person’s initial claim filed with the DOJ and Department of the Navy (DON). Many of these claims have not been responded to.
• Lawsuit verdict or settlement: A judge or jury’s formal decision that concludes a trial. Verdicts can be appealed, but they’re still an important milestone in any civil or criminal court case.

It’s difficult to say what verdicts the judges hearing the Camp Lejeune cases may reach. However, the bellwether trials might indicate how judges will rule on subsequent cases.

The court has recently reached an important decision for how the trials will proceed. First, the court ruled that Camp Lejeune plaintiffs aren’t entitled to a jury trial. Instead, judges in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina will render verdicts in these lawsuits. This type of trial is called a “bench trial.”

What is the status of the Camp Lejeune litigation?

More than 550,000 CLJA claims were filed with the Department of the Navy prior to the August deadline. As of December 2024, the U.S. government had made settlement offers to only 145 Camp Lejeune victims. More than 2,000 plaintiffs have filed civil suits. No Camp Lejeune cases have gone to trial yet.

Has anyone received any money from Camp Lejeune lawsuits?

No, no one has received a Camp Lejeune verdict — yet. It’s hard to estimate how much a successful Camp Lejeune toxic water verdict could result in. Some people have received money from the Elective Option settlement (ranging from $100,000 to $550,000). The federal government has also settled 80 claims, which totaled $38.35 million in payments.

Is taking the CLJA Elective Option a good idea?

The Navy and the Department of Justice (DOJ) offered a fast-tracked Elective Option payout. These settlement offers granted $100,000 to $550,000 for certain conditions, without going to a jury trial. However, some knowledgeable attorneys, such as Motley Rice co-founder Joe Rice, considered the fast-tracked settlement insufficient. If you have concerns about the Elective Option, request a consultation with a Motley Rice lawyer involved in the Camp Lejeune lawsuits. 

Motley Rice is proud to represent veterans, military workers and their families. We’ve litigated matters involving:

• 3M earplugs and hearing loss
• EFP roadside bombs manufactured by terrorists
• Exposure to asbestos and other toxic materials
• Exposure to toxins released from burn pits at military facilities

Our law firm has the experience to file your claim, litigate your case, and negotiate for a Camp Lejeune settlement or argue your case to verdict.

Read more on our work in support of veterans.