Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuits
For more than three decades, the water supply at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina was contaminated with toxic chemicals. The filing period for new claims has closed.
What Happened at Camp Lejeune?
From the 1950s through 1987, the drinking water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina was contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at levels far exceeding safe limits. The primary contaminants — trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride — entered the base water supply through leaking underground storage tanks, industrial spills, and an off-base dry cleaning facility. All four chemicals are known or probable human carcinogens.
The contamination affected an estimated one million or more Marines, Navy personnel, civilian employees, and family members who lived or worked on the base during the affected period. Despite internal awareness of the contamination as early as the 1980s, the Marine Corps did not shut down the contaminated wells until 1985 and did not fully disclose the extent of the problem to those who had been exposed for many years afterward.
Filing Period Closed
The courts have closed the filing period for this litigation. We are no longer accepting new clients for Camp Lejeune claims. If you have a question about an existing matter, please contact our office.
The PACT Act and Camp Lejeune Justice Act
For decades, veterans and families who suffered illnesses linked to Camp Lejeune's contaminated water were barred from suing the federal government under North Carolina's statute of repose. In August 2022, President Biden signed the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act into law. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act — a key provision of the PACT Act — created a two-year window for eligible individuals to file claims against the United States government for harm caused by the contaminated water.
The Department of the Navy closed the portal to new Camp Lejeune Justice Act claims on August 10, 2024, and cannot grant extensions. New civil claims under the CLJA are no longer accepted.
Eligible veterans and their families may still be able to seek relief through VA disability benefits and VA health care. For information on VA benefits related to Camp Lejeune service, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at va.gov.
Illnesses Linked to Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
Bladder Cancer
Benzene and other VOCs in the Camp Lejeune water supply are strongly associated with bladder cancer. The VA has recognized bladder cancer as a presumptive condition for Camp Lejeune veterans.
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Exposure to benzene and chlorinated solvents has been linked to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The VA recognizes this as a presumptive condition for those with qualifying Camp Lejeune exposure.
Kidney Cancer
TCE and PCE — two of the primary contaminants — are classified as probable human carcinogens with a well-established link to renal cell carcinoma and other kidney cancers.
Leukemia
Benzene is a known cause of leukemia, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The VA recognizes leukemia as a presumptive condition for qualifying Camp Lejeune exposures.
Parkinson's Disease
TCE exposure has been linked to Parkinson's disease in multiple studies. The VA recognizes Parkinson's disease as a presumptive condition for Camp Lejeune veterans with qualifying exposure.
Breast Cancer
Studies of Camp Lejeune veterans and family members have found elevated rates of breast cancer, including in male veterans — a rare condition strongly associated with toxic chemical exposure.
Liver Cancer
TCE and vinyl chloride are hepatotoxic carcinogens associated with hepatocellular carcinoma and other liver cancers in individuals with prolonged exposure.
Neurobehavioral Effects
Children born to mothers who were pregnant while living at Camp Lejeune have shown elevated rates of childhood cancers, neural tube defects, and neurobehavioral conditions.
Other Serious Conditions
Additional conditions linked to Camp Lejeune exposure include multiple myeloma, aplastic anemia, miscarriage, infertility, scleroderma, and neurobehavioral effects in adults.