Lawsuit Information Center
Our lawyers are handling Camp Lejeune cancer lawsuits in all 50 states. This page is about Marines and their families who developed cancer due to exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
Our attorneys discuss the likely jury awards and settlement amounts in these lawsuits and we talk about at the bottom of this page about the government’s settlement offer in this case (and why most – but not all – plaintiffs should reject that offer).
Our Camp Lejeune lawyers can help you maximize the settlement amount you received for your claim. You can contact us online to discuss your case or get a free consultation at 800-553-8082.
The Water at Camp Lejeune Caused Cancer
From the early 1950s to the late 1980s, the drinking water supply at the Camp Lejeune Marine Corps base in North Carolina was heavily contaminated with toxic, carcinogenic chemicals.
After the contamination and its extent became public, the Department of Defense and other branches of the federal government performed extensive testing and conducted numerous scientific studies to determine what impact the contaminated water had on the long-term health of base residents and employees.
These studies have determined that individuals exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune may be at higher risk of developing certain types of cancer.
In this post, our attorneys look at the studies and evidence linking these cancers to Camp Lejeune and what you can expect as compensation if you bring a Camp Lejeune cancer lawsuit.
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Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
Between 1953 and 1987, the U.S. Marine Corps base at Camp Lejeune provided residents and employees with drinking water heavily contaminated with industrial chemicals. Specifically, the water supply at Camp Lejeune during this period contained trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE). The PCE and TCE levels in the Lejeune water were thousands of times higher than the maximum safe limits set by the EPA. It was later disclosed that the water at Camp Lejeune was also contaminated with benzene.
It is estimated that over 1 million people lived or worked on the Camp Lejeune base during the 34-year period in which the water supply was believed to be contaminated. These individuals include former marines and their families who lived on the base in short- and long-term housing facilities. They also include civilian employees who worked at Lejeune.
The chemicals contaminating the water at Camp Lejeune (TCE, PCE, and benzene) are all known to be toxic to humans and animals. They are also known or suspected carcinogens and have been linked to higher cancer rates in animal testing.
ATSDR Study on Health Effects of Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is a federal health agency that operates as part of the CDC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The ATSDR often functions as the investigation branch of the CDC and HHS, researching emerging health and environmental threats.
After discovering the decades-long water contamination issue at the Camp Lejeune military base, the federal government came under intense pressure from veterans and various advocacy groups. In response, the ATSDR was tasked with conducting comprehensive research and testing to evaluate the potential health implications of the water contamination at Lejeune.
Over the last two decades, ATSDR has concluded several major retrospective studies to assess the impact that the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Studies conducted by ATSDR involving Camp Lejeune have included 2 mortality studies on the military personnel and civilian employees at Camp Lejeune and a Cancer Incidence Study.
The mortality studies were conducted to evaluate whether exposure to the water at Camp Lejeune was linked to increased rates of death from specific cancers and other diseases. The study examined medical records and identified causes of death from over 4,600 civilian employees and 150,000 military personnel who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune during the contamination period.
Studies Link Water at Camp Lejeune to Cancer
The ATSDR mortality studies into the health impact of the contaminated drinking water at Lejeune examined the death healthcare records from nearly 200,000 former employees and Marine personnel who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune during the period of contamination. The study collected data from these records to identify the causes of death for these individuals.
Camp Pendleton Versus Lejeune Study
The study also examined similar cause of death data for a control group of about the same number of individuals who lived or worked at Camp Pendleton, a military base in California. Camp Pendleton was selected as the control group because the base residents had almost identical demographics compared to the Camp Lejeune population. In addition, the drinking water supply at Camp Pendleton was not contaminated during the relevant period when the drinking water was contaminated at Camp Lejeune.
The results of the agency for toxic substances study into the mortality impact of the contamination at Camp Lejeune were published in 2014 in the journal Environmental Health. The study revealed that individuals who were exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune had higher mortality rates for several different types of cancer. In the sections below, we will look briefly at the findings of the agency for toxic substances study at Camp Lejeune for each of these.
Tier I and Tier II Camp Lejeune Cancers
Cancers related to the water contamination at Camp Lejeune have been ranked into tiers based on the strength of the scientific causation evidence linking that particular cancer type to the Lejeune water. Tier I includes those cancer types with the strongest, most compelling level of scientific evidence supporting their connection to Camp Lejeune. Tier II includes those cancer types that can be linked to the Camp Lejeune water contamination based on at least one epidemiological study, but the evidence is not as definitive as Tier I.
Kidney Cancer Linked to Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
Based on existing evidence, kidney cancer seems to have the strongest link to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The overall occurrence rate for kidney cancer among former residents and employees at Camp Lejeune was 2-3 times higher compared to the control group. For those study participants who had the most significant exposure to the TCE/PCE contaminants in the water (i.e., people who worked or lived at the base for the longest periods), however, the rate of kidney cancer death was 41 times higher compared to the control group.
The study concluded that exposure to the water at Camp Lejeune caused an increased risk of not only kidney cancer but other chronic kidney diseases. The study found that this finding was also supported by evidence from other studies. Around 80,000 cases of kidney cancer are diagnosed each year, making it the 8th most common type of cancer.
The scientific evidence linking kidney cancer to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is very strong. Based on the strength of this causation evidence, kidney cancer is considered one of the diseases that is presumptively linked to the Camp Lejeune water. Learn more about Camp Lejeune kidney cancer lawsuits.
Settlement Amounts for Camp Lejeune Kidney Cancer Cases
Based on the average awards in these cancer misdiagnosis cases, we believe that successful Camp Lejeune cases involving kidney cancer will have a settlement value of $150,000-$200,000. Kidney cancer is very treatable and has a very high 5-year survival rate which puts it at the lower end of the settlement payout scale. If both kidneys are impacted, that is a different story and the settlement compensation payout is likely to be much higher.
How much are Camp Lejeune kidney cancer cases worth?
Bladder Cancer Linked to Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
In addition to kidney cancer and disease, the ATSDR studies found strong evidence to indicate that the contaminated drinking water in Camp Lejeune was associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. The rate of death from bladder cancer among Camp Lejeune personnel and employees was almost three times higher compared to the control group.
The average annual number of new bladder cancer cases in the U.S. is around 82,000. This makes bladder cancer the 6th most common type of cancer in the U.S. The overall 5-year survival rate for bladder cancer is 77%.
The evidence connecting the Camp Lejeune water to bladder cancer is very strong. Camp Lejeune bladder cancer cases will be considered “Tier I” claims and will be more likely to settle.
- Learn more about Camp Lejeune bladder cancer lawsuits.
Settlement Amounts for Camp Lejeune Bladder Cancer Cases
Camp Lejeune water contamination claims involving bladder cancer may have a slightly higher estimated settlement value of $170,000-$220,000. Bladder cancer and kidney cancer are comparable in terms of treatment options and survival rates. The main difference is you have two kidneys but only one bladder which reduces the chances of more favorable outcomes.
How much are Camp Lejeune bladder cancer cases worth?
Liver Cancer Linked to Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
Studies by the ATSDR found compelling evidence indicating that the chemicals in the water at Camp Lejeune were associated with higher rates of liver cancer. Moreover, at least 3 epidemiological studies have found a connection between occupational exposure to TCE and vinyl chloride and liver cancer. The causation evidence for liver cancer is very strong, which is why it is ranked as a Tier I Camp Lejeune disease.
Around 41,000 new liver cancer cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year and about 30,000 people died from liver cancer annually. The 5-year survival rate for liver cancer of all stages is only 20%.
Settlement Amounts for Camp Lejeune Liver Cancer Cases
Camp Lejeune water contamination claims involving liver cancer may have a slightly higher estimated settlement value of $190-550,000. This settlement payout estimate is comparatively high mainly because liver cancer is so deadly.
Prostate Cancer Linked to Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
The ATSDR study found evidence to suggest that individuals with extensive exposure to the contaminated water at Lejeune were at increased risk of developing and dying from prostate cancer. The rate of prostate cancer among the Camp Lejeune study participants was significantly higher compared to the control group. Moreover, there was evidence showing a clear connection between the extent of exposure and reported cases of prostate cancer. Out of the 10 study participants who died from prostate cancer, 8 were classified as having “high” exposure levels.
Prostate cancer is the 3rd most common type of cancer in the U.S. Each year, an average of 165,000 new prostate cancer cases are diagnosed across the country. The general 5-year survival rate for prostate cancer is 98%.
- Learn more about Camp Lejeune prostate cancer lawsuits.
Prostate Cancer Cases May Have More Limited Settlement Payouts
Our firm is reviewing Camp Lejeune water contamination cases involving prostate cancer. But these are tougher claims. Although the ATSDR study identified prostate cancer as one of the cancer types that appeared to have a connection to the contaminated water, many Camp Lejeune lawyers are turning these cases down.
The primary reason is that, notwithstanding the findings of the ATSDR mortality survey, most tort lawyers believe that the Camp Lejeune settlement amounts for prostate cancer might be low because prostate cancer is so common in this age group of men that were subjected to this toxic water. Prostate cancer is extremely common and has been linked to so many different environmental factors. So it is harder to prove that one single factor was a substantial contributing cause.
Leukemia Linked to Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
The ATSDR study of Camp Lejeune residents and employees found evidence indicating that exposure to the contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune caused an increased risk of leukemia. There was also a clear relationship between the level of exposure and the incidence rate of leukemia deaths. 9 out of the 12 study participants who died from leukemia were categorized as having high levels of exposure to the contaminated water.
Leukemia (all types) accounts for an average of 60,000 new cancers diagnosed in the U.S. each year. This ranks leukemia as the 10th most common type of cancer. The 5-year survival rate for leukemia is 61%.
- Learn more about Camp Lejeune leukemia lawsuits.
Settlement Amounts for Camp Lejeune Leukemia Cases
Successful Camp Lejeune water lawsuits in which victims or family members can show that they developed leukemia as a result of exposure to the Camp Lejeune drinking water will have a higher settlement value.
The average settlement payout for Cap Lejeune leukemia claims will probably be around $190,000-$260,000. Leukemia has a lower 5-year survival rate than bladder and kidney cancer, which is one factor in projecting a higher per-person settlement amount.
How much are Camp Lejeune leukemia cases worth?
Breast Cancer Linked to Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
Public health studies determined that individuals (women and men) who worked or lived at Camp Lejeune and were exposed to contaminated water displayed increased rates of breast cancer. Studies outside of Camp Lejeune have also shown an association between breast cancer and occupational exposure to the types of industrial solvents (PCE and TCE) that were found in the Lejeune water supply.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S., but it has a relatively high survivability rate. We anticipate that Camp Lejeune breast cancer lawsuits could see per-person settlement amounts between $150,000 and $300,000.
- Learn more about Camp Lejeune breast cancer lawsuits.
Settlement Amounts for Camp Lejeune Breast Cancer Cases
Our lawyers anticipate that successful Camp Lejeune breast cancer cases could see average Camp Lejeune settlement compensation payouts between $150,000 and $350,000. The settlement value for individual Lejeune breast cancer cases will vary depending on what stage the breast cancer diagnosis and the outcome was. The plaintiff’s age and circumstances will also factor into the value of the case.
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Linked to Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
Public health studies have determined that Lejeune employees and residents displayed significantly higher rates of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and other blood cancers compared to a control group. The studies concluded that there was is a clear link between the Lejeune water and NHL. NHL is considered a Tier I Camp Lejeune disease, meaning it has the strongest level of scientific causation evidence.
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is the 7th most common type of cancer in the U.S. About 80,000 new cases of NHL are diagnosed annually. The overall 5-year survival rate for this cancer is 84%.
- Learn more about Camp Lejeune non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma lawsuits.
Settlement Amounts for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Camp Lejeune Cases
Our attorneys estimate that successful Camp Lejeune cases based on NHL could have average settlement amounts in the range of $150,000 to 300,000. This estimated value is lower than other types of Camp Lejeune cancer cases, in part because the survivability rate for NHL is comparatively high.
Settlement value of Camp Lejeune non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cases.
Lung Cancer Linked to Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
Scientific studies by public health agencies have found that Camp Lejeune residents and employees who were exposed to the contaminated water had a substantially higher risk of developing lung cancer and dying from lung cancer compared to a control group. The studies also showed that the increased risk of lung cancer was directly correlated to the extent of exposure to contaminated water.
- Learn more about Camp Lejeune lung cancer cases.
Settlement Value for Camp Lejeune Lung Cancer Cases
Our lawyers estimate that Camp Lejeune lung cancer claims could have an average settlement value between $200,000 and $450,000. Certain lung cancer cases, such as those involving wrongful death, could have a much higher value. This valuation is at the higher end of the scale, mainly because lung cancer is a very dangerous type of cancer.
How much are Camp Lejeune lung cancer cases worth?
Cervical Cancer Linked to Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
Studies by the ATSDR found that Camp Lejeune residents and employees exhibited significantly higher rates of cervical cancer compared to a control group from another Marine Corps base. The ATSDR data also indicated that those women with the most exposure to the contaminated Lejeune water had the highest rates of cervical cancer. However, cervical cancer was not named as one of the diseases presumptively linked to Lejeune by the VA or ATSDR which makes it a Tier II condition.
Cervical cancer is not very common, with only around 13,000 new cases diagnosed in the U.S. annually. Cervical cancer also has a decent 5-year survival rate of 66%. This is largely due to the fact that cervical cancer is frequently diagnosed early through pap smear testing.
Settlement Value for Camp Lejeune Cervical Cancer Cases
Our lawyers estimate that a successful Camp Lejeune lawsuit involving myelodysplastic syndrome could have an average settlement payout of around $105,000 and $300,000. This is on the middle to low end of Camp Lejeune settlement amount our lawyers have projected.
How much are Camp Lejeune cervical cancer cases worth?
Results of Cancer Incidence Rate Study Still Pending
In addition to the mortality studies discussed above, the ATSDR is also conducting a Cancer Incidence Rate (CIR) study. The purpose of the CIR study is to quantify the extent to which exposure to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune caused higher rates of specific cancer. To some extent, the CIR study will overlap with the conclusions already made in the mortality studies. However, the CIR study will provide a more comprehensive and accurate picture of exactly how much the Camp Lejeune water contamination increased the risk of developing certain cancers.
The CIR study was begun by ATSDR in 2018 and was expected to take 5 years to complete. To date, ATSDR has not published the results of the CIR study (if there are any yet).
Tier III Camp Lejeune Cancers
The Tier I and Tier II cancers discussed on this page are the cancer types that have been specifically identified as being linked to the Camp Lejeune water contamination based on the results of public health studies or other data. Just because a specific type of cancer is not included in this list does not necessarily mean that it is not somehow related to or caused by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
The water supply at Lejeune was literally poisoned with toxic, carcinogenic chemicals at levels that were several thousand times higher than the maximum safe limits. With that level of contamination, it’s not unreasonable to speculate that exposure to the Camp Lejeune water could potentially increase the risk of just about any cancer type. The studies that have identified evidence linked specific cancer types to Lejeune have not ruled out the possibility that other cancers may also be linked. They have simply not found enough to evidence to make that determination.
Listed below are a number of common cancer types that are not listed as Tier I or Tier II Camp Lejeune cancers, but which could potentially be connected to the contaminated water. We are calling these Tier III cancers. Our firm is currently accepting cases from individuals (or their family or estate) who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune and were later diagnosed with any of these Tier III cancers.
| Bone Cancer | Uterine Cancer |
| Testicular Cancer | Stomach Cancer |
| Gallbladder Cancer | Head and Neck Cancer |
| Skin Cancer (Melanoma) | Thyroid Cancer |
| Pancreatic Cancer | |
Bone Cancer: bone cancer is very rare. Less than 4,000 cases of bone cancer get diagnosed each year, which is only 0.2% of all cancers. The overall 5-year survival rate for bone cancer is 67%. Bone cancer has not specifically linked to the Camp Lejeune water, but this may partly be due to the fact that it is so rare (even in a population exposed to carcinogenic chemicals in their water).
Uterine Cancer: uterine cancer is relatively common with 70,000 cases each year (just over 3% of all cancer types). It has a very high survival rate of 81%, although the less common form or uterine cancer is much more aggressive. Uterine cancer has not been specifically linked to Camp Lejeune, however, the studies have identified an association between other more common female cancers like breast, and cervical cancer.
Testicular Cancer: testicular cancer is rare, accounting for only 0.5% of all cancer cases with less than 10,000 new cases diagnosed each year. It has a very high survival rate of 95%. The Camp Lejeune studies did not identify testicular cancer a being presumptively linked to the contaminated water, but our firm is still accepting cases from men who lived or worked at Lejeune and developed testicular cancer.
Stomach Cancer: stomach (gastric) cancer occurs when a tumor forms in the lining of the stomach. Stomach cancer is uncommon, but not rare. 26,000 cases of stomach cancer are diagnosed each year (1.4% of all cancers). Sadly, stomach cancer is particularly deadly. It has one of the lowest 5-year survival rates of 33%. Stomach cancer has not been specifically linked to the Camp Lejeune water contamination, but it has not been specifically excluded either.
Gallbladder Cancer: cancer of the gallbladder is rare and accounts for less than 1% of all cancer cases. It often has little or no early symptoms causing it to be diagnosed in late stages. Although gallbladder cancer has not been named as a disease presumptively associated with Camp Lejeune, bladder cancer is a Tier I Lejeune condition.
Head and Neck Cancer: head and neck cancer is an umbrella term that refers to cancer of the throat, larynx, lips, mouth (oral), nose and salivary glands. None of these cancers are individually very common, but when grouped together they account for 54,000 new cases each year (3% of all cancer types). Again, there is no specific evidence conclusively linking head and neck cancers to Camp Lejeune, but an association has not been ruled out.
Skin Cancer (Melanoma): of all the cancers listed in this Tier III section, skin cancer (melanoma) is by far the most common. Around 100,000 skin cancer cases get diagnosed each year, which is around 5% of all cancer cases. The survival rate is high at 93%, although certain types of skin cancer are more dangerous. A connection between skin cancer and the Camp Lejeune water has not been ruled out.
Thyroid Cancer: over 40,000 thyroid cancer cases are diagnosed each year (2% of all cases). There are 4 different types of thyroid cancer, some more aggressive than others. There is currently not sufficient evidence for thyroid cancer to be presumptively linked to Camp Lejeune, but it has not been excluded.
Pancreatic Cancer: pancreatic cancer a fairly common, with 60,000 new cases diagnosed on a yearly basis (3% of all cancers). Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest of all cancer types. It has a 5-year survival rate of only 11% and results in 50,000 deaths a year. No specific link between pancreatic cancer and the Camp Lejeune water has been identified, but a connection has not been ruled out.
Latancy Period for Camp Lejeune Cancer
The cancers caused by exposure the the bad water at Camp Lejeune did not manifest themselves right away. In fact, if you got, for example, lung cancer three months after a stint at Lejeune, the toxins wold not be the cause. he time between first exposure to a Camp Lejune’s contaminated water is typcially between five and fifteen years. This is not from scientific studies but from our lawyers review of our client’s claims.
New Law Allows Camp Lejeune Cancer Victims Right to Sue
In August 2022, a new federal law called the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (part of the Honoring Our Pact Act) was passed to give victims of Camp Lejeune water contamination the right to file a lawsuit against the government for their injuries.
Settlement Estimates for Camp Lejeune Cancer Lawsuits
Our Camp Lejeune lawyers do not know what the average settlement payout will be for successful Camp Lejeune victims and their family members will be. No Camp Lejeune cases have ever been settled.
Camp Lejuene Cancer Lawsuit Settlement Projections Caveats
What we do know, however, is what the average settlement value is for other tort cases involving the same types of cancer (e.g., kidney, bladder, prostate, leukemia, etc.). Based on these prior points of comparison, our lawyers can come up with a reasonable estimate as to the likely settlement value of Camp Lejeune cancer lawsuits.
Government Adds Another Lawyer of Complexity in Predicting Settlement Compensation
But these are lawsuits against the federal government. There are so many variables in determining settlement amounts in any mass tort case. Throwing the government in as a defendant makes it that much more complicated. So take these Camp Lejeune lawsuit settlement payouts with dozens of grains of salt. Still, I think lawyers owe it to victims to at least give them their opinion as to what average settlement compensation payouts could be… as long as everyone understands these are just projected settlement values and there are no guarantees one way or the other.
The Type of Cancer Will Impact Settlement Payouts
Almost all the prior settlements involving specific cancer types are from medical malpractice cases involving diagnostic errors. These are cases where the plaintiff is claiming that their doctor was negligent in failing to timely their cancer, thereby allowing the cancer to continue untreated and spread. Verdicts and reported settlements in these misdiagnosis cases will give us a good idea of how specific cancers are valued for purposes of personal injury compensation.
Was Is a Smart Settlement Demand in a Camp Lejeune Cancer Lawsuit?
Camp Lejeune settlement demands for a cancer lawsuit are trickly. To have a right to sue – to file a lawsuit in the first place – this law requires you to make a settlement compensation demand. That settlement demand serves as a damages cap for the rest of your case. So if you demand $2 million and the jury awards you $10 million – not an unreasonable payout in a cancer or wrongful death case – the judge would reduce your award to $2 million. What is the lesson of this? Unless your client is really eager to settle early, it makes no sense to make a reasonable Camp Lejeune settlement compensation demand.
- More information on how our lawyers calculate settlement compensation estimates
Cancers Alleged in Camp Lejeune Lawsuits
About 10 years ago, a large number of Camp Lejeune victims attempted to bring civil lawsuits against the government for injuries allegedly caused by the contaminated water at the base. Around 850 of these lawsuits were eventually consolidated into a class action MDL in the Northern District of Georgia.
In 2016, all of these Camp Lejeune lawsuits in the MDL were dismissed after the federal court determined that they were barred by North Carolina’s statute of repose. This is the event that initially sparked the lobbying effort that eventually led to the passage of the CLJA this year.
When the CLJA became law on August 10, 2022, many of the cases that were in the Camp Lejeune MDL and dismissed in 2016 immediately re-filed their lawsuits under the CLJA. These cases are referred to as “legacy cases” and they were eligible to be re-filed immediately because they had already gone through the mandatory 6-month administrative claim phase the first time around.
A total of 28 Camp Lejeune legacy cases have been filed so far. The 28 cases feature the claims of 77 individual plaintiffs. Nearly all of the plaintiffs in these legacy cases are claiming that they developed some type of cancer from exposure to the Camp Lejeune water. In fact, 64 of the 77 legacy plaintiffs are alleging cancer as their primary injury related to the toxic water.
The table below shows the types of cases that have been filed:
| Cancer Type | Number of Plaintiffs |
| Bladder Cancer | 5 |
| Breast Cancer | 12 |
| Cervical Cancer | 3 |
| Lymphoma | 11 |
| Kidney Cancer | 8 |
| Leukemia | 6 |
| Liver Cancer | 2 |
| Lung Cancer | 5 |
| Multiple Myeloma | 3 |
| Ovarian Cancer | 3 |
| Prostate Cancer | 7 |
The most alleged cancer among the legacy cases is breast cancer with 12 plaintiffs. What is particularly interesting about these breast cancer cases, however, is that 8 of them are actually male breast cancer cases. Male breast cancer is exceedingly rare among the general population.
The second most common type of cancer asserted in these legacy cases is lymphoma with 11 plaintiffs, followed by kidney cancer with 8 plaintiffs. Neither of these is a surprise because lymphoma and kidney cancer are two of the cancer types with the strongest evidence of a causal association with the Camp Lejeune water.
We stopped keeping track of this data amoung filed Camp Lejeune lawsuits at some point. But these ratios have held up in the filed cases we have seen and our own intentory of cases which includes over 1,000 cancer victims who have suffered from all of this awfulness. Our 2023 numbers probabaly show more NHL and multiple myeloma cases than any other cancers and maybe few breast cancers than this would suggest. But the incidences of the types of cancer seems pretty consistent with these early filed Lejeune lawsuits.
When Do You Expect the First Camp Lejeune Settlement?
Thee latest data from the Navy tells us that around 60,000 applications have been lodged under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. It is speculated that this number could rise to a staggering 500,000. We don’t think so? Our guess? We are probably halway there when it comes to viable claims. We peg the number of paid Camp Lejuene settlements when all is said and done at 120,000. Is there a chance we will revise this estimate? Of course.
The pressing question on the minds of victims, and now the Congress who is putting real presure on the DOJ, is when the victims of Camp Lejeune can expect to receive offers to settlement payouts – or at least settlement offers – in the toxic water lawsuits?
The reality is that right now the DOJ is a mess. It lacks the systems, and more importantly, the manpower, to manage these lawsuits effectively. There are no mechanisms in place to gather the necessary medical records and other proof of claim to assess these toxic water lawsuits, let alone offer settlements.
So, when can we expect the Navy to have systems ready for claim evaluation and offer initiation? Unfortunately, we do not have a clear answer yet. However, pressure is mounting on the Navy from Congress to expedite the process. In May, a bipartisan group of North Carolina lawmakers voiced harsh criticism of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Department of Justice for perceived inaction in accelerating these claims.
Does the 9/11 Compensation Fund Provide a Model to Settle the Lejeune Lawsuits? (Yes and No.)
Assuming progress is made, what can we anticipate, and what kind of system might be implemented? We can look to the 9/11 compensation claims as a model, where a particular type of discovery database was developed during litigation that ultimately facilitated settlements. We hope that a similar model with 2023 technologies – will be adopted soon to speed up the resolution process.
But… there is a big but… The 9/11 model has its limitations. Unlike the 9/11 case where liability was not disputed, the Navy is unlikely to easily accept many of the meritorious claims in this litigation. Moreover, this litigation, where lawyers can negotiate claims with the possibility of real litigation if offers are deemed unreasonable, differs significantly in leverage dynamics. Our concern is that attempts to mold this into a 9/11-like scenario could potentially slow the process. So trying to shoehorn that plan into Lejeune will cause more harm then good. We need to take the good things from prior settlements workups that will apply to this litigation – not aimless steal from a plan used in a very different litigation – in fact, 9/11 compensation was not even litigation.
So When Will the Lejeune Cases See Settlement Offers?
Despite these concerns, our optimistic projection is that the Navy will sort out its issues by fall, leading to settlement offers by year’s end. This is an optimistic outlook. In liitgation, you never look good aggressively predicting the end of the litigation. It is like construction. Something always comes up.
So… more realistic expectation points to Camp Lejeune settlement offers being presented by next summer.The course of litigation tends to be longer than anticipated, even for seasoned practitioners. And while the DOJ is highly capable, government-related processes typically require additional time.
What Will Be the Average Camp Lejeune Settlement Payout? More important than the average Camp Lejeune payout would be the average settlement for your specific injury that we address above. But as for the average case, our lawyers predict the average Camp Lejeune payout to fall between $250,000 and $400,000, with a range from $50,000 to potentially over $1 million. The figures are not guaranteed by any stretch – we are making the the best guess we can – but they do represent our current estimations.
The Navy’s Settlement Offer in September 2023
In September 2023, the U.S. government launched a compensation program as a response to the contaminated water incident at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. This initiative aims to offer up to $450,000 in settlement to those affected by the water contamination at the base and up to $550,000 for wrongful death cases.
The maximum numbers only apply to the very few who spent a very long time at Lejeune. There has been a lot of criticism regarding the adequacy of the compensation amount.
Key Aspects of the Settlement Program
- Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible, individuals must have resided or worked at Camp Lejeune for a minimum of 30 days between August 1953 and December 1987.
- Compensation Scale: Compensation varies based on the severity of health issues and duration of exposure to the contaminated water, with a cap of $450,000.
- Submission Process: Applicants are required to fill out a specific form and provide evidence of their exposure and health conditions. A panel of experts will review these claims.
- Decision Window: Those offered a settlement have 60 days to accept or decline.
- Latency Period Rule: The Camp Lejeune contaminated water settlement includes a specific provision that bars individuals from submitting a claim if their exposure to the contaminated water at the base occurred over 35 years ago, or if the diagnosis of a related condition happened within two years following exposure. This regulation is rooted in the government’s incorrect stance that proving a direct link between a disease and the exposure to contaminated water becomes increasingly challenging, if not impossible, when such a lengthy period has elapsed since the exposure.
Contact Us About a Camp Lejeune Cancer Lawsuit
If you or a member of your family may have developed cancer from the Camp Lejeune water contamination, contact our office today to see if you can potentially bring a civil lawsuit and get financial compensation. Call us at 800-553-8083 or contact us online.