Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Settlement Amounts

Over $21 Billion in Camp Lejeune Settlements May Be Available

Camp Lejeune settlements are payouts provided by the U.S. government to victims of the water contamination at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

These settlements can provide much-needed financial compensation to victims who developed cancer, birth defects, or other serious illnesses from the contaminated water on base from 1953 to 1987.

Quick Facts on Camp Lejeune Settlements: 

• More than $21 Billion may be available in Camp Lejeune settlements for victims of toxic water. The Congressional Budget Office projects spending over $6.1 Billion from 2022 to 2031 and an additional $15 Billion after 2031.
• Settlements are separate from a VA claim and can provide victims with additional compensation.
• Civilian workers, veterans, and their family members may be eligible for a settlement from a Camp Lejeune lawsuit, thanks to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022.
• Even if your grandparent, spouse, child, or loved one passed away decades ago, you could still qualify for compensation on their behalf.

For over 45 years, Sokolove Law has helped veterans and their families across the country get the results they deserve. We’ve already helped over 30,000 families with Camp Lejeune claims. Let us put our decades of experience to work for you.

Who Qualifies for Camp Lejeune Water Lawsuit Settlements?

Anyone who suffered health issues after living or working on base for at least 30 days between August 1953 and December 1987 may be eligible to pursue a contaminated water settlement.

Camp Lejeune residents may include:

• U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy veterans
• Reservists
• Guardsmen
• Civilian workers
• Spouses, children, and other family members

Even if your loved one passed away decades ago, you may now qualify for compensation by filing a Camp Lejeune wrongful death lawsuit on their behalf.

Health Conditions that Qualify for Camp Lejeune Settlement Payouts

Some of the Camp Lejeune health problems that may qualify for compensation include:

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Aplastic anemia
• Birth defects
• Bladder cancer
• Brain cancer
• Breast cancer
• Cardiac defects
• Cervical cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Crohn’s disease
• Esophageal cancer
• Fatty liver disease (hepatic steatosis)
• Female infertility
• Kidney cancer
• Kidney disease
• Leukemia
• Liver cancer
• Lung cancer
• Lymphomas
• Miscarriage
• Multiple myeloma
• Myelodysplastic cancer
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Pancreatic cancer
• Parkinson’s disease
• Prostate cancer
• Rectal cancer
• Renal toxicity
• Sarcoma
• Scleroderma (Crest syndrome)

Camp Lejeune settlements can help victims pay for medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses.

How to Get a Camp Lejeune Drinking Water Settlement

Pursuing a Camp Lejeune settlement can be difficult on your own, but an experienced Camp Lejeune attorney can guide you through the legal process and fight for the maximum amount of compensation available in your case.

When you work with Sokolove Law, our Camp Lejeune lawyers can pursue a settlement on your behalf, so you can focus on your health and family.

Generally speaking, your lawyers and legal team can:

• Gather Evidence: Your team will collect medical records, expert testimony, and proof of your time spent on base to build a strong case.
• File a Lawsuit: We’ll make sure your claim is filed correctly and before any deadlines. The Department of Navy will then review your claim for up to 6 months and potentially offer a fixed payout amount if you have a certain condition or were on base for a set period of time.
• Negotiate a Camp Lejeune Settlement: If you don’t accept an Elective Option payout, your lawyer will work with the defendant to negotiate Camp Lejeune water contamination settlement amounts, so you can get the most compensation possible in your case.
• Present Your Case in Court: The case may proceed to a trial if it doesn’t settle, where your attorney can fight for your rights in court.

Receiving a Camp Lejeune lawsuit settlement will not impact your benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Play Video

Video Summary: Managing Attorney Ricky LeBlanc explains that it's still possible to file a Camp Lejeune claim without affecting VA benefits — but time is limited. View Transcript.

There's been a lot in the news lately about Camp Lejeune and the Marines injured there from the contaminated drinking water.

Some people may not understand that those claims can still be made, meaning the law that established these claims provides a time limit for people to make those claims, and that time limit hasn't come up yet. So make your claim now before that window closes.

Others ask, what happens to my VA benefits if I make the claim? No one wants your VA benefits impacted. The VA has made it very clear on their own site, va.gov.

If you go there, it will state clearly for you that making a claim for injuries from the drinking water at Camp Lejeune against the United States government will have no impact on VA benefits. That's worth repeating.

There is no impact on VA benefits for making these claims.

While this window to make claims remains open, Sokolove Law continues to accept more clients for Camp Lejeune cases, and we will continue to do so while the window remains open.

If you or a loved one has been injured by the drinking water from Camp Lejeune, call Sokolove Law now.

Elective Option for Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Settlement Amounts

In September 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a voluntary two-tier Elective Option for victims of Camp Lejeune water contamination to provide quicker payouts for the mounting Camp Lejeune claims.

The longer you were on base, the more compensation you may receive. Both options will also offer an additional $100,000 if their loved one passed away.

While these payouts can amount to up to $550,000 total, Camp Lejeune lawsuit settlements may provide victims with more compensation than they’d get by accepting a payout from the DOJ’s tiered system.

If an elective payout is offered, you’ll have 60 days to accept or reject it. If you accept the offer, you should start to see payments within 60 days.

Tier 1 Option

Victims with bladder cancer, kidney cancer, leukemia, liver cancer, or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma may be eligible for a Camp Lejeune settlement worth:

• $450,000 if they were on base for more than 5 years
• $300,000 for 1-5 years on base
• $150,000 for 30-364 days on base

Tier 2 Option

Victims with kidney disease, multiple myeloma, Parkinson’s disease, scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis may be eligible for a Camp Lejeune settlement worth:

• $400,000 if they were on base for more than 5 years
• $250,000 for 1-5 years on base
• $100,000 for 30-364 days on base

When Will the Camp Lejeune Settlement Be Paid?

The timeline for Camp Lejeune settlements will be different for each person, as every case is unique. However, it may take some time for victims to receive a Camp Lejeune settlement.

Your Camp Lejeune settlement timeline may be influenced by:

• When you first start working with an attorney to file your Camp Lejeune legal claim
• How quickly the Department of the Navy reviews your administrative claim
• Whether or not you are eligible for and choose to take the voluntary Elective Option
• How soon your attorney can negotiate and settle your case
• The length of the trial, in the unlikely event that your case proceeds to court

At Sokolove Law, we know how important it is to secure compensation following a life-changing illness. Our Camp Lejeune settlement lawyers will fight to get you the money you’re entitled to as quickly as possible.

“I wish people knew how important it is to stand up and advocate for your loved ones — and that doing so is patriotic. My dad would be proud that the Camp Lejeune Act will help my mom, which is the only thing that ever mattered to him.”
– Chris C., Son of a Camp Lejeune Veteran with Bladder Cancer

Have There Been Any Camp Lejeune Settlements?

The first 57 Camp Lejeune Elective Option payouts have been accepted, totaling $14.4 Million. However, there have not been any Camp Lejeune lawsuit settlements or verdicts yet, and thousands of legal claims are currently pending.

The U.S. government has set aside money for Camp Lejeune victims and their families, but you must file your claim by the August 2024 deadline.

Don’t miss out on money you deserve. Be sure to take action before it’s too late.

Determining Camp Lejeune Settlement Amounts

Camp Lejeune water contamination settlement amounts will vary from case to case based on the unique details of each victim’s story.

Factors that will impact Camp Lejeune settlements include: 

• Length of time spent at Camp Lejeune
• Lost wages or from being too sick to work
• Pain and suffering
• Past and future medical expenses
• Severity of the illness
• The victim’s age
• Funeral bills from a wrongful death

How you pursue compensation will also impact your settlement amount. While the new Camp Lejeune Elective Option may provide compensation quicker, it may award less than what you'd get from a lawsuit settlement.

What Is the Average Camp Lejeune Settlement Amount?

Camp Lejeune average settlement amounts will vary depending on the unique details of each individual case, like how much time a victim spent at Camp Lejeune and the illness they were diagnosed with.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates spending over $21 Billion in Camp Lejeune payouts, with $6.1 Billion being spent from 2022 to 2031 and $15 Billion after 2031. A substantial amount of compensation remains for victims and their families.

Call (800) 995-1212 now to see if you may qualify for a portion of this money. At Sokolove Law, we’ll fight hard to get you everything you’re entitled to.

Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Settlement Updates

Since the Camp Lejeune Justice Act was signed into law, nearly 100,000 victims and their families have sought legal help to pursue Camp Lejeune water contamination settlements.

Over the last few months, Camp Lejeune lawsuits have continued to progress through the legal system:

• June 2024: Since the Elective Option was first introduced, a total of 57 offers have been approved by the government and accepted by families. These offers have amounted to $14.4 Million in payouts.
• May 2024: To date, 40 families have accepted Elective Option offers, with payouts totaling $9.6 Million. The court is in the process of reviewing recommendations for a Settlement Master, who may be able to help resolve Camp Lejeune claims faster.
• April 2024: A total of $5.95 Million has been paid out to 26 Camp Lejeune families, with additional offers through the Elective Option still pending.
• March 2024: There have been 56 offers made through the Elective Option so far. To date, 24 of these offers have been accepted, and 15 families have already received compensation.
• February 2024: Ten Camp Lejeune families have been awarded a total of $2.5 Million. While there have been talks of a global settlement for all pending claims, no decisions have been made to resolve claims at this time.
• January 2024: More than $2 Million has been paid out to eight Camp Lejeune families, and an additional 33 Elective Option payouts are currently pending.
• December 2023: There have been 6 Camp Lejeune Elective Option payouts that have reached $1.45 Million, including $250,000 for Parkinson's disease, $300,000 for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, $150,000 for bladder cancer, and multiple leukemia claims for $300,000 and $150,000.
• November 2023: The number of Camp Lejeune claims filed has surpassed 117,000. The Department of Justice has also offered additional Elective Option payouts to veterans and their families, increasing the total amount of compensation paid out to Camp Lejeune victims.
• October 2023: The first Camp Lejeune claim under the voluntary Elective Option has been paid out. While the specific payment details remain confidential, this demonstrates the efficacy of the Elective Option and its ability to provide quick access to compensation for those who qualify.
• September 2023: The Department of Justice and Department of the Navy announced a voluntary elective payout option for Camp Lejeune settlement claims, allowing victims to receive a fixed amount for specific conditions faster than if their lawsuit went to court. The government also made a move to cap attorney fees at 20% for Elective Option payouts and 25% for lawsuit settlements.
• August 2023: More than 1,100 Camp Lejeune lawsuits and over 93,000 administrative claims have been filed across the country, with total payouts projected to eventually top $21 Billion.
• July 2023: Ed Bell, who works with Sokolove Law, has been named to the leadership counsel for the Camp Lejeune lawsuits. This group was created in part to speed up the Camp Lejeune settlement process.
• June 2023: To settle more cases in a shorter time span, the DoJ has urged the four judges hearing Camp Lejeune lawsuits to move forward with plans to consolidate claims, which the judges agreed to pursue in April.
• May 2023: Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress have called upon the U.S. Navy and the Department of Justice to speed up the Camp Lejeune settlement process. These lawmakers requested more information about plans to process and settle Camp Lejeune claims faster.

While no Camp Lejeune lawsuits have settled yet, our legal teams continue to push forward and provide Camp Lejeune litigation updates.

If you suffered injuries from the toxic water at Camp Lejeune, you only have until August 2024 to take legal action.

Sokolove Law: Fighting for Camp Lejeune Water Settlements Nationwide

At Sokolove Law, our lawyers have the resources and skills needed to pursue a Camp Lejeune water settlement on your behalf. We can handle all of the legal legwork for you, so you can focus on your health and family.

As a national personal injury law firm, Sokolove Law has:

• Experience: Since 1979, we’ve helped thousands of veterans and their families get justice.
• Reach: With offices and attorneys across the country, we can help victims in all 50 states file a lawsuit for Camp Lejeune settlements.
• Results: We’ve secured more than $9.6 Billion for clients who’ve been injured through no fault of their own.

There are no upfront or hourly fees to pursue a Camp Lejeune settlement with the help of our attorneys. Compensation can help families pay for medical bills, lost wages, and more

Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water Settlement FAQs