The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 (CLJA), part of the PACT Act signed August 10, 2022, opened a federal claims process for veterans and family members who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987 and were exposed to contaminated drinking water. California has one of the largest veteran populations in the country, and many California residents who served at Camp Lejeune - or lived on base as military family members - have filed or are exploring claims. This page covers who qualifies, how the filing window works, how California residents pursue these claims, and what the litigation looks like as of June 2026. Last updated: June 2026. This is not legal advice. Talk to a licensed attorney about your specific situation.
The CLJA Filing Window - What California Claimants Need to Know
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act set a two-year filing window from the date of enactment (August 10, 2022), establishing August 10, 2024 as the initial deadline for new federal CLJA claims. Many California veterans and family members filed claims before this deadline; those cases are now pending in the Eastern District of North Carolina.
If you filed before August 10, 2024: Your claim is in the EDNC queue. Proceedings have been moving methodically - initial screening, discovery, and early case management are underway. Talk to your attorney about the current posture of your case.
If you did not file before August 10, 2024: The initial CLJA window has closed. Whether you have any remaining options - including any legislative extensions, state-law claims, or other avenues - is a question for a licensed attorney. Do not assume you are permanently barred without getting legal guidance first.
Note: Statutes of limitations and filing deadlines vary by claim type. The CLJA's two-year window was specific to federal claims under that act. Your situation may involve other legal theories depending on the facts.
Who Qualifies for a Camp Lejeune Claim
The CLJA requires that claimants:
- Lived, worked, or were otherwise exposed at Camp Lejeune (or MCAS New River) in North Carolina
- Between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987 - this is the period during which the water supply at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene, vinyl chloride, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- For at least 30 days, which can be cumulative (not necessarily consecutive)
- Developed a qualifying illness - the CLJA covers a broad range of conditions
Qualifying conditions under the CLJA include:
- ·Various cancers: bladder cancer, breast cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma, lung cancer, and others
- ·Non-cancer conditions: Parkinson's disease, neurobehavioral effects, scleroderma, renal toxicity, hepatic steatosis, and end-stage renal disease
- ·Miscarriages, female infertility, and children born with certain birth defects to mothers who were pregnant while at Camp Lejeune
California-specific note: California has a significant active-duty and veteran community, many of whom were stationed at Camp Lejeune for training cycles. Family members who accompanied service members and lived on base for portions of the covered period are also eligible claimants.
Documenting Your Camp Lejeune Exposure as a California Resident
Documenting time at Camp Lejeune is the foundation of any CLJA claim. Key records:
Military service and base records:
- ·DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) - the primary proof of military service
- ·Service records showing assignment to or TDY at Camp Lejeune during the covered period
- ·Orders cutting to Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River
- ·Base housing records if you lived in family housing on base
For family members of veterans:
- ·Dependent identification records
- ·Base housing records showing residence during the covered period
- ·Letters or records from the Department of Veterans Affairs confirming family member status at Camp Lejeune
Medical documentation:
- ·Diagnosis records for the qualifying condition
- ·Oncology or specialist records
- ·Treatment history
- ·Any VA service-connection decisions for related conditions
The National Archives and the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis hold many military service records. A licensed attorney can help you request records if you do not have them.
How California Residents File Camp Lejeune Claims
CLJA claims are filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina (EDNC), regardless of where the claimant currently lives. A California resident pursuing a Camp Lejeune claim does not file in California - the CLJA mandates that all claims go through EDNC, which is geographically close to Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
This means:
- ·You do not need to travel to North Carolina to file or (in most cases) to have your claim administered
- ·Your California-based attorney can handle the federal filing, or you may work with an attorney licensed in North Carolina or another state experienced in CLJA litigation
- ·Discovery, case management orders, and any eventual trials or settlements are handled through EDNC
Current EDNC / CLJA status (as of June 2026): Tens of thousands of CLJA claims have been filed in EDNC. The court has been working through administrative screening, discovery, and early case dispositions. No comprehensive government-wide settlement program has been publicly announced comparable to a traditional MDL class action settlement. Individual claim processing has been underway. The current state of proceedings changes frequently - talk to a licensed attorney for the most current posture.
What the Camp Lejeune Settlement Landscape Looks Like
Camp Lejeune claims are brought against the United States government under the CLJA, which waived sovereign immunity for these specific claims. Because the defendant is the federal government, the settlement and litigation process differs from most mass tort MDL cases.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of the Navy have been involved in early settlement negotiations and case management. No publicly announced comprehensive settlement fund existed as of the period covered by this page.
What has been reported in public filings and news coverage:
- ·Early case-value discussions and negotiations have occurred on individual claims and categories of claims
- ·The government has contested some claims on standing and causation grounds
- ·The pace of resolution in EDNC has been slower than many plaintiffs expected when the CLJA was passed
We do not report specific settlement amounts because no public per-claim settlement ranges have been established for CLJA claims the way settlement grids have appeared in some other mass tort cases. Reported figures in news coverage have varied widely.
If you filed a CLJA claim, the most important step now is maintaining contact with your attorney and staying current on case management orders from EDNC. If you have not yet talked to an attorney, Last10Legal can connect you with one who handles Camp Lejeune claims.