New York has one of the largest veteran populations in the country, including many who served at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina between 1953 and 1987, when the base's water was contaminated with toxic industrial solvents. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 (CLJA) created a federal claims pathway for those harmed by that contamination.
This page explains who qualifies, the CLJA filing history, and where claims stand in 2026 for New York residents. This is not legal advice. Talk to a licensed attorney in your state before taking any action on a Camp Lejeune claim.
Last updated: June 2026. Camp Lejeune litigation consolidated in the Eastern District of North Carolina (EDNC). Active as of June 2026.
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The Camp Lejeune Contamination and the CLJA
From approximately 1953 through 1987, two water treatment facilities at Camp Lejeune -- Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point -- supplied drinking water contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride. These chemicals are classified as known or probable carcinogens by federal health agencies. An estimated 900,000 to 1 million people lived and worked at the base during the contamination period.
Congress passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 (CLJA), signed into law August 10, 2022, to create a direct federal cause of action for harmed claimants. The CLJA removed the sovereign immunity barrier that had blocked these claims for decades and specified that all federal CLJA cases are heard in the Eastern District of North Carolina (EDNC).
The CLJA Filing Window: What New York Claimants Need to Know in 2026
The CLJA required eligible claimants to file an administrative claim with the Department of the Navy (JAG Corps) within 2 years of the law's enactment -- a deadline of August 10, 2024. That administrative deadline has passed.
As of June 2026, the landscape for Camp Lejeune claimants is:
- ·Claimants who filed before August 10, 2024 and were denied or received no response within 6 months may file in federal court in the EDNC. Litigation for this group is active in 2026.
- ·Claimants who missed the August 10, 2024 deadline face significant barriers. Whether late filings are still viable is actively contested, and outcomes vary by individual circumstances. The statute of limitations varies by state and by the specific claim.
- ·Elective Option: The Department of Justice established a tiered settlement program for certain qualifying diagnoses. Published reports indicate the Elective Option has offered payments ranging from approximately $100,000 to $450,000 depending on diagnosis tier and individual factors.
Talk to a licensed attorney without delay to understand whether any path remains open for your specific situation. This is not legal advice.
Who Qualifies: CLJA Eligibility Criteria
To qualify under the CLJA, a claimant generally must establish:
- Presence at Camp Lejeune -- served, lived, or worked at the base for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987
- Qualifying diagnosis -- a medical condition linked to Camp Lejeune water contamination
- Causal connection -- the exposure must have contributed to the harm
Conditions most frequently cited in CLJA claims include:
- ·Adult leukemia
- ·Aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes
- ·Bladder cancer
- ·Kidney cancer
- ·Liver cancer
- ·Multiple myeloma
- ·Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)
- ·Parkinson's disease
- ·Renal toxicity
- ·Scleroderma
- ·Neurobehavioral effects
Spouses, children, and other family members who lived at Camp Lejeune during the contamination window may also qualify under the CLJA.
How to Document Camp Lejeune Exposure for New York Claimants
Three categories of documentation support a Camp Lejeune CLJA claim:
Service and presence records:
- ·DD-214 and service records from the National Archives or National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)
- ·Orders or deployment records establishing assignment to Camp Lejeune
- ·Base housing records for family members
- ·Employment records for civilian workers
Medical records:
- ·Pathology, biopsy, and diagnosis records from your treating physician
- ·VA medical records if you sought care through a New York VA facility
- ·Specialist notes documenting your diagnosis and treatment history
Timeline documentation:
- ·Any records establishing dates and duration of presence at Camp Lejeune during the 1953-1987 window (30-day minimum required under CLJA)
- ·School records for children raised on base during the contamination period
Camp Lejeune Claims in the Eastern District of North Carolina
All CLJA federal lawsuits are filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina (EDNC) in Raleigh, regardless of where the claimant lives. New York residents do not file in a New York court -- the CLJA specifies EDNC as the exclusive venue for federal litigation.
The EDNC has been managing Camp Lejeune CLJA cases in a consolidated structure. As of June 2026, the court has addressed discovery scheduling, motions on causation standards, and bellwether case selection. Many claimants whose administrative claims were denied by the Navy JAG -- or not resolved within 6 months -- have filed suit directly in the EDNC.
New York-based attorneys can represent CLJA claimants, but the actual litigation takes place in North Carolina. Many attorneys handling CLJA cases do so on a contingency basis for clients across the country.
The Elective Option Settlement Framework
The Department of Justice established an Elective Option to resolve certain CLJA claims without trial. Published government documents describe a tiered structure:
- ·Tier I diagnoses (strongest scientific evidence linking the condition to Camp Lejeune contamination): higher offered amounts
- ·Tier II diagnoses (moderate evidence): lower offered amounts
- ·Individual factors affecting offered amounts include: severity of illness, duration of exposure, and age at diagnosis
Published reports indicate Elective Option payments have ranged from approximately $100,000 to $450,000 depending on diagnosis tier and circumstances. Amounts are not guaranteed and the Elective Option program has evolved since launch. For claimants who decline the Elective Option or do not qualify, the federal litigation path in the EDNC remains. No responsible source can predict individual litigation outcomes before bellwether verdicts.
Next Steps for New York Camp Lejeune Claimants
If you are a New York veteran, family member, or civilian worker who was present at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 and have a qualifying diagnosis:
- Verify your presence -- gather service records or other documentation establishing 30+ days at Camp Lejeune during the contamination window
- Collect your medical records confirming your diagnosis
- Determine whether you filed an administrative claim before August 10, 2024
- Connect with a licensed attorney experienced in CLJA litigation to assess your options in 2026
Last10Legal connects New York claimants with licensed attorneys handling Camp Lejeune Justice Act cases -- no upfront cost, match in minutes.