Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Claims: A Guide for New York Residents

Reviewed by the Law Offices of Albert Goodwin. Last updated: June 2025.

If you are a New York resident who lived or worked at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and later developed a serious illness, you may be entitled to compensation under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022. This page explains, honestly and specifically, how a New York resident pursues one of these claims, where the case is actually litigated, the current status of the settlement program, and what you can and cannot still do. To speak with us, call 212-233-1233 or email [email protected].

An Important Jurisdictional Reality New York Residents Should Understand

Unlike the personal injury cases we typically handle in New York State courts, Camp Lejeune claims are not litigated in New York. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 (Section 804 of the Honoring our PACT Act, Pub. L. No. 117-168) directs that all Camp Lejeune lawsuits be filed exclusively in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina (EDNC). No New York state or federal court has jurisdiction over these claims, and there is no jury trial available under the statute.

What this means practically for a New York resident: you do not need to travel to North Carolina to pursue a claim, and you can retain a New York firm you trust. Any firm you hire must work through counsel admitted in the EDNC, whether by that firm's own admission, pro hac vice appearance, or co-counsel and referral arrangements with attorneys already litigating there. Because we believe in transparency about our role, if you contact us about a Camp Lejeune matter we will explain clearly whether we would represent you directly, associate with EDNC-admitted co-counsel, or refer you to a firm handling these claims at scale — and we will disclose the fee structure in writing before you sign anything. We do not make promises about outcomes, and no attorney honestly can.

The Administrative Claim Deadline Has Passed — Here Is Where Things Stand

The Act created a two-year window that opened on August 10, 2022. The deadline to file an administrative claim with the Department of the Navy's Judge Advocate General's Tort Claims Unit (JAG TCU) was August 10, 2024. That deadline has now passed. This is a critical, time-sensitive fact that many outdated websites still get wrong.

If you did not file an administrative claim by August 10, 2024, the statute's two-year filing window has closed, and pursuing a new claim now faces significant legal obstacles. If you filed on time, your claim remains alive and is moving through the process described below. Anyone unsure whether a timely claim was filed on their behalf should have their paperwork reviewed promptly rather than assume anything.

How the Process Actually Works Now

The statute requires a claimant to first submit an administrative claim to the Navy JAG TCU. The Navy has six months to accept, deny, or make an offer. Only after a denial — or after six months pass with no resolution — may a claimant file suit in the EDNC. In practice, the Navy has received well over 500,000 administrative claims, and the volume has far exceeded its capacity to adjudicate quickly. As a result, hundreds of thousands of claims ripened into the ability to file lawsuits, and thousands of cases are now consolidated before the EDNC judges managing this litigation.

The Elective Option: Current Settlement Tiers

To move claims faster, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Navy created an Elective Option — a voluntary, streamlined settlement framework offering set payment amounts based on the claimant's qualifying illness and length of exposure. It is elective: a claimant can accept an Elective Option offer or decline it and continue litigating.

Under the published Elective Option framework, qualifying illnesses are grouped into tiers, and the amount depends on both the tier and how long the person was exposed (generally 30–364 days, 1–5 years, or more than 5 years). Reported ranges under the government's framework include:

• Tier 1 illnesses (such as kidney cancer, liver cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia, and bladder cancer): approximately $150,000 to $450,000 depending on exposure duration.
• Tier 2 illnesses (such as multiple myeloma, Parkinson's disease, kidney disease, and systemic sclerosis/scleroderma): approximately $100,000 to $400,000 depending on exposure duration.
• Wrongful death claims: an additional payment (reported around $100,000) may be available on top of the applicable tier amount where the qualifying illness caused death.

These figures come from the government's own Elective Option guidance and are subject to change; they are not a guarantee that any individual will receive a specific amount. Many claimants — particularly those with severe injuries, strong causation evidence, or illnesses outside the Elective Option tiers — may be better served by declining the standard offer and pursuing the case through litigation, where a broader range of damages (including pain and suffering) can be sought under the Federal Tort Claims Act framework the Act incorporates. That decision should be made with counsel who can weigh the strength of your medical and residency evidence.

Timelines and What to Expect

Because of the enormous claim volume, these cases move slowly. The administrative six-month period, the Navy's review backlog, and the pace of the consolidated EDNC litigation all affect how long resolution takes. Claimants who accept an Elective Option offer generally see payment more quickly than those who litigate, but even Elective Option processing takes time. We encourage clients to be realistic: this is a large, evolving mass-tort program, not a quick payout, and anyone promising fast or guaranteed money should be viewed with caution.

Who Qualifies

Under the Act, an eligible person generally must have been present at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987 — whether as a service member, family member, worker, or other resident — and must have a qualifying illness linked to the contaminated water. The water supply was contaminated with volatile organic compounds, primarily trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE), along with benzene and vinyl chloride, at levels far above EPA safe limits, from on-base sources and a nearby off-base dry cleaner.

Illnesses associated with the contamination include kidney cancer, liver cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, adult leukemia, bladder cancer, multiple myeloma, Parkinson's disease, aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes, systemic sclerosis/scleroderma, and others. Eligibility ultimately turns on documented presence at the base during the covered period and a qualifying diagnosis, which is why residency proof (orders, base housing records, employment records) and medical records matter so much.

What a New York Resident Should Do Now

• Locate your paperwork. Determine whether an administrative claim was filed on your behalf before August 10, 2024, and gather any correspondence from the Navy JAG TCU.
• Assemble proof of presence. Military records, base housing assignments, DEERS records, or employment documentation showing 30+ days at Camp Lejeune in the covered window.
• Gather medical records. Documentation of your qualifying diagnosis and treatment.
• Get an honest evaluation. Have counsel review whether an Elective Option offer or continued litigation is the better path for your specific circumstances.

How Our New York Firm Fits In

The Law Offices of Albert Goodwin is a New York personal injury firm based in Midtown Manhattan, serving clients across all five boroughs, Long Island, and Upstate New York. For Camp Lejeune matters — which must be filed in North Carolina — we provide New York clients a local, accessible point of contact and coordinate with EDNC-admitted counsel where appropriate. We will always tell you plainly what role we would play and how fees work before you commit.

If your primary concern is a New York-based injury, you may find our related pages more directly on point, including our catastrophic injury, cancer misdiagnosis, and medical malpractice resources, or our overview of how contingency fees work in New York.

Talk to Us

To discuss a Camp Lejeune claim or ask whether you still have options, call 212-233-1233 or email [email protected]. We are located in Midtown, Manhattan.

This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. Camp Lejeune claims involve federal deadlines and jurisdictional rules; consult a qualified attorney about your specific situation. Settlement figures reflect the government's published Elective Option framework and are subject to change; no outcome is guaranteed.