On September 6, 2023, the Justice Department (DOJ) and Department of the Navy (DON) outlined a new voluntary procedure that will allow for “quick and early” settlement of  Camp Lejeune claims.  The procedure, called the “Elective Option,” allows the DON to narrow its review of Camp Lejeune claims to a few factors, namely the amount of time the claimant was exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and the type of injury claimed. 

To participate in the Elective Option, a claimant still needs to submit an administrative claim to the DON. From there, the DON can make settlement offers to claimants with diseases that the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has linked to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. 

If you or a loved one was exposed to the toxic water at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 and has been diagnosed with a qualifying injury, contact GoldenbergLaw today for a free consultation. We are representing dozens of Marines and family members injured by the water at Camp Lejeune and can help you process your claim as quickly as possible through the new Elective Option. Call 1-800-903-1643 today. 

Qualifying Diseases Under The Camp Lejeune Elective Option

The Elective Option splits qualifying diseases into two injury tiers based on the strength of evidence linking the conditions and the amount of exposure to the chemicals in the water at Camp Lejeune. The proposed settlement values range from $100,000 to $550,000 depending on injury tier and duration of exposure during the contamination period, respectively. 

  • Tier One
    • Qualifying Diseases
      • Kidney Cancer
      • Liver Cancer
      • non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
      • Leukemia
      • Bladder Cancer
    • Proposed Settlement Range
      • $150,000 – If diagnosed with a tier one disease after exposure to water at Camp Lejeune for 30 – 364 days.
      • $300,000 – If diagnosed with a tier one disease after exposure to water at Camp Lejeune between 1 and 5 years.
      • $450,000 – If diagnosed with a tier one disease after exposure to water at Camp Lejeune for over 5 years.
      • $100,000 – Additional compensation for claims involving death. 
  • Tier Two
    • Qualifying Diseases
      • Kidney Disease (End Stage Renal Disease)
      • Multiple Myeloma
      • Parkinson’s Disease
      • Systemic Sclerosis/Systemic Scleroderma
    • Proposed Settlement Range
      • $100,000 – If diagnosed with a tier two disease after exposure to water at Camp Lejeune for 30 – 364 days.
      • $250,000 – If diagnosed with a tier two disease after exposure to water at Camp Lejeune between 1 and 5 years.
      • $400,000 – If diagnosed with a tier two disease after exposure to water at Camp Lejeune for over 5 years.
      • $100,000 – Additional compensation for claims involving death. 

Am I Eligible For The Camp Lejeune Elective Option?

Claimants eligible to participate in the Camp Lejeune Elective Option resolution program must meet the following criteria:

  • Must have been diagnosed with a qualifying tier one or tier two injury. 
  • Must have been exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days between 1953 and 1987.

Claimants who have filed an administrative claim with the DON or have a lawsuit filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina may still receive settlement offers under the Elective Option. The DOJ will screen already-filed cases and make settlement offers to cases who meet the qualifying criteria above. 

Will A Camp Lejeune Settlement impact My VA Benefits?

The DOJ and DON have clarified that any payments made to Camp Lejeune clients who participate in the Elective Option are not offset by VA benefits or medical care, and will not impact any ongoing treatment provided by the VA. 

Minnesota Camp Lejeune Lawyers

GoldenbergLaw’s Minneapolis-based team of Camp Lejeune attorneys has over 37 years of experience resolving complex toxic exposure cases. We are representing many Marines and their families who have been exposed the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and are currently accepting new cases. Contact us today for a free Camp Lejeune lawsuit consultation.