Published October 5, 2026
Nearly four years after Congress opened the door to Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuits, the litigation finally has trial dates. U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle has set the first two cases for trial in federal court in North Carolina, Public Radio East reported: a case brought by a plaintiff named Mousser begins November 9, 2026, and a case brought by a plaintiff named Fancher begins November 16.
Both cases involve kidney cancer, and both will be heard by the judge rather than a jury, as the Camp Lejeune Justice Act provides for claims against the government. Judge Boyle has indicated he wants the trials tightly focused, describing them as a possible dress rehearsal for the much larger litigation. Two other cases from the same initial group have not yet been scheduled.
Earlier reporting had suggested the first trials could start in October. The November dates fall after the court's October 30 settlement deadline (see our coverage of that deadline).
The two sides read the evidence on kidney cancer very differently. The Justice Department points to a federal study comparing Camp Lejeune with Camp Pendleton in California that found 710 kidney cancer cases among Lejeune personnel versus 721 at Pendleton, a roughly 6% higher rate that was not statistically significant. Plaintiffs rely on research from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry linking exposure at the base to higher kidney cancer risk, including a 21% higher mortality hazard, though that figure also did not reach statistical significance.
From 1953 to 1987, the base's water was contaminated with industrial solvents including TCE and PCE, and more than a million people may have been exposed. The government has offered more than $1 billion through its settlement program and thousands of claims have been resolved, but most claimants are still waiting. How the court weighs the kidney cancer science in these first cases could shape the value of many more.
If you or a family member lived or worked at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 and later developed kidney cancer or another serious illness, see Atumio's Camp Lejeune case page for a free eligibility review, or start your case review directly.