Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Murphy
Introduced
Summary
Clarifies and reorganizes how Camp Lejeune water‑contamination claims are proved and handled in court, with new rules on venue, evidence, attorney fees, and retroactive effect. The bill would change where victims file claims, what plaintiffs must prove about exposure and harm, set caps on contingency fees, and make those changes apply back to August 10, 2022.
Show full summary
- Families and victims: Plaintiffs would need to show a link between the type of contaminant and their injury and that they were at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days. The evidentiary rule requires proof that a causal relationship either exists or is at least as likely as not.
- Courts and cases: The bill removes the rule forcing initial filing only in the Eastern District of North Carolina. That court would still control coordinated pretrial work, but cases may be transferred for pretrial and trial to the Eastern, Middle, or Western Districts of North Carolina or the District of South Carolina. Jurors may decide trials and courts must resolve these cases on an expedited schedule.
- Attorneys and fees: Contingency fee caps would be 20 percent for settlements reached before a civil action is filed and 25 percent for settlements or judgments after filing. Fee splits between firms must match the work performed and attorneys may agree to lower fees.
The changes would take effect as if enacted on August 10, 2022 and apply to any claim under Section 804 that is pending or filed on or after enactment.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Lower lawyer fees for Camp Lejeune claims
If enacted, lawyers could take no more than 20% of a settlement reached before you file a civil case. If you file a case, fees could not exceed 25% of any judgment or later settlement. Lawyers from different firms would have to split fees based on their work. You and your lawyer could agree to a lower fee. These caps would apply as if starting August 10, 2022.
Faster Camp Lejeune cases and jury option
If enacted, pretrial coordination would occur in the Eastern District of North Carolina. You could ask to transfer your case for pretrial and trial to other North Carolina districts or the District of South Carolina. Courts would have to move these cases faster. Either side could ask for a jury trial against the United States. These rules would apply as if starting August 10, 2022.
Retroactive rules and unchanged deadlines for Lejeune claims
If enacted, the new rules would apply as if they began on August 10, 2022. They would cover pending cases and new cases filed on or after enactment. The bill would not change the existing statute of limitations in section 804(j). Filing deadlines and who can file would stay the same.
New proof rules for Camp Lejeune cases
If enacted, you would need to show a link between a Camp Lejeune water contaminant and your type of harm. You would also need to show you were at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days, even if not in a row. To prove cause, your evidence must either support a causal relationship or show it is at least as likely as not. These standards would apply as if starting August 10, 2022.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Murphy
NC • R
Cosponsors
Neguse
CO • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Ruiz
CA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Hoyle (OR)
OR • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Golden (ME)
ME • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Conaway
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Barr
KY • R
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Ivey
MD • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Hunt
TX • R
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Wasserman Schultz
FL • D
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Schmidt
KS • R
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Ross
NC • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Tenney
NY • R
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Knott
NC • R
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Hudson
NC • R
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Rouzer
NC • R
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Harrigan
NC • R
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Moore (NC)
NC • R
Sponsored 6/25/2025
McDowell
NC • R
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Haridopolos
FL • R
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Davis (NC)
NC • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Foushee
NC • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Adams
NC • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Magaziner
RI • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Mace
SC • R
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Miller (WV)
WV • R
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Lee (FL)
FL • R
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Espaillat
NY • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Amo
RI • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Swalwell
CA • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Lieu
CA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Ciscomani
AZ • R
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Van Orden
WI • R
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Correa
CA • D
Sponsored 7/17/2025
Kamlager-Dove
CA • D
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Garcia (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 7/25/2025
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Nadler
NY • D
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Cuellar
TX • D
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Larson (CT)
CT • D
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Thompson (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 8/15/2025
Lofgren
CA • D
Sponsored 8/15/2025
Vindman
VA • D
Sponsored 8/15/2025
McClain Delaney
MD • D
Sponsored 8/29/2025
Kelly (PA)
PA • R
Sponsored 8/29/2025
Edwards
NC • R
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Harris (NC)
NC • R
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Garamendi
CA • D
Sponsored 9/3/2025
Foxx
NC • R
Sponsored 9/3/2025
Cleaver
MO • D
Sponsored 9/4/2025
Rogers (KY)
KY • R
Sponsored 9/4/2025
Gooden
TX • R
Sponsored 9/8/2025
Biggs (SC)
SC • R
Sponsored 9/8/2025
Van Drew
NJ • R
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Comer
KY • R
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Harshbarger
TN • R
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Courtney
CT • D
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Loudermilk
GA • R
Sponsored 9/10/2025
Buchanan
FL • R
Sponsored 9/10/2025
Rutherford
FL • R
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Moulton
MA • D
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Crow
CO • D
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Subramanyam
VA • D
Sponsored 9/19/2025
Jayapal
WA • D
Sponsored 9/19/2025
Carter (GA)
GA • R
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Del. King-Hinds, Kimberlyn [R-MP-At Large]
MP • R
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Walkinshaw
VA • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Olszewski
MD • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Ryan
NY • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Boyle (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Sykes
OH • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Stanton
AZ • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Wilson (SC)
SC • R
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Wied
WI • R
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Bresnahan
PA • R
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Messmer
IN • R
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Houlahan
PA • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Pocan
WI • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Friedman
CA • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Pou
NJ • D
Sponsored 12/30/2025
Kustoff
TN • R
Sponsored 3/16/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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