Canoga Park Class Action: Northrop Grumman’s $75 Million Settlement
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The Canoga Park class action is Behar v. Northrop Grumman, a federal case over TCE and PCE contamination in Canoga Park and Winnetka. Northrop settled for $75 million in the middle of trial. The claim deadline was October 10, 2026, and it has passed. The judge decides on final approval on November 12, 2026. No money has been paid yet.
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Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What the Lawsuit Says Happened
Homeowners Jed and Alisa Behar sued in May 2021. The lawsuit alleges that operations at 8020 Deering Ave., Canoga Park, run by what the complaint calls Northrop Grumman’s legal predecessor, contaminated soil and groundwater under the neighborhood with trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE).
The plaintiffs allege that the contamination lowered property values and that homes need vapor-intrusion mitigation, meaning systems that keep chemical vapors from rising into a house. Northrop Grumman Corporation and Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation deny the allegations and deny any wrongdoing or liability.
This is a property case. The settlement does not release claims for personal injury, wrongful death or medical monitoring.
Case Details
Behar, et al. v. Northrop Grumman Corp., et al., Case No. 2:21-cv-03946-HDV-SK, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, before Judge Hernán D. Vera. The court certified two classes on July 1, 2024 (Dkt. 175). The parties reached their settlement in the middle of trial, and the agreement was filed on June 1, 2026 (Dkt. 408-1).
There is also a separate suit. Law360 reported that a day before preliminary approval, hundreds of neighborhood residents filed a similar lawsuit in California state court. That case is not part of this settlement, and we have not confirmed its court or case number.
Status: Claims Closed, Final Approval Pending
The Final Approval Hearing is November 12, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific in Courtroom 5B in Los Angeles. At that hearing the court will also rule on the lawyers’ fee request. Nothing is paid before final approval and any appeals. The official settlement website is canogaparkclassaction.com, run by administrator A.B. Data. We covered the notice in our news report: Northrop’s $75 million deal and the per-home estimates.
Who Is in the Settlement Class
The class covers owners of single-family homes and townhomes inside the mapped Class Area in Canoga Park and Winnetka. It has two groups:
Current owners: people who owned an eligible home as of August 11, 2026.
Former owners: people who owned one as of July 1, 2024, and sold it by August 11, 2026.
Northrop Grumman employees are excluded. The Class Area is split into three sub-areas: about 789 homes in A, 727 in B and 1,778 in C. The official site has a map and an address search. Renters are not in the class, because it is defined by ownership.
How Much Each Home Could Get
Each home gets one payment, no matter how many people own it. Co-owners split the check among themselves. If a home was sold after July 1, 2024, both the former owner and the current owner may be paid, from different pools.
Fees come out of the $75 million first. Class Counsel is asking for up to 40% ($30,000,000), up to $3,000,000 in costs, and service awards of up to $30,000 for each of the two named plaintiffs. Administration is estimated at no more than $200,000. If there is an appeal, counsel plans to ask for up to 45% ($33,750,000). The court decides the fees. Only people who filed a valid claim by October 10, 2026, will be paid.
How cases like this one end
Our copy of the federal courts’ own case database covers 4,290 federal civil cases of this typeclosed in U.S. federal district courts between 2015 and 2026, 5.2% of them filed as class actions:
- 24.2% ended in a settlement recorded by the court. Another 31.9% were dismissed voluntarily, which often follows a private settlement — so the real settlement share sits between 24.2% and 56.1%.
- 6.6% were decided on a motion before any trial.
- 1 in 73 reached a trial (1.4%), after a median of 27.2 months.
- Median time from filing to the end of the case: 16.2 months.
- Only 61 of them (1.4%) record a money award at all; the median of those is $1,236,000.
These are base rates for this type of case — not a prediction about this lawsuit, and not legal advice. Source: Federal Judicial Center, Integrated Database (civil), analysed by Settlement Insight. Cases heard in state courts are not included.
Canoga Park Class Action Timeline
- 1
May 10, 2021 — Lawsuit Filed
Jed and Alisa Behar file a class action against Northrop Grumman in federal court in Los Angeles. It is amended September 1, 2021, and March 21, 2023.
- 2
July 1, 2024 — Classes Certified
The court certifies two classes of property owners (Dkt. 175), and the case moves toward trial.
- 3
June 1, 2026 — Midtrial Settlement Filed
The parties settle for $75 million in the middle of trial. The agreement is filed as Dkt. 408-1.
- 4
July 16, 2026 — Preliminary Approval
Judge Hernán D. Vera grants preliminary approval on July 16; the written order (Dkt. 425) is filed July 28, 2026. Notice goes out dated August 11, 2026.
- 5
September 25 and October 10, 2026 — Deadlines Pass
The opt-out and objection deadline closes on September 25, 2026. The claim deadline closes on October 10, 2026.
- 6
November 12, 2026 — Final Approval Hearing
The court decides whether to approve the settlement and the fee request. Payments come only after approval and any appeals.
Court Documents
Read the key filings yourself. We host copies of the public court record, free to read and share.
Case: Jed Behar v. Northrup Grumman Corporation, No. 2:21-cv-03946 (C.D. Cal.)
- ComplaintMay 10, 2021 · ECF No. 1 · 34 pages · PDF, 1.4 MB
- Second Amended ComplaintAug 3, 2022 · ECF No. 73 · 29 pages · PDF, 676 KB
A complaint states one side's allegations; only the court's orders decide anything. Copies of federal court records (PACER) via CourtListener, Free Law Project. Not legal advice.
Three Things to Watch For
Large per-home estimates and a closed deadline invite these approaches:
“We can still file your claim” offers
The deadline was October 10, 2026. The official FAQ also says claim forms sent through third parties, such as claims aggregators, are not valid. Anyone offering a late filing, or a filing for a cut of your check, cannot do what they promise.
Fees to “release” your check
Nothing is payable before final approval and any appeals. After that, the administrator has 45 days to issue payments. The official notice lists no fee a class member pays to receive a check — fees and costs come out of the fund. Check any contact by calling the number on the official site, (833) 419-5050.
“Sign now or lose your health claim”
This settlement covers property damage and mitigation only. Personal injury, wrongful death and medical-monitoring claims are not released. A separate state-court case exists, so you may get legal solicitations. Read any retainer as a contract, not a registration form.
Canoga Park Class Action — Questions People Actually Ask
What is the Canoga Park class action?
It is Behar v. Northrop Grumman, No. 2:21-cv-03946 in the Central District of California. Homeowners allege that TCE and PCE contamination from a former industrial site at 8020 Deering Ave. reduced their property values. Northrop settled for $75 million in the middle of trial and denies wrongdoing.
Can I still file a claim?
No. The claim deadline was October 10, 2026, and the official site says it has passed. The opt-out and objection deadline of September 25, 2026, has also passed.
How much will I get per home?
Estimated: $21,110 in Sub-Area A, $16,037 in Sub-Area B, $7,494 in Sub-Area C, and $444 for former owners who sold after July 1, 2024. Each home gets one payment. The final amounts depend on the fee award, costs and the number of valid claims.
When will the Canoga Park settlement pay?
Not before the Final Approval Hearing on November 12, 2026. After approval, and after any appeals, which can take more than a year, Northrop funds the settlement within 30 days. The administrator aims to pay within 45 days of the Effective Date. Checks are valid for 180 days.
Does the settlement cover cancer or other health claims?
No. It resolves property-damage and mitigation claims only. Personal injury, wrongful death and medical-monitoring claims are not released, and staying in the class does not stop you from filing those separately.
Is canogaparkclassaction.com legit?
Yes. It is the official site maintained by the court-supervised Class Administrator, A.B. Data, and its phone number is (833) 419-5050. A door-hanger reminder notice was also authorized by court order, so a paper notice left at your door can be genuine.
How much goes to the lawyers?
Class Counsel is requesting up to 40% of the fund ($30,000,000) plus up to $3,000,000 in costs. Judge Vera decides the actual amount at or after the November 12, 2026, hearing.
I sold my house, or I co-own it. What happens?
If you owned on July 1, 2024, and sold by August 11, 2026, you are a former owner, paid an equal share of a $100,000 pool if you filed a valid claim. Co-owners receive one check per home and divide it themselves. The IRS tax forms come from the administrator.
Separate from this case: were you injured in the last 2 years?
Class-action payouts are fixed amounts through an administrator. A personal injury claim is a different case — and often worth far more. Free estimate, no obligation.
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