Northrop Grumman Soil Contamination Settlement, Check If You Qualify — Behar, et al. v. Northrop Grumman Corp., No. 2:21-cv-03946-HDV-SK

October 10, 2026. That’s your deadline to claim money from the Northrop Grumman soil contamination settlement — and it’s closer than it sounds. Northrop Grumman is paying $75,000,000 to current and former homeowners in the Canoga Park and Winnetka area over alleged soil and groundwater contamination. Filing takes about 10 minutes online, using the Unique ID and PIN mailed with your notice.

Northrop Grumman Soil Contamination Settlement — Key Facts

Settlement Amount	$75,000,000
Claim Deadline	October 10, 2026
Who Qualifies	Current and former owners of single-family homes or townhomes in the mapped Canoga Park/Winnetka Class Area
Estimated Payout	Sub-Area A: ~$21,110 · Sub-Area B: ~$16,037 · Sub-Area C: ~$7,494 · Former Owners: ~$444 (per home)
Proof Required (Yes/No)	Yes — proof of property ownership
Settlement Status	Preliminarily approved; Final Approval Hearing pending
Court & Case Number	U.S. District Court, Central District of California — No. 2:21-cv-03946-HDV-SK
Law Alleged	Negligence, private nuisance, trespass
Administrator	A.B. Data, Ltd.
Official Claim Site	canogaparkclassaction.com
Last Updated	September 3, 2026

Who Is Northrop Grumman and Why Are They Being Sued for Soil Contamination?

Northrop Grumman is one of the country’s largest defense and aerospace contractors, but this case traces back to something much smaller: a facility at 8020 Deering Ave. in Canoga Park that an alleged legal predecessor ran in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Plaintiffs say that operation left trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) in the soil and groundwater under the neighborhood — chemicals that can require vapor-intrusion mitigation systems in nearby homes decades later. Northrop Grumman denies responsibility and says its own cleanup efforts have already shrunk the contamination plume.

What Did Northrop Grumman Do to Canoga Park Homeowners?

The lawsuit, brought by homeowners Jed Behar and Alisa Behar, claims decades-old industrial contamination never really went away. TCE and PCE are industrial solvents once common in manufacturing, and both can trigger long-term property and health concerns when they turn up in soil and groundwater under homes.

Plaintiffs argue the contamination cut into property values across the neighborhood and left many houses needing vapor-intrusion mitigation just to be safe over the long term. The claims rest on three legal theories — negligence, private nuisance, and trespass — all built on the idea that contamination crossing onto someone’s property without permission is a legal harm, even without anyone getting sick.

Northrop Grumman isn’t admitting any of this. The company denies responsibility, denies any drop in property values, and says its own testing shows the contamination is shrinking. The court hasn’t decided who’s right — this settlement resolves the case without either side proving it to a jury.

Who Qualifies for the Northrop Grumman Soil Contamination Settlement?

Here’s exactly how to know if this case includes you.

• Homeowners who currently own a single-family home or townhome inside the mapped Class Area in Canoga Park or Winnetka
• Anyone who owned a home in the Class Area as of July 1, 2024, but sold it before August 11, 2026 (a “Former Owner”)
• Property owners whose address appears on the official Class Area address list, however long they’ve lived there
• Co-owners of a single property — though the settlement pays out just one check per home, split among the owners

Who doesn’t qualify: Northrop Grumman employees, and owners of condos, apartments, or commercial property that fall outside the single-family-home and townhome definition.

Sub-Area A homes are estimated at roughly $21,110 each — Sub-Area C homes closer to $7,494. Which sub-area you’re in changes your payout more than almost anything else in this case.

Northrop Grumman Settlement — Homes Outside the Class Area, Are You Still Covered?

No. This settlement is tied to a specific, mapped Class Area covering three sub-areas around Canoga Park and Winnetka, not a citywide or countywide boundary. If your address isn’t on the official Class Area list, you’re not part of this settlement, even if you live nearby.

Not sure if you qualify for the Northrop Grumman soil contamination settlement? A free consultation with an environmental contamination attorney can help before the October 10 deadline.

How Much Can Northrop Grumman Soil Contamination Settlement Class Members Get? Up to $21,110 Per Home

Payouts depend on where your home sits on the Class Area map. Each sub-area splits a fixed share of the settlement fund equally among everyone in that sub-area who files a valid claim, so more of your neighbors filing does shrink each check slightly — the opposite of a windfall, but still real money.

Northrop Grumman Payout by Sub-Area

• Sub-Area A (about 789 homes): estimated $21,110 per home
• Sub-Area B (about 727 homes): estimated $16,037 per home
• Sub-Area C (about 1,778 homes): estimated $7,494 per home
• Former Owners who sold after July 1, 2024: estimated $444 per home

One payment goes out per property, regardless of how many people own it. Payments over $600 may be reported on a 1099 — check with a tax professional before you spend the check.

The attorneys are asking for up to $30 million of that $75 million fund — 40% — plus another $3 million in costs. That’s not unusual for a case that’s been in court since 2021, but it’s worth knowing before you assume the whole number is headed to homeowners.

How to File Your Northrop Grumman Soil Contamination Settlement Claim — Step by Step

1. Go to canogaparkclassaction.com and click “File Online Claim Form.”
2. Enter the Unique ID and PIN mailed or emailed to you with your Settlement Notice.
3. Confirm which sub-area your home falls into using the Class Area Address Search tool.
4. Upload proof of ownership — a deed, title record, or property tax statement works.
5. Submit the form and save your confirmation number.
6. Watch your mail or email — the Class Administrator, A.B. Data, will reach out if anything’s missing.

Takes about 10 minutes. The claim deadline is October 10, 2026 — mark it now.

Should Northrop Grumman Settlement Class Members Opt Out or Object Before September 25, 2026?

What Opting Out of the Northrop Grumman Settlement Actually Means

Opting out means no payment, but it preserves your right to sue Northrop Grumman on your own over the same contamination claims. Most people shouldn’t opt out without legal advice, since it trades a fixed number for an uncertain one. The opt-out deadline is September 25, 2026, and requests must be mailed to the Class Administrator — not emailed or called in.

How to Object to the Northrop Grumman Settlement

Objecting means staying in the class while telling the court you disagree with part or all of the deal. Written objections must be received or postmarked by September 25, 2026, and follow the format required for Behar v. Northrop Grumman Corp., Case No. 2:21-cv-03946-HDV-SK.

Talk to a class action lawsuit attorney before September 25 if you’re considering either option.

Northrop Grumman Soil Contamination Settlement — Key Dates, 2026

Milestone	Date
Settlement Notice Date	August 11, 2026
Claims Period Opens	August 11, 2026
Opt-Out Deadline	September 25, 2026
Objection Deadline	September 25, 2026
Claim Filing Deadline	October 10, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	November 12, 2026, 10:00 AM Pacific Time
Expected Payment Date	UNVERIFIED — payments begin within 45 days after the settlement’s Effective Date, which depends on final approval and any appeals

Northrop Grumman Soil Contamination — Frequently Asked Questions, No. 2:21-cv-03946-HDV-SK

Do I need a lawyer to file a Northrop Grumman soil contamination settlement claim?

 No. The Claim Form is built to be filed without a lawyer, and Class Counsel is already being paid from the settlement fund to represent the class. You can still hire your own attorney at your own expense for individual advice.

Is the Northrop Grumman soil contamination settlement legitimate?

 Yes. It’s overseen by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Behar v. Northrop Grumman Corp., No. 2:21-cv-03946-HDV-SK, and run by A.B. Data, a licensed class action settlement administrator.

When will Northrop Grumman settlement payments be sent? 

Not before the Final Approval Hearing on November 12, 2026. Payments go out within 45 days of the settlement’s “Effective Date,” which could slip further if anyone appeals the court’s approval.

What if I missed the Northrop Grumman claim deadline?

 Claim Forms postmarked or received after October 10, 2026 won’t be accepted, and you’ll lose your right to a payment while still being bound by the settlement’s release — unless you’d opted out earlier.

Will my Northrop Grumman settlement payment go on a 1099? 

The Class Administrator will issue any required IRS tax forms, and you’re responsible for the tax treatment yourself — talk to a tax professional before you spend the check.

What’s the difference between a current owner and a Former Owner in this settlement?

 Current owners split their sub-area’s pool based on where their home sits on the Class Area map, while Former Owners — who owned a home as of July 1, 2024 but sold before August 11, 2026 — split a separate $100,000 pool instead.

Can more than one person file a claim for the same Canoga Park home? 

Yes, co-owners can each be named on the claim, but the settlement issues one check per property, and the owners are responsible for splitting it — the administrator won’t referee that.

How much of the $75 million goes to attorneys instead of homeowners? 

Class Counsel is asking for up to 40% of the fund — $30 million — plus up to $3 million in costs, an amount the court still has to approve at the November 12 hearing.

Sources Used in This Northrop Grumman Soil Contamination Article

• Official Settlement Website — Canoga Park Class Action Settlement, administered by A.B. Data, Ltd.: https://canogaparkclassaction.com/
• Official Settlement FAQ — Behar, et al. v. Northrop Grumman Corp., et al., No. 2:21-cv-03946-HDV-SK: https://canogaparkclassaction.com/frequently-asked-questions/
• Official Settlement Important Dates & Deadlines page: https://canogaparkclassaction.com/important-dates-deadlines/

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against the official settlement website administered by A.B. Data, Ltd., as of September 3, 2026. Last Updated: September 3, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by state and individual circumstances differ. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.