PFAS and PFOA Lawsuit

This section contains news about PFAS and PFOA lawsuits and what plaintiffs can expect going forward. This section was last updated on: February 15, 2022.

February 4, 2022: Three water companies in Hoosick Falls, New York agreed to a $65 million settlement which will benefit the residents affected by PFOA water contamination.

Over 2,300 lawsuits were filed against Honeywell, Saint-Gobain, and 3M claiming these manufacturers used PFOA knowing it would cause contamination and injury.  The settlement includes a substantial medical monitoring program which tests for PFOA exposure and individual assessment for potential health issues.

January 20, 2022: A New York district judge dismisses the claims against Du Pont and others in a claim filed to seek payment for water treatment upgrades needed to filter toxic substances, including PFAS. The lawsuit claimed that these companes contributed to the state’s water pollution. 

May 16, 2022: The first bellwether trials for PFAS lawsuits are pushed back to March 2023.

Because of PFAS’ strong chemical bonds, it takes a significant amount of time before it degrades in the environment. Scientists are still currently unable to determine the amount of time it takes for PFAS to degrade in the environment. As a result, these chemicals seep into the soil, air, and water, increasing the risk of exposure of residents in nearby areas. Exposure to PFAS poses numerous health issues ranging from short-term ailments to life-changing diseases.

On April 27, 2021, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) created the EPA Council of PFAS which will be primarily in charge of better understanding and managing the potential risk from these chemicals. The agency is also responsible for moving forward and taking action based on the February 2019 EPA PFAS Action Plan, which contains current research on the complex problems experienced by the communities affected by PFAS contamination.

The CDC Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) created a map to help individuals identify if their area has possible PFAS contamination.

In February 2018, the state of Minnesota reached a $850 million settlement with 3M regarding a PFAS lawsuit involving water contamination of the Twin Cities Metropolitan area. The lawsuit alleged that the company’s production contaminated the city’ drinking water and natural resources. 

In May 2019, another city in Minnesota, Lake Elmo, reached a settlement with 3M for another PFAS drinking water contamination lawsuit. Aside from a $2.7 million payment to the city’s water account, 3M also transferred 180 acres of farmland worth $1.8 million.

In October 2019, the state of New Hampshire filed a lawsuit against companies using PFAS in their products, including DuPont and 3M. The lawsuit continues the claim that these chemicals resulted in water contamination in several areas of the state.

The first PFAS lawsuit bellwether trials have been pushed back to March 2023 to allow for additional time for fact discovery and adjustments in deadlines. They were originally set in January 2023. 

To date, multiple states have filed PFAS lawsuits against various companies that use these chemicals in production. These include: Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Vermont, and Alaska. More lawsuits are expected to arise as damages from PFAS are discovered.