The presence of PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances) in drinking water is creating public health and unsafe drinking water supply issues in many communities across the country. PFOA and PFOS are manmade chemicals that are found in consumer products. PFOA, perfluorooctanoic acid, is in Teflon products (among others). PFOS, perfluorooctane sulfonate, is used to make firefighting foam. AFFF is a foam primarily used as a fire suppressant for flammable liquids. It was historically used on military bases, airports, and by municipal firefighters in extinguishing Class B fires. The most studied PFAS are perfluorooctanoic acid (“PFOA”) and perfluoroctane sulfonic acid (“PFOS”) which have been proven to be harmful to human health. These chemicals are persistent, non-degrading chemicals that rapidly contaminate the environment and last for generations. These chemicals have seeped into the water supply in many communities.
Lawsuits are currently pending in various state and federal courts around the country on behalf of individuals and governmental municipal water suppliers seeking to recover costs of remediation, modification to water supply systems, past and future operation and maintenance of water supply systems, engineering costs, legal costs, and sampling costs. Despite decades of knowledge, the defendants did not disclose that their products contained these dangerous chemicals. Public entities that have filed suit have typically done so under causes of action for 1) strict product liability, 2) failure to warn, 3) negligence, 4) public nuisance, 5) private nuisance, and 6) trespass. Punitive damages may also be available. Cases where the alleged source of PFAS contamination is from firefighting foam (AFFF), have been centralized in In Re: Aqueous Film-Forming Foams POroducts Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2873 before the Honorable Judge Gergel in Charleston, South Carolina. Settlements between water providers and PFAS manufacturers DuPont and 3M Company have been proposed for $1.18 billion and $12.5 billion respectively. It is not too late to file your AFFF firefighting foam lawsuit and participate in any global settlement program that might get finalized this year.
Ron Austin Law is accepting cases from victims of PFOA & PFOS contamination in drinking water, including individual municipalities, cities, counties, tribal councils, and individuals exposed to contaminated drinking water to recover property damage and medical monitoring for the communities impacted, and compensation for loss of business in affected areas and serious health issues individuals are facing: ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, testicular cancer, and kidney cancer.
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