AFFF Firefighting Foam Lawsuits
The product liability lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. provide free AFFF lawsuit consultations for individuals throughout the United States who have been diagnosed with cancer that may have been caused by side effects of chemicals in AFFF (Aqueous Film-Forming Foam).
This fire suppression foam has been used for decades at military bases, airports and by civilian firefighting organizations during training exercises and in response to fuel-based fires, which can not be controlled by water alone. However, firefighters were not warned about dangerous chemicals that are known to accumulate in the body and may cause a risk of cancer or other disease.
- Testicular Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Bladder Cancer
- Thyroid Cancer
- Thyroid Disease (Hypothyroidism or Hyperthyroidism)
- Graves Disease
- Hashimotos Disease
All AFFF lawsuit cases are pursued by our lawyers under a contingency fee agreement, which means that there are never any out-of-pocket costs to hire our law firm and we only receive an attorney fee or expenses if a firefighter foam lawsuit settlement or recovery is obtained for you and your family.
Call 1-800-522-0102 or request a free case evaluation to get started today!
AFFF Firefighting Foam Lawsuit Status
- As of 2024, nearly 7,000 AFFF foam lawsuits have been filed throughout the federal court system, including firefighter cancer lawsuits and water contamination lawsuits being pursued against manufacturers of the firefighting foam.
- U.S. District Judge Richard M. Gergel is presiding over all pretrial proceedings in the District of South Carolina, as part of an MDL or multidistrict litigation.
- The first firefighting foam injury lawsuits involving kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, liver cancer and thyroid cancer are being prepared for early trials to help gauge how juries are likely to respond to certain evidence and testimony that will be repeated throughout the AFFF litigation.
- Firefighting foam lawyers are still investigating and pursuing new AFFF lawsuits for firefighters diagnosed with testicular cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer, thyroid cancer and thyroid disease following exposure to PFAS chemicals in AFFF products.
2024 AFFF Firefighting Foam Lawsuit Updates
March 14, 2024 Update: Plaintiffs filed a response on March 13, 2024, proposing that the second track of AFFF injury lawsuits to be prepared for trial should include claims involving thyroid cancer and liver cancer.
January 2, 2024 Update: The U.S. District Judge overseeing the AFFF firefighting foam MDL released a case management order providing the parties a 24-week period to conduct core discovery on the selected cases for the initial bellwether trials. According to the order, the parties will begin parties exchanging relevant documents and information, such as medical records, and conducting limited depositions of plaintiffs and key witnesses and company officials during the time.
December 19, 2023 Update: As the first series of AFFF lawsuits selected for early trial dates undergo core discovery, the judge presiding over the AFFF litigation has directed the parties to meet and establish a plan for selecting a second pool of bellwether claims involving different injuries related to AFFF exposure, and to prepare a schedule for conducting pretrial discovery of the claims.
May 5, 2023 Update: Judge Gergel issued a case management order on May 5, 2023, instructing the parties to prepare a list of 28 AFFF personal injury claims to serve as a bellwether pool. The cases will include eight kidney cancer claims, eight testicular cancer claims, eight thyroid disease claims and four ulcerative colitis claims.
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2022 AFFF Lawsuit Updates
October 2022 AFFF Lawsuit Update: An AFFF foam lawsuit over water contamination in Stuart, Florida has been selected for the first bellwether trial, which will go before a jury in June 2023 to help the parties gauge how juries are likely to respond to certain evidence and testimony that will be brought against the manufacturers of firefighting foam and toxic PFAS chemicals.September 2022 Lawsuit Update: Judge Gergel has denied an attempt by 3M Company to escape liability in AFFF foam lawsuits under a government contractor defense, finding that the manufacturer failed to disclose information to the U.S. government or scientific community about the risks associated with PFAS chemicals in the firefighting foam. This important ruling will allow thousands of claims to move forward and hold the firefighting foam manufacturers accountable for placing profits before the safety of firefighters and others.
2024 AFFF Lawsuit Settlement Updates
February 8, 2024 Update: In an order and opinion (PDF) issued on February 8, 2024, Judge Richard M. Gergel issued final approval of a $1.2 billion AFFF water contamination lawsuit settlement with DuPont, Chemguard, and other manufacturers over water contamination from firefighting foam (AFFF), aimed at compensating municipalities and water providers nationwide for cleanup costs.
June 23, 2023 Update: According to a filing with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) on June 22, 2023, a $12.5 billion 3M AFFF Firefighting foam settlement has been reached between the manufacturer and cities and communities nationwide to resolve claims that toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminated water systems nationwide after use during firefighter training and response exercises.
January 10, 2021 Update: Tyco, a subsidiary of Johnson Controls has agreed to pay $17.5 million to settle an AFFF class action lawsuit that raised allegations that the manufacturer contaminated local drinking water in Wisconsin, affecting approximately 1,200 residents in 300 homes near a Tyco facility. The $17.5 million AFFF settlement agreement will include $15 million for class-wide claims and property damage, and approximately $2.5 million to individuals diagnosed with various types of cancer linked to PFAS exposure.
AFFF Firefighting Foam MDL
As the number of AFFF firefighting foam cases over cancer, disease and groundwater contamination surged across multiple U.S. District Courts, a group of plaintiffs petitioned the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) in September 2018, requesting that all firefighting foam lawsuits be consolidated into a single jurisdiction for streamlined pretrial proceedings.
The JPML responded with a transfer order in December 2018, consolidating all AFFF claims into an Aqueous Film Forming Foams Products Liability Multidistrict Litigation (MDL), where the claims have been centralized in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina before Judge Richard M. Gergel.
With nearly 7,000 AFFF lawsuits registered in the AFFF MDL as of 2024, Judge Gergel has established a bellwether process, in which a series of representative claims will be prepared for early trial dates to determine how juries will respond to evidence repeated throughout the litigation.
While the outcomes of these AFFF bellwether trials will not have any binding impact on the remaining claims, verdicts returned by juries could influence whether a global settlement may be offered by the manufacturers for specific injuries.
AFFF Cancer, Thyroid Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Bellwether Trials
The first series of AFFF lawsuit that are being prepared for early trial dates will include 28 claims involving;
- Kidney cancer (8)
- Testicular cancer (8)
- Thyroid disease (8)
- Ulcerative colitis (4)
Each of the claims involve individuals alleging they were exposed to contaminated water near Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, the Willow Grove Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base and the Naval Air Warfare Center in Warminster.
AFFF Thyroid Cancer and Liver Cancer Bellwether Trials
In March 2024, plaintiff’s issued a response to a court order proposing that the second track of AFFF lawsuits should include claims alleging that exposure to AFFF resulted in;
- Liver cancer
- Thyroid cancer
AFFF Lawsuit Frequently Asked Questions
Who Are The Defendants In The AFFF Lawsuit?
Defendants in AFFF lawsuits are typically manufacturers of aqueous film forming foam products, firefighting foam distributors, and other related entities. Some of the most commonly named defendants in lawsuits have included 3M Company, DuPont, Tyco Fire Products and other manufacturers.
Who Qualifies For The AFFF Lawsuit?
Individuals who have suffered injuries or damages due to exposure to AFFF exposure may qualify for the AFFF lawsuit. This includes firefighters, military personnel, airport workers, and others exposed to the firefighting foam.
What Is The Statute Of Limitations For AFFF Lawsuits?
The statute of limitations for AFFF lawsuits vary by state, but it generally starts from the date of discovery of injuries or damages caused by AFFF exposure. Because time limitations vary, it is crucial to take legal action promptly.
What Are The Expected AFFF Lawsuit Settlement Amounts?
The expected settlement amounts for AFFF foam lawsuits can vary significantly depending on the extent of injuries, damages, and the strength of the evidence presented. Each case is unique, and lawsuit settlement amounts are determined on a case-by-case basis.
Who Can File a Firefighting Foam Lawsuit?
Individuals who have been harmed by exposure to firefighting foam can file an AFFF lawsuit. This includes not only firefighters or military personnel, but also civilians and workers who were exposed to the toxic firefighting foam and suffered adverse health effects.
AFFF Fire Fighting Foam Health Risks
Aqueous film forming foam was first introduced in the 1960s and designed specifically for use on petroleum-based fires where traditional water suppression alone would be ineffective and inadvisable. They have been in use for decades by both military and civilian firefighters in response to Class B fires.
Does Firefighting Foam Contain PFAS?
AFFF firefighting foam does contain chemicals known as poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), which include perfluoroctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluoroctanoic acid (PFOA).
These firefighting foam chemicals have been found to bind to proteins in the blood, as well as leach into drinking water supplies and into the soil. They are not biodegradable and are projected to take thousands of years to degrade, earning the nickname “forever chemicals”.
Prior to the use of PFAS in AFFF, the chemicals have not been widely found or detected in the human body. However, the fire foam chemicals are toxic and carcinogenic chemicals that have been linked to a number of health effects, including liver damage, thyroid disease, decreased fertility, high cholesterol, obesity, hormone suppression and cancer.
AFFF manufacturers knew or should have known for decades that PFAS chemicals may persist over long periods of time and accumulate in the body of firefighters and others who come into contact with the chemicals, yet warnings do not adequately disclose the unreasonable risk of PFAS exposure on the human body.
What Type of Cancer is Caused by AFFF?
AFFF has been linked to various types of cancer due to its exposure to certain toxic chemicals, particularly PFAS. Exposure to firefighting foam containing PFAS has been associated with the following types of cancers:
- Testicular Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Bladder Cancer
- Thyroid Cancer
- Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Leukemia
It’s important to note that research into the health effects of AFFF exposure is still ongoing, and the potential link to cancer may vary depending on factors like the duration and intensity of exposure.
If you believe you have been exposed to AFFF and are experiencing health issues, it is essential to consult with a healthcare professional and seek legal advice to understand your options.
Cancer Diagnosis from Exposure to Firefighting Foam May Have Been Prevented
PFAS chemicals in AFFF foam are known to persist over extremely long periods of time, accumulating in the body of individuals exposed, regardless of how small the contact. As a result, individuals may face long-term health risks.
Who Is At Risk For Exposure To Firefighting Foam?
Individuals who are at risk for exposure to firefighting foam include but are not limited to:
- Firefighters
- Airport Personnel
- Military Service Members
- Industrial Workers
- Emergency Responders
AFFF Firefighting Foam Cancer Risk
Fire Foam Manufacturers
Manufacturers responsible for the development of cancer among firefighters and military personnel may include:
- 3M Company
- Tyco Fire Products, L.P.
- The Ansul Company
- National Foam, Inc.
- Buckeye Fire Equipment Co.
- Chemguard
- E.I. Dupont De Nemours & Co. (f/k/a Dow Dupont, Inc.)
- Dynax Corporation
- The Chemours Co., LLC
- Chubb Fire, Ltd.
- Corteva, Inc.
- Kidde-Fenwal, Inc.
- United Technologies Corporation
- UTC Fire & Security Americas Corporation, Inc. (f/k/a GE Interlogix, Inc.
- Arkema
- Angus Fire (a/k/a Angus International)
- Dynax Corporation
PFAS in toxic firefighting foam are entirely human-made chemicals, and were not widely detected in the blood of humans before the commercial development of the firefighting foams.
For decades, studies have found that exposure to PFAS can cause tumors in animals. As a result, scientific principals should have led AFFF manufacturers to recognize the potential link between AFFF foam and cancer in humans, since the precise mechanism of action was never confirmed in animal studies. However, despite the risk for firefighters, military and airport personnel, information and warnings have been withheld for decades.
AFFF was commercially introduced in the mid-1960s, and became widely used by firefighting organizations and at military bases.
By the end of the 1960s, animal toxicity testing found that exposure to PFAS chemicals in AFFF products resulted in adverse health effects among laboratory animals, including toxic side effects to testicles, liver, adrenals and other organs.
By the end of the 1970s, additional research found that the unique chemical structure may cause PFAS used in AFFF to bind to proteins in the blood of animals and humans exposed to the material, which can remain and persist over long periods of time. Although it was known that the AFFF chemicals may accumulate in the body and blood with each additional exposure, manufacturers continued to market and sell the firefighting foam without adequate warnings and precautions for firefighters.
By the 1980s, researchers had gone as far as to identify the mechanism of action which led to PFAS causing an increased cancer risk.
When regulatory agencies in the U.S., including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) raised concerns, many manufacturers reassured them there was no risk of adverse health effects or environmental damage from AFFF exposure; claims which have largely since been proven false.
By 2010, additional research and testing found multiple potential side effects among workers exposed to PFAS, such as increased cancer incidence, hormone changes, lipid changes and impacts to the thyroid and liver.
By the mid 2010s, an independent science panel determined that human exposure to only 0.05 parts per billion of one PFAS, PFOA, had probable links to kidney cancer, testicular cancer and other disease.
Firefighting Foam Water Contamination Lawsuits
Millions of individuals have also been exposed to Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other toxic chemicals released in to tap water near military bases and other communities.
PFAS Water Contamination Lawsuit
The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are investigating PFAS water contamination lawsuits for individuals throughout the United States who have been diagnosed with various forms of cancer and other diseases caused by the side effects of toxic PFAS chemicals entering public and private drinking water systems.
To date, over 2,800 locations in the U.S. have confirmed PFAS water contamination in public and private water systems, which include nearly 400 military installations.
Many of the cases are being pursued by residents who lived in communities surrounding PFAS manufacturers, such as 3M and Dupont, or in areas known to have high levels of PFAS contaminated water, such as military bases, airports and other firefighting training locations where toxic chemicals entered the drinking water from AFFF foam run-off.
Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Lawsuit
Camp Lejeune toxic water lawsuits are also being investigated for veterans, their families and contractors who worked or lived at Camp Lejeune and MCAS New River in North Carolina between 1953 and 1987. It is projected that over one million individuals were exposed to contaminated water containing harmful chemicals at levels that were between 200x – 300x higher than what is permitted by environmental safety regulations.
Recent EPA required testing has identified that between 1953 and 1987 the military base Camp Lejeune and nearby Marine Corps Air Station New River suffered from multiple sources of water contamination from firefighting foam run-off, underground chemical and fuel leaks and other sources releasing Trichloroethylene (TCE), Tetrachloroethylene, Vinyl chloride (VC), Benzene and over 70 other hazardous chemicals. Many of which are linked to cancer, birth defects and other serious health issues.
Allegations Raised in Firefighting Foam Class Action Lawsuits
The firefighting foam lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are reviewing both individual AFFF foam lawsuits and AFFF foam class action lawsuits for individuals and families throughout the United States. According to allegations presented in the AFFF litigation, manufacturers have:
- Knowingly and recklessly failed to conduct comprehensive studies on the side effects of AFFF and cancer among individuals exposed to the firefighting foam;
- Knew or should have known that sale of AFFF containing PFAS would cause contamination of the blood, and bioaccumulation of the cancer-causing chemicals in the body;
- Failed to warn fire trainees, military or civilian firefighters, who they knew would foreseeably come into contact with AFFF;
- Failed to design firefighting foam to avoid unreasonable risk of harm to firefighters, military servicemembers, airport personnel and others exposed to the chemicals;
- Withheld information from firefighters about the importance of protective gear to guard against the known AFFF foam risks;
- Failed to issue firefighting foam recalls or safety warnings that would have avoided a cancer from AFFF;
AFFF Firefighting Foam Cancer Lawyers
Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. is a nationally known law firm that is focused exclusively on representing individuals, we do not represent corporations or insurance companies.
Over the course of nearly 50 years, clients of our law firm have collected more than $1 billion in financial compensation and settlements for cases involving product liability, medical malpractice and other personal injury lawsuits,
All AFFF firefighting foam lawsuits are being investigated by our law firm on a contingency fee basis. There are never any out-of-pocket costs to hire our lawyers, and we receive no fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained.
Protect your family and find out if you or a loved one may be entitled to an AFFF lawsuit settlement.