Nationwide, firefighting foam lawsuits are being filed by civilian firefighters, military service members, airport crews, and emergency responders who were exposed to carcinogenic fire-suppressing foam and later developed cancer or other illness.
The fire-suppressing foam in question is “Aqueous Film-Forming Foam” or AFFF, and is used to smother and extinguish liquid-fuel fires.
As of March 2023, over 3,300 plaintiffs have joined the firefighting foam lawsuit. The defendants include 3M, DuPont, and many other corporations.
The lawsuits allege that the AFFF makers and marketers manufactured, advertised, and sold the dangerous foam despite knowing its toxicity.
Cancer or other illness potentially caused by AFFF merits further investigation by skilled legal counsel.
If you suspect exposure to firefighting foam caused harm to you or a loved one, contact an experienced product liability attorney at Marc Whitehead & Associates without delay. We are ready to listen to your story and help you recover the financial compensation you deserve through a firefighting foam cancer lawsuit.
A free consultation with our knowledgeable, dedicated product liability lawyers is where it begins.
What is Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF)?
AFFF has been stored and used for fire suppression, firefighting training, and flammable vapor suppression at hundreds of U.S. military bases and civilian airports for decades. AFFF has also been kept on hand at petroleum refineries and chemical manufacturing plants.
Additionally, local fire departments figure prominently in firefighting foam lawsuit proceedings. Community firefighters have extensively used and still may store quantities of firefighting foam in their inventories for training and emergency response actions. Facilities manufacturing fire extinguishing foams and landfills receiving foam waste are also potential sources of exposure.
What Toxic Chemicals Are in Aqueous Film-Forming Foam?
AFFF contains man-made chemicals known as per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), which include
- Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and
- Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).
PFAS is an umbrella term that includes PFOS and PFOA.
PFOS and PFOA are extremely resilient, stable chemicals. They are used in commercial and industrial applications and thus are widely dispersed in the environment due to extensive use over the last 50 years. One of those uses is aqueous firefighting foams.
PFOS and PFOA are chemically stable and do not degrade under typical environmental conditions. Likewise, when someone is exposed to AFFF, the carcinogens in the foam stay in the body for a very long time.
What Does Multi-District Litigation (MDL) Mean for My AFFF Case?
Multi-district litigation is a way to centralize and consolidate numerous complex lawsuits that share common questions of fact.
MDL streamlines pretrial proceedings. Each firefighting foam lawsuit remains separate, but discovery, depositions, and decisions about common questions of fact are addressed at the same time. By saving time and money, MDL is generally efficient for both plaintiffs and defendants.
Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) Products Liability Litigation
In December 2018, the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation consolidated all AFFF firefighting foam lawsuits in federal courts across the U.S. into an MDL in the District of South Carolina. It is referred to as MDL 2873. The presiding Judge is Richard M. Gergel.
Plaintiffs are still joining this multi-district litigation. The first bellwether trial case date is set for April 2023 and is expected to get the ball rolling for future settlement talks.
What Are Firefighting Foam Lawsuits Alleging?
AFFF lawsuits allege that 3M, DuPont, and other companies knowingly manufactured or sold their AFFF products without warning the public or the government about the dangers of exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).
Specifically, firefighting foam lawsuit cases in the MDL brought by firefighter plaintiffs allege they suffered personal injury by direct exposure to AFFF. Plaintiffs seek compensation for various cancers and possibly other harm caused by the toxic fire extinguishing foam.
Additionally, the MDL alleges that AFFF used at airports, military bases, or other locations to extinguish liquid fuel fires caused the release of PFOS and/or PFOA into local groundwater, contaminating the environment and drinking water.
Who Are the Defendants in Firefighting Foam Lawsuits?
Numerous companies are involved in the AFFF multi-district litigation, including:
- 3M Company
- BASF Corporation
- Buckeye Fire Equipment Company
- ChemDesign Products Inc
- Chemguard Inc
- Chemours Company FC, LLC
- DuPont De Nemours Inc.
- Kidde-Fenwal, Inc.
- Kidde PLC Inc.
- National Foam, Inc.
- Tyco Fire Products LP
- United Technologies Corporation
- UTC Fire & Security Americas Corporation, Inc.
- Over a dozen other companies
These and other defendants are accused of manufacturing and selling AFFF that caused injury to thousands of individuals, let alone the environment. Now is the time to hold these companies accountable for their negligence.
Cancers and Diseases Caused by AFFF
The PFAS found in the firefighting foam associated with several types of cancer and diseases include:
- Other Cancers and Diseases
- Testicular Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Bladder Cancer
- Lymphoma
- Leukemia
- Thyroid Cancer
- Thyroid Disease
- Ulcerative Colitis
What Damages Can I Expect in a Firefighting Foam Lawsuit?
As each case unfolds, awards for losses may be sought for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Lost earning capacity
- Future medical expenses and therapy costs
- Other compensatory and punitive damages
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability
Don’t let uncertainty keep you from the benefits you deserve.
If you think your or a loved one’s cancer or illness may have been caused by exposure to AFFF, we urge you to contact our firefighting foam lawsuit team. We are prepared to answer your questions, review your claim and discuss your potential lawsuit today.
How Marc Whitehead & Associates Can Help You
Our firefighting foam lawyers regularly follow subject matter experts and scientific developments concerning how occupational exposure to AFFF may develop into cancer and establish connections between toxic exposure cases and various types of cancer.
Our legal team will help with every detail, such as:
- Gather compelling evidence for your firefighting foam lawsuit. Evidence includes medical records, cancer diagnosis information, employment records, history of AFFF exposure, personal and witness testimony, and any other information validating exposure to the firefighting foam.
- Evaluate your damages and actual costs caused by exposure to toxic chemicals.
- Establish liability for your injuries and identify the negligent party responsible for your cancer diagnosis.
- Guide you through the legal process, answer your questions, keep you informed, and handle all aspects of your case.
- Work hard to achieve the maximum settlement for your firefighting foam lawsuit.
Our AFFF Lawsuit Attorneys Review Cases Nationwide
Marc Whitehead & Associates is a national law firm handling cases of disability law, personal injury law, and product liability litigation. We will not charge anything upfront, and we only get paid if we recover compensation on your behalf. Our consultation is also free, and you have no obligation to take any legal action.
Claims against manufacturers and sellers of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) are hurtling forward. Call us now at (844) 976-4489 and discuss your potential firefighting foam lawsuit with attorneys who have the resources and experience necessary to prevail in toxic tort, chemical exposure, dangerous products and personal injury litigation.
Our strength is helping people receive their rightful compensation for the harm they have endured and may suffer for years to come due to the negligence of others.
You can access MLD 2873 information using the link below:
https://www.scd.uscourts.gov/mdl-2873/contact.asp
United States District Court, District of South Carolina, Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AFFF) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2873.
Reference:
https://pfas-1.itrcweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/PFAS-Guidance-Document-9-2022.pdf
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Technical and Regulatory Guidance; Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC), June 2022.
https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/ohat/pfoa_pfos/pfoa_pfosmonograph_508.pdf
NTP – National Toxicology Program, US Dept. of Health and Human Services; September 2016.
NTP Monograph, Immunotoxicity Associated with Exposure to Perfluorooctanoic Acid or Perfluorooctane Sulfonate.
https://www.epa.gov/pfas
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation; In RE: Aqueous Film Forming Foams Products Liability Litigation; Transfer Order. MDL. No. 2873;
