Update: $17.5 Million Settlement Reached in Wisconsin Firefighting Foam Contamination Suit
Johnson Controls entity Tyco Fire Products LP has agreed to pay $17.5 million to resolve claims from hundreds of homeowners in Peshtigo, Wisconsin, that their water was contaminated by AFFF firefighting foam, according to Law360. The award includes $15 million for property-damage claims and $2.5 million for plaintiffs alleging injuries including kidney cancer and testicular cancer.
The landmark case is just 1 of dozens moving forward as part of multidistrict litigation (MDL) in South Carolina federal court alleging harm from AFFF firefighting foam. The lawsuit is: In Re Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Products Liability Litigation MDL 2873, Case Number 2:18-mn-02873.
What is AFFF?
Aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, is a firefighting foam that creates a blanket which cuts off fuel from the oxygen it needs to burn, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). To help smother the fire, chemicals known as Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are used together with AFFFs. This type of firefighting foam is primarily used by the military, firefighters, and airports.
What’s the Problem?
Health organizations including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the American Cancer Society (ACS) have found that certain PFAS contained in AFFF firefighting foam have been linked to increased rates of cancer in firefighters. In fact, the EPA has classified PFAS as “emerging contaminants,” meaning they are likely dangerous to human health.
AFFF Health Hazards
- Kidney cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Leukemia
- Lymphoma
- Neuroendocrine tumors
- Prostate cancer
- And more
Which Occupations are at Risk?
Airport and military firefighters are at a particularly high risk for AFFF health hazards. Until 2018, the Federal Airport Administration (FAA) required airports to use PFAS-containing foam per U.S. Navy guidelines. The Navy and other branches of the military have used AFFF firefighting foam since the 1960s, even during training exercises and non-critical missions.
Do I Have an AFFF Class Action Lawsuit?
The Class Action Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in AFFF Lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new injury and death cases in all 50 states.
If you or a loved one was injured by AFFF health effects, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a suit and we can help.