What is a PFAS Lawsuit?
PFAS lawsuits allege that manufacturers released the toxic "forever chemicals" into water supplies, causing individuals to develop cancer and other serious illnesses. To date, over 3,000 cases have been filed alleging injuries caused by PFAS exposure from groundwater contamination by aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), commonly known as “firefighting foam.” AFFF is the biggest contributor to environmental PFAS contamination.
How Could I Be Exposed to PFAS?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that PFAS exposure occurs when people consume food or water that has been contaminated with the chemicals, including:
- Firefighting foam
- Drinking water
- Water and soil at hazardous waste sites, landfills, and disposal sites
- Facilities where PFAS is produced
- Food (i.e. fish from PFAS-contaminated water and dairy from PFAS-exposed livestock)
- Food packaging (i.e. fast food wrappers and containers, pizza boxes, and microwaveable popcorn bags)
- Household products (i.e. carpet stain and water-repellant products used on carpets, clothing, and upholstery, as well as non-stick cookware)
- Personal care products (i.e. cosmetics, shampoo, and dental floss)
Related Article: PFAS Exposure Lawsuit Update
PFAS Class Action Lawsuit Status
Litigation surrounding the production and use of PFAS is growing rapidly in state and federal courts across the U.S. In the recent uptick of PFAS litigation, the breadth of plaintiffs has grown, moving from owners of places where PFAS are manufactured, to owners of facilities that use products containing PFAS materials.
Additionally, injuries for which damages are sought have evolved from an initial focus on the contamination of water supplies caused by the manufacture of PFAS to more recent cases that allege violations of consumer protection laws for failure to warn or mislabel certain consumer goods that contain PFAS chemicals.
Finally, there is another anticipated wave in PFAS litigation that includes personal injury lawsuits from consumers using PFAS-containing products, prompted by new studies that highlight PFAS exposure, as well as an ever-increasing number of lawsuits from local municipal entities.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a PFAS Lawsuit?
Statutes of limitations are defined as the time you have from the date you recognized or were diagnosed with illness or injury to file a lawsuit. Each state imposes its own specific statute of limitations on PFAS lawsuits. If you miss the deadline for filing a lawsuit, you could be ineligible to recover damages for your PFAS injuries. This is why it is important to act now to ensure your legal rights.
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Get a Free Lawsuit Evaluation With Our Lawyers
The Product Liability Litigation Group at Schmidt & Clark, LLP law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers focusing on plaintiffs' representation in lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new legal challenges in all 50 states.
If you or a loved one was injured by PFAS contamination, you should contact our law firm immediately for a free case evaluation. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a suit and we can help.
