Following a temporary dip, lawsuits related to AFFF firefighting foam are once again increasing. In October and November 2023, the number of active cases in the MDL declined, primarily due to settlements in water contamination claims leading to dismissals. However, this downturn was short-lived.
By December, 270 fresh cases had been filed, and in January, the momentum picked up even more, with an additional 459 lawsuits pushing the total number of pending cases to 8,092.
What’s behind this rise? Speculation about settlements. When discussions of a global settlement emerge, legal teams act swiftly to file claims before any deadlines are set. If a settlement agreement is finalized, there’s often a strict timeframe for inclusion, and delaying too long could result in losing eligibility for compensation.
For individuals impacted by PFAS exposure, this influx of filings suggests that the window for legal action may be closing. Many attorneys are advising affected individuals to take prompt legal steps to ensure their case is part of any forthcoming resolution.
Our legal team continues to receive new AFFF-related inquiries every day, though the number of filings fluctuates. Since AFFF lawsuits are frequently filed in groups, this sometimes creates variations in case numbers.
