AFFF lawsuit claims allege that PFAS in aqueous film-forming foam, a firefighting foam, caused cancer and other illness. The cases are coordinated in MDL 2873 before Judge Richard M. Gergel in South Carolina, which listed 15,270 pending actions on November 2, 2026. On November 3, 2026, 3M announced a $7.35 billion, nine-year agreement meant to resolve about 99% of current personal-injury claims against it; claims against the other foam and chemical makers are not covered.
Updates on AFFF Firefighting Foam Lawsuit
Breaking down afff lawsuit settlement amounts: See estimated payouts, eligibility, and key factors. Get expert legal help today.
Key facts (as of November 2026)
- Aug. 15, 2025: CMO 35 vacated the first personal-injury bellwether trial, set for Oct. 20, 2025, and named six Listed Claims.
- Aug. 31, 2026: CMO 33.F set briefing on thyroid and liver cancer expert challenges through Jan. 22, 2027.
- Sept. 30, 2026: 3M reported no new trial date and continuing court-ordered settlement talks with a mediator.
- Nov. 3, 2026: 3M announced a broad resolution of AFFF personal-injury claims: $7.35 billion over nine years ($5.8 billion present value), with about 115,000 to 120,000 plaintiffs inside and outside MDL 2873 eligible to participate.
- Nov. 2, 2026: 15,270 actions were pending in MDL 2873, out of 19,846 filed.
What the AFFF lawsuits claim
Plaintiffs allege that AFFF containing PFOA or PFOS harmed people who worked with the foam and contaminated groundwater near military bases, airports and industrial sites. Claims seek damages for illness, medical monitoring or property loss.
Where the litigation stands
On November 3, 2026, 3M announced a broad resolution of the personal-injury claims at the center of MDL 2873. Payment depends on plaintiffs choosing to participate, no per-person amounts or public claim form have been announced, and claims against DuPont, Chemours, Corteva, Tyco, BASF and other defendants continue. For those claims, the injury track is still in expert and bellwether work: thyroid and liver cancer expert challenges run into January 2027, and ulcerative colitis bellwether proposals are due November 20, 2026 (CMO 26.O). Approved settlements, including 3M's March 2024 water-supplier deal, pay water systems, not individuals.
Who may qualify
A claim may generally require a Listed Claim diagnosis, records of AFFF exposure through military, airport or fire service or residence near a contaminated site, and medical records that fit the timeline. Listed Claims do not guarantee eligibility for any future program.
Deadlines and next steps
Filing deadlines depend on state law and often run from diagnosis or discovery. See the PFAS and AFFF settlement calculator and AFFF settlement amounts.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an AFFF personal-injury settlement?
Yes, with 3M. On November 3, 2026, 3M announced a $7.35 billion agreement, paid over nine years, to resolve about 99% of current personal-injury claims against it, inside and outside MDL 2873. Payment depends on plaintiffs choosing to participate, and no per-person amounts or public claim form have been announced. Claims against the other defendants are not covered, and earlier settlements resolved water-system and government claims only.
Which illnesses are part of the AFFF MDL?
Case Management Order No. 35, entered August 15, 2025, named six Listed Claims: kidney cancer, testicular cancer, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, liver cancer and thyroid cancer. The court uses them to structure bellwether and expert work; other conditions may appear in individual complaints.
How is this different from the PFAS category?
This category covers firefighting-foam claims in MDL 2873 only, including the bellwether schedule. The broader PFAS lawsuit category covers drinking-water contamination, EPA drinking-water limits, industrial releases and earlier PFAS settlements, including the 2017 Ohio PFOA settlement that resolved about 3,500 personal-injury lawsuits.
Sources
- 3M – Reaches Broad Resolution of AFFF Personal Injury Litigation (press release, Nov. 3, 2026)
- D.S.C. – Case Management Order No. 35, MDL 2873 (Aug. 15, 2025)
- D.S.C. – Case Management Order No. 33.F (Aug. 31, 2026)
- 3M Company – Form 10-Q, quarter ended Sept. 30, 2026, Note 15
- 3M – Public water supplier settlement receives final court approval (Apr. 1, 2024)
- JPML – Pending MDL Dockets by Actions Pending (November 2, 2026)
AFFF questions answered, with sources
The 3M deal does not stop your filing deadline
Payments under 3M's November 2026 agreement depend on plaintiffs participating, and claims against other foam makers continue. State statutes of limitations keep running for anyone who has not filed. 3M announcement
Free · Confidential · No obligation
Free AFFF Case Review
Tell us what happened and a trained case advisor will review it. You choose whether you want to be contacted.
- 1Share the basicsYour exposure, diagnosis and dates.
- 2A case advisor reviews itAgainst the six Listed Claims in MDL 2873.
- 3You decide what happens nextNo cost and no obligation.
- Built from court ordersCMO 35 and the JPML monthly report
- Every answer is citedEach answer links its primary source
- Free and confidentialNo cost and no obligation to continue
- Not a law firmA trained case advisor makes the first contact
Prefer to talk it through?
TortAdvisor is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. A trained case advisor, not an attorney, may make the first contact. See our partner list and privacy policy.
Filter Posts
Browse by Category
