If you or a loved one suffered from cancer or other injury after being exposed to firefighting foam, you may be entitled to recover compensation from a firefighting foam lawsuit or settlement.
A team of products liability injury lawyers and class action attorneys is investigating firefighting foam lawsuit claims of individuals who were diagnosed with cancer (or suffered from other illness or disease) after using, working with or being exposed to firefighting foam or PFAS chemicals (a/k/a perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS).
Fire fighting foam (also known as Aqueous Film Forming Foam or AFFF foam) is a synthetic fire suppression or fire-retardant spray foam used to help extinguish hydrocarbon fuel fires, jet fuel fires, petroleum fires and other high-hazard flammable liquid fires. It works by creating a blanket that cuts off fuel from the oxygen needed to burn.
Unfortunately, many fire fighting foams have contained fluorinated surfactants (i.e., toxic chemical substances that lower the surface tension between liquids and reduce the surface area in which a fire can spread) including PFAS such as PFOA and PFOS.
Firefighting Foam Lawsuit: Overview
- What Is The Firefighting Foam Lawsuit About?
- What Is Firefighting Foam (AFFF)?
- Who May Qualify For a Firefighting Foam Lawsuit or Settlement?
- Which Cancers May Be Linked to PFAS Chemicals in Fire Foam?
- What Other Injuries May Be Linked to AFFF Foam Exposure?
- What Companies Have Been Sued Over Firefighting Foam?
- Who May Have Been Exposed To Firefighting Foam?
- Where and How Is Firefighting Foam Used?
- What is The Status of The Firefighting Foam Lawsuits?
- Can I Recover Compensation From a Firefighting Foam Lawsuit?
- Can Families Recover Money in AFFF Foam Wrongful Death Cases?
- Is There A Deadline To File a Firefighting Foam Lawsuit?
- Request A Free Case Review From A Firefighting Foam Injury Lawyer
AFFF Firefighting Foam Lawsuits & Settlements
Firefighting foam lawsuit and settlement cases potentially being investigated include claims of individuals who, after using or working with AFFF firefighting foam or being exposed to toxic PFAS chemicals like PFOA and PFOS, were diagnosed with cancer or suffered from other health conditions, diseases or illnesses including:
- Kidney cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Liver cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Thyroid disease
- Hypothyroidism
- Ulcerative colitis
- Death
- Other PFAS injury lawsuit claims
- Other AFFF foam lawsuits
If you or someone you love suffered from cancer (e.g., kidney cancer, testicular cancer, liver cancer or thyroid cancer) or other injury (thyroid disease, hypothyroidism or ulcerative colitis) after exposure to firefighting foam, you may be eligible to recover monetary compensation from a firefighting foam lawsuit or settlement case.
Firefighting Foam Injury Lawsuit Complaints
Thousands of firefighters, military service members, veterans, airport workers, chemical plant workers and others who claim to have been exposed to AFFF firefighting foam have filed lawsuits seeking to recover money damages for injuries suffered as a result of their exposure to firefighting foam.
The firefighting foam lawsuits involve allegations that firefighters and others were exposed to PFAS chemicals via aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) used to extinguish fires and by wearing certain protective clothing and gear that allegedly contained PFAS. The firefighting foam lawsuits also allege that AFFFs used at airports, military bases, or other locations to extinguish liquid fuel fires caused the release of PFAS chemicals into local groundwater and contaminated drinking water supplies.
According to the firefighting foam lawsuit complaints, PFAS in firefighting foam are highly toxic and carcinogenic chemicals. Plaintiffs in the suits have alleged they developed various forms of cancer (such as kidney cancer, testicular cancer, liver cancer or thyroid cancer) and/or other injuries (such as thyroid disease, hypothyroidism or ulcerative colitis) as a result of their being exposed to AFFF firefighting foam.
Plaintiffs in the firefighting foam lawsuit complaints have further alleged, among other things, that Defendants knew or should have known that exposure to AFFF containing PFAS was hazardous to human health but failed to provide sufficient warnings about the alleged health risks. Plaintiffs also allege that Defendants breached their duty of care and were negligent in the design, manufacture, labeling, warning, instruction, training, selling, marketing, and distribution of the AFFF products or underlying PFAS containing chemicals used in AFFF production.
The firefighting foam lawsuit cases assert legal claims for, among other things, negligence, battery, inadequate warning, design defect, strict liability, fraudulent concealment, breach of express and implied warranties, and wantonness.
Plaintiffs in the firefighting foam lawsuits seek to recover compensatory damages for, among other things, past and future damages, including for pain and suffering, severe and permanent personal injuries, health care costs, and medical monitoring, as well as punitive damages, attorneys fees and costs of suit.
Companies Sued Over Fire Foam Injuries
Defendants in the AFFF firefighting foam lawsuits have included companies that allegedly designed, marketed, developed, manufactured, distributed, released, trained users, produced instructional materials, promoted, sold, and/or otherwise handled AFFF containing toxic PFAS or underlying PFAS containing chemicals used in AFFF production that were used by entities around the country, including military, county, and municipal firefighting departments, including:
- DuPont
- 3M
- BASF
- Tyco Fire Products
- Chemours
- National Foam
- Chemgaurd
- Dynax
- Kidde
- Raytheon
- Clariant
- Arkema
- Honeywell
- Corteva
- Chubb Fire
- Carrier Fire & Security
- AGC Chemicals
- The United States of America
- State governments
- Other firefighting foam defendants
AFFF Firefighting Foam & PFAS Exposure Claims
Individuals who may have been exposed to firefighting foam or PFAS, PFOA and PFOS may include:
- Firefighters
- Firefighter trainees and trainers
- Volunteer firemen and firewomen
- Members of the Military or Armed Forces
- Air Force Fire Protection Specialists
- Shipboard firefighters
- Boatswain’s mate
- Electrician’s mate
- Machinist mate
- Boiler technicians
- Seaman
- Firefighting specialists
- Fire chief
- Fire officer
- Fire instructor
- Navy Damage Controlmen
- Coast Guard Damage Controlmen
- Army firefighters (MOS 12M)
- Air Force Fire Protection (3E7X1)
- Marine Corps (USMC 7051)
- Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) personnel
- Emergency Response and Disaster Preparedness personnel
- CBRN defense specialists
- Interior communications electrician
- Maintenance personnel
- HazMat technician
- Hazardous materials technician
- Airport firefighter
- Other airport workers
- Industrial/manufacturing workers
- Fuel farm workers
- Fuel handlers
- Employees who wore firefighting turn out gear
- Employees who worked in facilities handling foam or PFAS
- Residents who lived near foam or PFAS contaminated sites
- Individuals who drank PFAS polluted water
- Other individuals exposed to AFFF foam and/or PFAS
Firefighter AFFF Foam Use
AFFF foam has often been used where a significant flammable liquid hazard was present, including the following locations, among others:
- Chemical plants
- Flammable liquid storage and processing facilities
- Merchant operations (oil tankers, offshore platforms)
- Fire departments
- Firefighting training centers
- Oil refineries, terminals, and bulk fuel storage farms
- Aviation operations (aircraft rescue and firefighting, hangars)
- Air crash sites
- Military facilities and bases
- Military airfield or flight deck
- Other AFFF foam locations
Firefighting Foam Lawsuit & Settlement Updates
Firefighting foam lawsuits filed in federal court have been consolidated into a multi-district litigation (MDL), styled Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AFFF) Products Liability Litigation, MDL Case No. 2873, U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina (Judge Richard M. Gergel).
As of January 2, 2025, there were 7,633 firefighting foam lawsuit cases pending in the federal AFFF firefighting foam MDL.
Compensation For Firefighting Foam Injuries
Plaintiffs who bring firefighting foam lawsuits may be able to recover compensation for injuries suffered, including money damages for losses incurred as a result of exposure to AFFF foam, such as:
- Compensatory damages for pain and suffering
- Loss of wages or earnings due to missed work
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Medical care expenses incurred or to be incurred
- Other out of pocket expenses
- Loss of quality or enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish/emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Other possible AFFF foam monetary damages
Certain family and loved ones of individuals who died as a result of firefighting foam exposure may be able to recover financial compensation from a firefighting foam wrongful death lawsuit or settlement claim.
Firefighting foam wrongful death lawsuit damages might include, among other things, pecuniary losses suffered by a surviving spouse or next of kin of the deceased family member, such as past and future loss of money or income, benefits, goods, services, and loss of society (i.e., the mutual benefits that each family member receives from the other’s continued existence, including love, affection, care, attention, companionship, comfort, guidance, and protection).
Time Is Limited To File A Firefighting Foam Lawsuit
Deadlines known as statutes of limitation and statutes of repose may limit the amount of time that individuals have to file a firefighting foam lawsuit to try to recover compensation for injuries they claimed to have suffered (e.g., kidney cancer, testicular cancer, liver cancer, and thyroid cancer) after being exposed to firefighting foam or PFAS chemicals.
This means that if an AFFF firefighting foam lawsuit case is not filed before the applicable time limit or deadline, the injured party may be prohibited from ever pursuing litigation or taking legal action regarding the fire fighting foam injury claim. That is why it is important to connect with a firefighting foam injury lawyer or attorney as soon as possible.
If you or someone you love were diagnosed with cancer after being exposed to Firefighting Foam or PFAS, PFOS or PFOA, you may be entitled to compensation from a Firefighting Foam lawsuit or settlement. Contact an injury lawyer to request a free case review.
*If you or a loved one are experiencing health issues, side effects or complications from a product, we urge you to promptly consult with your doctor or physician for an evaluation.
**The listing of a company or entity (e.g., DuPont, 3M, BASF, Tyco Fire Products, Chemours, National Foam, Chemgaurd, Dynax, Kidde, Raytheon, Clariant, Arkema, Honeywell, Corteva, Chubb Fire, Carrier Fire & Security, AGC Chemicals, and the USA, etc.) or product (i.e., Fire fighting Foam or Fire Suppression Foam) is not meant to state or imply that the company or entity acted illegally or improperly or that the product is unsafe or defective; rather only that an investigation may be, is or was being conducted to determine whether legal rights have been violated.
***The use of any trademarks, tradenames or service marks is solely for product identification and/or informational purposes.
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