What Is a Firefighting Foam Settlement?
Since the 1960s, firefighting foam — known officially as aqueous film-forming foam or AFFF — has been a staple at airports and on military bases around the country.
However, firefighting foam contains dangerous chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which don’t break down over time. PFAS can build up in the body, causing cancer and other health issues to develop.
To seek justice and financial compensation, many firefighters have chosen to file AFFF cancer lawsuits over their occupational exposure and cancer diagnosis.
Successful AFFF lawsuits may result in compensation in one of two ways:
- AFFF lawsuit settlement: An AFFF settlement is an amount of compensation negotiated by the injured party (the individual who developed PFAS-related cancer) and agreed to by the defending companies (the makers of AFFF), potentially without the case going to court.
- AFFF verdict: If a settlement isn’t reached, the case may continue to trial. During such a trial, both sides present their case, and a judge and jury decide the outcome in the form of a verdict.
If you worked as a firefighter and were diagnosed with cancer as a result of PFAS exposure, Sokolove Law may be able to file an AFFF lawsuit on your behalf to pursue financial compensation for your medical expenses and more.
What Health Conditions Qualify for AFFF Settlements?
Tragically, many firefighters who used firefighting foam on the job have since been diagnosed with serious health issues linked to PFAS exposure, including:
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Leukemia
- Liver cancer
- Lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma
- Pancreatic cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Renal or kidney cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Thyroid cancer or disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Uterine or endometrial cancer
PFAS Settlements: December 2024 Update
For decades, the makers of PFAS-containing firefighting foam have claimed their AFFF is safe. Despite their claims, PFAS chemicals have been linked to increased cancer risk.
In fact, there have already been settlements in cases involving PFAS exposure.
Examples of PFAS settlements include:
- $10.3 Billion 3M PFAS settlement with multiple U.S. cities and towns for PFAS-contaminated water claims
- $4 Billion settlement with PFAS-containing product manufacturers DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva
- $850 Million 3M PFAS settlement for polluting Minnesota groundwater with PFAS
- $50 Million settlement between DuPont, Chemour, and Corteva and the State of Delaware regarding PFAS water pollution
- $17.5 Million AFFF class action lawsuit settlement with Johnson Controls, the maker of Tyco Fire Products, which includes PFAS-containing firefighting foam
- $730 Million firefighting foam settlement with Carrier Global, the fire protection unit Kidde-Fenwal, and PFAS victims from the company's foam products
AFFF lawsuits filed against the makers of PFAS-containing firefighting foam are currently awaiting trial around the country, and new cases are still being filed.
What Determines AFFF Lawsuit Settlement Amounts?
An AFFF lawsuit’s success and outcome can be influenced by many different determining factors, including:
- Amount of exposure to harmful PFAS in AFFF: Firefighters — especially those who were in the military or were stationed at airports are likely to have experienced higher rates of exposure to harmful PFAS in firefighting foam.
- Severity of cancer diagnosis: The type of PFAS cancer and the extent to which it has developed factor into the potential value of an AFFF settlement.
- Cost of current medical expenses: Cancer victims are likely to have visited doctors and specialists who diagnosed their illness and developed treatment regimens to help treat it, which can include things like surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
- Estimated cost of ongoing or future medical treatments: Many cancer victims will have ongoing medical treatments to help them fight their cancer. Patients may also need to see additional specialists like nutritionists, surgeons, physical therapists, and psychologists, among others.
- Punitive damages: In jury trials, punitive damages are sometimes awarded to injured victims in an effort to punish the company or companies responsible for a victim’s illness or injury.
The factors noted above — and more — can influence the potential value of an AFFF lawsuit settlement amount. Every case is different, and previous results do not guarantee future outcomes.
To learn more about whether or not you may have a case, contact Sokolove Law today for a free legal consultation.
Who Qualifies for AFFF Settlements?
You may be eligible to file an AFFF lawsuit if you or a loved one:
- Worked as a firefighter
- Were exposed to PFAS-containing firefighting foam on the job or during training
- Developed any of the following types of cancer: pancreatic, bladder, breast, colon, kidney, leukemia, liver, lymphoma, testicular, thyroid, or prostate cancer
If successful, firefighting foam lawsuits may result in an AFFF settlement or verdict paid to the victim or their family.
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How to Pursue a Firefighter Foam Settlement
The easiest way to seek justice and compensation through a firefighter foam settlement or verdict is to hire an experienced firefighting foam attorney who can help you navigate the legal process.
An experienced firefighting foam lawyer can:
- Determine your eligibility to take legal action
- Gather evidence necessary to build a strong case
- File your claim before any mandatory state deadlines
- Negotiate a firefighter foam settlement on your behalf
- Argue your case in trial, if a firefighter foam settlement isn’t reached
If you have a case, AFFF lawyers with Sokolove Law can handle every step of the legal process on your behalf — at no out-of-pocket cost to you or your family.
Deadlines on Filing PFAS Chemical Exposure Lawsuits
The amount of time that a victim or their family has to file a PFAS lawsuit varies state by state. Each state maintains its own statutes of limitations — a set of laws that determine exactly how much time someone has to file a lawsuit over their injuries.
This is why it’s very important for victims to seek legal representation as quickly as possible. Once the deadline passes, victims lose the opportunity to pursue PFAS chemical exposure settlements ever again.
“For decades, I made a career of putting my life on the line, working to protect the lives and health of others; many times, this involved the use of AFFF. Now that I’m retired, and suffering from thyroid cancer, I was able to turn to Sokolove Law. They answered my call promptly, honestly, and efficiently, and I look forward to their help."
– Randall M., Sokolove Law Client
Get Help Pursuing PFAS Compensation
Without help from a skilled and experienced legal team, pursuing PFAS compensation can be a long, confusing, and difficult process.
If you become a client of Sokolove Law, our AFFF lawyers can handle every step of the legal process for you, from finding the evidence to filing the claim on time.
Why work with Sokolove Law?
- Free Case Evaluations: We provide free, no-obligation legal case reviews to determine whether you may have a case.
- Decades of Experience: For more than 45 years, Sokolove Law has been helping injured people across the country get the compensation they deserve.
- Long Track Record of Success: We’ve successfully recovered more than $9.6 Billion on behalf of victims and their families.
- Nationwide Reach: We have offices in nearly every state and can represent clients across the country.
- No Upfront Costs: Our attorneys work on a contingency-fee basis, which means we only get paid if you do.
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with cancer after working with firefighting foam, our AFFF lawyers may be able to help you pursue financial compensation.
Get started today by calling (800) 995-1212 or getting a free case review.
PFAS Firefighter Lawsuit Settlements FAQs
Who can file a PFAS lawsuit?
You may be eligible to take legal action and pursue a PFAS settlement if you:
- Worked as a firefighter
- Were exposed to PFAS-containing firefighting foam
- Were later diagnosed with cancer as a result
Call (800) 995-1212 now for free help determining your eligibility to take legal action.
How much does it cost to pursue an AFFF settlement?
There are no upfront costs or hourly fees to pursue an AFFF settlement when you work with Sokolove Law.
Our AFFF attorneys work on a contingency basis, so we’ll only get paid if your case is successful.
How long do I have to file an AFFF lawsuit?
You only have a limited time to file an AFFF lawsuit in the U.S. Each state has its own mandatory filing deadlines known as statutes of limitation.
Once this deadline passes, you won’t have the opportunity to file an AFFF lawsuit ever again.
This makes it incredibly important to contact Sokolove Law as soon as possible after your cancer diagnosis.
Can I file a PFAS lawsuit if I was diagnosed with leukemia after being exposed?
Exposure to toxic PFAS chemicals may be linked to leukemia. Firefighters with leukemia after working with PFAS-containing firefighting foam may be eligible to file an AFFF lawsuit and pursue a leukemia lawsuit settlement.
Does prostate cancer qualify for PFAS compensation?
If you or a loved one worked with AFFF as a firefighter and were later diagnosed with prostate cancer, you may be eligible to pursue a prostate cancer lawsuit settlement.
Learn more today during a free case review.
Can I pursue colon cancer lawsuit settlements for PFAS exposure?
You may be eligible to pursue a colon cancer lawsuit settlement if you worked as a firefighter, used firefighting foam, and were later diagnosed with colon cancer. Contact Sokolove Law today to learn more.
