Lawsuit Update Center
Our legal team is still accepting lawsuits nationwide related to AFFF firefighting foam in 2025. We believe we are on the eve of a global AFFF settlement.
This page offers the latest updates on the AFFF firefighting foam class action lawsuit and provides an estimation of potential settlement amounts for individuals involved in AFFF cancer lawsuits.
The Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) is utilized in fire suppression and is commonly known as firefighting foam. Recent findings indicate that extended exposure to certain chemicals within AFFF firefighting foam could lead to cancer. Individuals who were consistently exposed to firefighting foam and subsequently diagnosed with kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, liver cancer, ulcerative colitis, and other related conditions may have grounds to file an AFFF firefighting foam lawsuit and pursue financial compensation.
All federal lawsuits regarding AFFF firefighting foam have been consolidated into a “class action” multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the District of South Carolina.
There is no AFFF settlement in the MDL for the personal injury and wrongful death claims. Our lawyers believe there is a reasonable probability there is a global AFFF settlement in 2025. If you think you may have a claim, you should not sit on the sidelines any longer. You want to get a claim filed before there is a settlement. Call our AFFF class actions lawyers today to get your case started. Contact us today at 888-322-3010 or get a free online case review.
AFFF Lawsuit Update 2025
The AFFF firefighting foam lawsuits continue to gain momentum in 2025 as plaintiffs push for accountability from manufacturers and distributors of PFAS-laden products. These cases, consolidated into multidistrict litigation in South Carolina, represent thousands of individuals, including military personnel, firefighters, and civilians, who were exposed to toxic chemicals through AFFF foam and contaminated water supplies.
This year marks a critical turning point, with significant developments, including newly filed cases, scheduled bellwether trials, and mounting pressure for settlements. Plaintiffs allege that prolonged exposure to AFFF has caused severe health issues, including kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, liver cancer, and ulcerative colitis. As discovery continues to reveal decades of corporate knowledge about PFAS toxicity, these cases keep getting stronger. Our attorneys believe that 2025 is finally the year we will see a AFFF class action settlement that resolves most of these lawsuits.
Below, we provide the latest news and updates on the AFFF litigation, highlighting recent lawsuits, emerging scientific evidence, and predictions for settlement outcomes. Whether you’re a firefighter, a member of the military, a lawyer, or someone impacted by PFAS contamination, these 2025 updates offer valuable insights into the progress of these landmark cases.
February 4, 2025: 459 New Cases Added to MDL
The AFFF MDL saw an increase in January, with 459 new cases added, bringing the total pending claims to 8,092. This spike highlights the nature of toxic exposure litigation—many victims remain unaware of their exposure until symptoms develop, and the latency period for cancers linked to AFFF means new cases will continue emerging for years. Our law firm continues to hear from individuals just now realizing their past exposure, particularly firefighters and military personnel who used firefighting foam regularly.
February 1, 2025: Ulcerative Colitis Lawsuits to Get Their Own Trial Track
Kidney, liver and testicular cancer often dominate discussions surrounding AFFF exposure, ulcerative colitis is one of the most debilitating yet frequently overlooked illnesses linked to PFAS contamination. This chronic inflammatory bowel disease can cause severe pain, life-altering gastrointestinal damage, and an increased risk of colorectal cancer, making it a particularly devastating diagnosis for those affected.
Now, ulcerative colitis victims are expected to get a more defined path to justice. Attorneys on both sides have requested a case management order that would establish a separate bellwether trial track for ulcerative colitis cases. If approved as expected, this would allow for focused discovery and trial preparation specifically forselected plaintiffs whose primary injury is ulcerative colitis linked to PFAS exposure from firefighting foam.
January 22, 2025: New California AFFF Firefigther Lawsuit
A firefighter from Valley Center, California, and his spouse have filed a lawsuit alleging that years of exposure to aqueous film-forming foams and PFAS-laden firefighting gear during his career with the City of Vista Fire Department led to his diagnosis of lymphoma in October 2023.
The firefighter, who served from November 1981 to December 1996, claims he was repeatedly exposed to these toxic chemicals during training, firefighting, and while refilling AFFF tanks. The lawsuit alleges that despite decades of knowledge about the health risks associated with PFAS chemicals, manufacturers failed to warn users and actively concealed the dangers, denying him the ability to take precautions against exposure. In December 2023, he learned his lymphoma was caused by this exposure.
His spouse also brings a claim. She asserts that his horrible illness has resulted in the loss of companionship, support, and affection, significantly impacting their marital relationshipsd. They have been married nearly 40 year. They seek compensatory and punitive damages for medical expenses, emotional distress, and, in the biggest picture, what these chemicals have done to their lives.
January 20, 2025: What AFFF Plaintiffs’ Lawyers Have Been Saying All Long
A new article says what victims’ lawyers have been saying for years: 3M knowingly marketed its firefighting foams containing toxic PFAS chemicals as harmless and biodegradable, despite decades of evidence proving otherwise. From the 1960s to 2003, 3M’s foams were widely used, contributing to global contamination of soil, water, and even human blood. These chemicals, which take thousands of years to degrade, have been linked to cancer, thyroid disease, infertility, and other serious health issues.
Internal documents tell us that 3M was aware as early as 1949 that PFAS did not biodegrade. Yet the company continued to promote the foams as environmentally safe in marketing materials, advising their disposal in sewers and on land—methods that spread contamination. Now it is time to pay the piper: In 2018, 3M paid $890 million to settle PFAS pollution claims in Minnesota, and in 2023, it agreed to over $10 billion in settlements for public water contamination without admitting liability. The firefighter personal injury lawsuits and the water contamination lawsuits are next, probably in 2025 as we talk about below.
January 15, 2025: New AFFF Death Lawsuit
In a new AFFF wrongful death lawsuit filed last week, the estate of a deceased firefighter from Joliet, Illinois, has brought claims against numerous manufacturers and distributors of PFAS-containing products, including firefighting foams and turnout gear. The complaint, filed by the firefighter’s wife as the personal representative of his estate, alleges that the decedent’s prolonged occupational exposure to PFAS through these products caused his fatal cancer.
The firefighter served with the Joliet Fire Department from 1971 to 2000, during which time he routinely wore turnout gear and used AFFF (Aqueous Film-Forming Foam) in training and firefighting operations. The lawsuit asserts that the PFAS chemicals in these products were absorbed through his skin, inhaled, and ingested during normal and foreseeable use, and that manufacturers failed to warn of the known health risks.
The plaintiff contends that the defendants were aware for decades that PFAS chemicals were toxic, bioaccumulative, and persistent in the environment but continued to market these products as safe. The estate seeks damages for wrongful death, alleging negligence, defective design, and failure to warn about the dangers of PFAS exposure.
January 14, 2025: Potential AFFF Settlement in 2025
Of all the mass torts that we are tracking, the AFFF firefighting foam lawsuits seem to have the highest potential for a global settlement in 2025. Why? For starters, the AFFF defendants already finalized a global settlement deal in the cases involving municipal water contamination. This settlement suggests that the defense recognizes that the science behind these cases is valid. Now the primary focus of the litigation has shifted to the AFFF personal injury cases and we think another global settlement could get done before the end of the summer.
January 6, 2025: Ulcerative Colitis Cases Get Recognition
Attorneys in the firefighting foam MDL recently filed a joint request asking the MDL judge to issue a new Case Management Order that will create a separate tier 2 bellwether discovery pool for cases in which the plaintiff’s primary injury is ulcerative colitis. A few UC cases have already gone through the tier 1 discovery process. Now a handful of these cases will be selected to go through a more intensive discovery phase to prep them for test trials.
January 4, 2025: Navy and Other Military
Our clients in the AFFF class action lawsuit are disproprotionatly military-Navy, Army, and Air Force-because they are at heightened risk of exposure to AFFF firefighting foam due to its widespread use in fire suppression activities.bers encountered AF This foam, laden with toxic PFAS was extensively deployed on military bases, aboard ships, and during firefighting training exercises. Service members while conducting emergency operations, routine maintenance, or safety drills, often in enclosed spaces that intensified exposure. Navy personnel were particularly vulnerable due to the confined environments aboard ships, where AFFF use was critical for combating fuel-based fires.
Members of the Army and Air Force were also exposed through training and fire suppression efforts at bases and airfields, including those used for aircraft and vehicle maintenance. These exposures frequently led to contamination of groundwater on military installations, prolonging the risk even after direct contact had ceased.
Veterans and active-duty military personnel who have developed conditions linked to PFAS exposure, such as kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, thyroid cancer, liver cancer, ulcerative colitis, or non-Hodgkin lymphoma, may qualify for significant compensation. These illnesses have been closely tied to long-term exposure to the harmful chemicals in firefighting foam.
January 3, 2025: MDL Posts Monthly Growth
For the last several months the AFFF firefighting foam class action MDL has been shrinking in terms of the number of pending cases. This was mainly due to the dismissal of municipal water contamination cases that were part of the August 2023 settlement deal.
During the month of December, however, the MDL was back to growth mode. 270 new cases were added into the MDL over the course of the month. There are now 7,633 pending cases.
December 29, 2024: What About AFFF Prostate Cancer Claims?
Why are AFFF prostate cancer lawsuits not being pursued in the MDL? Our lawyers think AFFF causes prostate cancer. But AFFF prostate cancer claims are not being pursued in the MDL for two reasons.
First, the the scientific evidence linking AFFF exposure to prostate cancer is weaker compared to the established connection between AFFF and kidney cancer, testicular cancer, and ulcerative colitis. The MDL leadership has decided to focus on claims with stronger epidemiological and toxicological support, which increases the likelihood of success in bellwether trials and global settlements. Additionally, the litigation strategy in the MDL is shaped by expert testimony and Daubert rulings, and claims without robust scientific backing risk dismissal before trial.
The other problem is that specific causation in AFFF prostate cancer claims is particularly difficult because prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men and has numerous well-established risk factors, including age, family history, genetics, diet, and lifestyle. Unlike kidney or testicular cancer, which have stronger epidemiological links to PFAS exposure, prostate cancer is influenced by a wider range of variables, making it harder to isolate AFFF exposure as the definitive cause.
December 10, 2024: Bellwether Trials on Tap
In the AFFF firefighting class action MDL, we now have a date set for the first bellwether test trial in one of the personal injury cancer cases (as opposed to an AFFF water contamination case). The first bellwether trial is set for October 6, 2025, so less than 1 year from now. Getting a trial date set is a very big deal because it puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the defendants and their legal team. Taking a case to trial is a massive risk for the defense because if the first test trial yields a big verdict it could inflate the price tag for any global settlement deal. This means that the defense will be more motivated to bear down and hammer out a global settlement at some point before the trial date.
As of right now, there are about 7,300 cases pending in the AFFF firefighting foam MDL. However, a large percentage of these cases are still water contamination cases that are in the process of being dismissed following last year’s settlement deal. We don’t know exactly how many of these pending cases are individual cancer cases, but it is probably somewhere around half.
AFFF Linked to Cancer
AFFF, known as aqueous film-forming foam, is a type of foam designed for combatting high-intensity fires often fueled by substances like gasoline. The active components in AFFF firefighting foam belong to the PFAS group (poly-fluoroalkyl substances).
PFAS chemicals possess an exceptional resistance to extreme heat and remain unaffected by oil or water breakdown. However, this resilience also means PFAS do not naturally decompose, persisting in the environment and easily spreading through soil, contaminating groundwater and water bodies. This enduring quality has earned PFAS the label of “forever chemicals.”
Scientific research conducted over the past decade has revealed that prolonged exposure to PFAS in firefighting foam may lead to specific cancer types. In 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a health advisory citing animal studies indicating a link between extended PFAS exposure and kidney and testicular cancer.
Studies by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have demonstrated that human exposure to PFAS significantly heightens the risk of kidney, prostate, and testicular cancer. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Cancer Society have concurred, classifying the chemicals present in AFFF firefighting foam as human carcinogens.
Occupational Exposure to AFFF
Individuals engaged in specific occupations or professions that involved regular utilization of AFFF firefighting foam, whether by themselves directly or by their colleagues, are deemed to have undergone “occupational exposure” to PFAS from the firefighting foam. Foremost among these are firefighters who frequently employed AFFF or conducted training sessions involving AFFF firefighting foam.
Other instances of occupational exposure to AFFF firefighting foam encompass individuals who worked in settings where AFFF was used, manufactured, or disposed of. For instance, AFFF was frequently utilized during training sessions at commercial airports, military bases, and industrial facilities. Employees or workers at these sites might have experienced PFAS exposure through indirect contact.
Cancers Linked to AFFF Exposure
Scientific studies have established that prolonged exposure to AFFF firefighting foam, whether through occupational contact or groundwater contamination, can lead to elevated incidences of certain types of cancer. These cancers associated with AFFF exposure include:
- Kidney cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Liver Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Leukemia (and other blood cancers)
- Prostate cancer
People who can demonstrate exposure to chemicals present in AFFF firefighting foam and subsequently developed one of these cancer types might have grounds to file an AFFF lawsuit seeking financial compensation.
Defendants in AFFF Lawsuits
The AFFF firefighting foam lawsuits have drawn a spotlight on a group of powerful corporations that manufactured, marketed, and profited from dangerous products containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Chief among the defendants are industry giants like 3M, DuPont, Chemours, Tyco Fire Products, Chemguard, Kidde-Fenwal, Honeywell International, Archroma, BASF Corporation, and Dynax Corporation, along with numerous others that played a role in the production, distribution, and sale of AFFF. These companies, despite their vast resources and access to scientific research, failed to warn the public, firefighters, and regulatory agencies about the grave health risks their products posed.
What we are learning in pretrial discovery in these firefighter lawsuits is that every knew. As early as the 1970s, internal company documents reveal that manufacturers such as 3M and DuPont were aware of the toxic nature of PFAS. These “forever chemicals” do not degrade in the environment, accumulating instead in the soil, water, and human bloodstreams. By the 1990s, the evidence became more damning—PFAS were conclusively linked to severe health problems, including kidney cancer, testicular cancer, and other life-altering illnesses. Despite these findings, the companies named in these lawsuits not only continued to produce and market AFFF but at least some of them worked to conceal the truth about its toxicity. They chose profits over people, knowingly exposing firefighters and communities to these harmful chemicals.
The lawsuits allege that these corporations not only failed to design safer alternatives—despite their feasibility—but also actively misled the public and regulatory bodies about the dangers of PFAS. They promoted AFFF as indispensable for fire suppression, while downplaying or outright denying the long-term risks. Plaintiffs in these cases, including brave first responders and residents of contaminated areas, are demanding accountability for the devastating health consequences caused by decades of corporate negligence.
Settlement Value of AFFF Lawsuits
We are now into 2025. The AFFF MDL is seven years old. Victims want fair AFFF settlement payouts and they want them now. We think AFFF firefighting foam lawsuits are moving toward resolution, and many legal experts anticipate a mass tort global settlement this year. (Counterpoint: we said this last year.)
We do not have a settlement yet so we cannot tell you how it works. But we know what to expect. Settlement compensation is typically allocated through a tiered ranking system that breaks down further into a points system. A points system would assign values to individual firefighting foam and water contamination lawsuits based on factors such as the severity of the illness, length and type of exposure to AFFF, and proof of causation. Claims with higher point totals, such as those involving long-term occupational exposure and severe cancers, receive larger payouts from the settlement fund, while lower-point claims receive proportionally smaller awards.
So Plaintiffs with the most compelling AFFF cases—those with long-term occupational exposure and diagnoses of severe cancers directly linked to PFAS chemicals, such as testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, or kidney cancer—are ranked in the top tier and will likely receive the highest settlement payouts. Lower-tier claimants may include individuals with less exposure or diagnoses of conditions deemed less severe, such as thyroid disease or other PFAS-related illnesses.
Drawing on the settlement patterns of prior mass tort cases involving cancer, our attorneys estimate that AFFF top-tier cases could see average payouts between $300,000 and $600,000. Plaintiffs in the second tier, such as those with significant exposure but less severe conditions, might receive settlements ranging from $150,000 to $280,000. Lower-tier cases, including those with minimal exposure or weaker causation evidence, may settle for amounts as low as $75,000 or less.
These are informed predictions. As we say in the AFFF updates above, no one knows how these cases will play out. But if the defendants’ history with prior water contamination settlements is any indication, they are likely to seek resolution before risking unpredictable jury verdicts. So with mounting pressure from upcoming trials, our lawyers believe we could see substantial AFFF settlement offers as early as the first half of 2025.
For plaintiffs, this marks a critical time to ensure their claims are well-documented and to prepare for potential compensation in what could be one of the most significant mass tort settlements in recent history. If you have not filed a claim and have one, call a lawyer, preferably us, today.
Moving Past Settlement Tiers—How Would an AFFF Settlement Work?
Our lawyers use settlement tiers by way of illustration. In the real world, we expect settlement payouts for AFFF victims will be determined through a points-based system rather than a tiered structure. While mass tort settlements often utilize tiered rankings, wheretal cases are grouped based on severity, any AFFF settlement system will more likely use a points system. This is a more nuanced and individualized determine compensation. This method, while hardly perfect, is better at allowing a victim’s unique circumstances to be factored into their final settlement amount.
Under a points system, each AFFF lawsuit would be assigned a value based on several key factors, including the severity of the diagnosed illness, length and intensity of AFFF exposure, age at diagnosis, and strength of the causation evidence.
So, for example, you would expect that all things being equal, a plaintiff with decades of direct occupational exposure as a firefighter and a diagnosis of testicular cancer—one of the cancers most strongly linked to PFAS—would receive more points than a plaintiff with brief exposure and a less severe illness, such as thyroid disease. The odd thing abou tthis litigation is any settlement will likely include firefighting foam exposure and drinking water cases. Consequently, you will see different points based on whether the claimant was exposed through contaminated drinking water versus direct firefighting foam use, with higher exposure levels correlating to higher point values.
When Will the AFFF Foam Lawsuit Be Settled?
As we discuss above and in the updates, everyone we talk to “in the know” seems to believe there will be a settlement this year in 2025. The thinking is the companies are ready to be done with this litigation and with a bellwether trial on deck, they want a settlement so they do not take a big verdict that will inflate victims expectations.
There is only one problem with this theory. We said the same thing last year annd we were wrong. So take our predictions with a few buckets of salt. But those prediction were premised on when we would get a bellwether trial. The trial date this year should hold and, assuming it does, there is a great likelihood of a settlement.
Who is Eligible to File an AFFF Lawsuit?
Our mass tort attorneys are actively pursuing AFFF firefighting foam lawsuits nationwide, focusing on individuals who meet two key criteria:
- AFFF Exposure: Plaintiffs must demonstrate regular exposure to PFAS from AFFF firefighting foam, typically through occupational settings such as firefighting, airport operations, or exposure to contaminated groundwater.
- Qualifying Diagnosis: Eligible plaintiffs must provide evidence of being diagnosed with one of the diseases strongly linked to PFAS exposure, including kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease or hypothyroidism, thyroid cancer, liver cancer, or ulcerative colitis. These conditions are the primary focus of our litigation efforts.
Our law firm is focused on representing individuals in AFFF lawsuits who meet specific eligibility criteria. We are pursuing cases involving plaintiffs who experienced significant exposure to PFAS chemicals through firefighting foam, whether occupationally—such as firefighters, airport workers, and military personnel—or via contaminated groundwater.
So we are defining “qualify” as claims our AFFF lawyers are taking. Our plaintiffs must have a diagnosis of one of the conditions most strongly linked to PFAS exposure: kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, liver cancer, thyroid disease/hypothyroidism, or ulcerative colitis. These illnesses reflect the core focus of our litigation, as they represent the most compelling evidence of harm caused by AFFF exposure. By concentrating on these cases, we aim to secure the strongest possible settlement results for individuals suffering serious health consequences due to PFAS exposure.
Get a Lawyer
We are currently accepting new AFFF firefighting foam cases in all 50 states. Contact our AFFF class actions lawyers today to get your case started. Contact us today at 888-322-3010 or online for a free consultation. We do not take a fee unless we get a financial recovery for you.
