What You Need to Know About Firefighting Foam PFAS Lawsuits in Early 2025
Across the country, thousands of people — especially firefighters, military personnel, and airport workers — are stepping forward with AFFF lawsuits after being diagnosed with cancer and other serious illnesses linked to AFFF (Aqueous Film-Forming Foam). This specialized foam, long used to suppress fuel fires, contains toxic PFAS chemicals that have been shown to cause severe and lasting harm.
While some major PFAS-related settlements have recently made headlines, it’s important to understand that these agreements involve water contamination claims filed by municipalities — not the personal injury lawsuits filed by individuals exposed to AFFF. However, legal experts believe that these water contamination settlements may lay the groundwork for future compensation in the ongoing AFFF litigation.
Here’s where things stand in early 2025 — and what it could mean for those affected.
Understanding AFFF and PFAS Exposure
AFFF has been used since the 1960s by the U.S. military, airport fire crews, and industrial responders to quickly put out flammable liquid fires. While highly effective, AFFF contains PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they persist in the environment and accumulate in the human body.
Exposure to PFAS from AFFF can occur in two main ways:
- Direct exposure: Most common among military and civilian firefighters who handled or trained with AFFF regularly
- Indirect exposure: Caused by PFAS runoff from airports, military bases, or industrial sites contaminating groundwater and entering public or private drinking water supplies
Scientific research has linked PFAS exposure to serious health conditions, including:
- Kidney cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Liver cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Ulcerative colitis
The Current Status of the AFFF MDL
Due to the growing number of lawsuits, all federally filed AFFF cases have been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 2873) in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina under Judge Richard Gergel.
As of April 2025, more than 7,300 active cases are pending in the MDL.
Municipal Settlements and What They Mean for AFFF Plaintiffs
In the past two years, several billion-dollar settlements have been reached in PFAS-related lawsuits brought by public water providers:
- 3M agreed to pay $10.3 billion to settle claims from municipalities whose water systems were contaminated by PFAS
- DuPont and its spin-off companies committed $1.185 billion to settle similar municipal claims
It’s critical to understand that these settlements are limited to water contamination claims filed by cities and towns. They do not resolve the thousands of AFFF personal injury lawsuits filed by individuals allegedly harmed by exposure — either through occupational contact or through drinking water affected by AFFF runoff.
However, these settlements do establish a strong precedent and may prove significant in shaping future negotiations over individual AFFF claims.
IMPORTANT: Defendants in AFFF lawsuits strongly deny any liability and/or wrongdoing, and there have been no settlements in these cases as of early 2025.
What’s Next for Individual AFFF Lawsuits?
To date, no personal injury bellwether trials have taken place. Several were expected in 2024 but were delayed to allow time for continued settlement talks. The first trials are now expected to begin in late 2025 and will focus on plaintiffs diagnosed with kidney or testicular cancer — two conditions with some of the strongest evidence potentially connecting them to PFAS in AFFF.
These trials are critically important. Their outcomes will help set the tone for potential global settlement discussions involving individual plaintiffs (though no such potential settlements are guaranteed). If juries rule in favor of the plaintiffs and award significant damages, it could accelerate efforts to compensate the thousands of people making AFFF claims.
In the meantime, Judge Gergel has appointed a special master to facilitate settlement negotiations. While there is no finalized agreement as of early 2025, legal observers believe the stage is being set for broader resolutions in the months ahead.
Who May Be Eligible for an AFFF Lawsuit?
You may qualify for an AFFF-related personal injury lawsuit if:
- You were directly exposed to AFFF in a military, firefighting, or airport setting, OR
- You were exposed to PFAS through contaminated drinking water — especially if you lived or worked near a military base, airport, or fire training facility using AFFF
- You have been diagnosed with one of the following conditions:
- Kidney cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Liver cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Ulcerative colitis
Even if you’re unsure about the source of your exposure, an attorney can help investigate whether AFFF may be involved in your case. Please call 1-800-525-7111 today for a free case review.
Call Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one has developed cancer or another serious illness after exposure to firefighting foam, don’t wait. Legal action is already underway, and with the possibility of settlements on the horizon, now is the time to protect your rights.
Call 1-800-525-7111 today for a free case review with an experienced AFFF PFAS attorney at Riddle & Riddle.
Why Riddle & Riddle for AFFF Claims?
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers have over 190 years of combined legal experience and have recovered more than $850 million for clients since 2000 alone (see disclaimer below). Many of our attorneys and staff’s own communities have been impacted by PFAS contamination, and we understand the devastating impact of toxic exposure. We stand ready to hold chemical manufacturers accountable for any alleged liability and/or wrongdoing.
If you qualify for an AFFF PFAS lawsuit and decide to hire us, we will fight tirelessly for the maximum compensation you deserve. When Justice Counts™, count on the team at Riddle & Riddle.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer from Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, please contact Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in North Carolina today. We have five convenient locations in North Carolina, including Greenville, Raleigh, Goldsboro, Jacksonville, Kinston, Charlotte, Greensboro, Durham, Fayetteville, Wilmington, Winston-Salem & Garner.
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers - Greenville Office
300 E Arlington Blvd Suite 2A #110, Greenville, NC 27858
252-397-7400
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers - Raleigh Office
4600 Marriott Dr STE 500, Raleigh, NC 27612
919-459-7855
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers - Goldsboro Office
601 N Spence Ave, Goldsboro, NC 27534
919-759-6963
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers - Jacksonville Office
3391 Henderson Dr, Jacksonville, NC 28546
910-910-1860
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers - Kinston Office
807 N Queen St, Kinston, NC 28501
252-397-0134
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers - Charlotte Office
1914 J N Pease Pl Suite 142, Charlotte, NC 28262
704-781-7980
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers - Greensboro Office
7B Corporate Center Ct Suite 15, Greensboro, NC 27408
336-395-5349
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers - Durham Office
100 E Parrish St STE 200, Durham, NC 27701
919-925-6039
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers - Fayetteville Office
2517 Raeford Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28305
910-387-0861
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers - Wilmington Office
1608 Queen St Suite 12, Wilmington, NC 28401
910-889-3926
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers - Winston-Salem Office
102 W 3rd St, Ste 1007, Winston-Salem, NC 27101
336-396-6310
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers - Garner Office
500 Benson Rd Suite 111, Garner, NC 27529