Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF)—the fuel-fire suppressant long used by firefighters, military bases, and airports—contains PFAS (“forever chemicals”). PFAS exposure has been linked in human studies to cancers and serious illnesses. As the science and the litigation have advanced, thousands of individuals and public water systems have filed claims against foam and PFAS manufacturers.
Where the AFFF Lawsuits Stand Now
The MDL, case counts, and why it matters
All federal AFFF personal-injury and many property-damage/water claims are centralized in MDL 2873 in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina before Judge Richard M. Gergel. The Court’s MDL portal confirms the proceeding and provides orders, schedules, and updates.
As of January 2026, practitioner summaries indicate ~15,200+ personal-injury cases are pending (with nearly 19,800 total cases on the MDL docket, including closed or transferred matters). Filings continue to be driven by firefighters, service members/veterans, airport and industrial workers, and those with community water exposure.
Key 2025-2026 milestones in the AFFF litigation
- Science Day (June 20, 2025): The Court held a dedicated Science Day to hear expert presentations focused on thyroid and liver cancer causation questions. This session (set by Case Management Order No. 33) helps define the scope of admissible scientific testimony heading into bellwether trials.
- Bellwether schedule adjustment. On August 15, 2025, the Court issued Case Management Order No. 35, which vacated the October 2025 kidney-cancer bellwether setting and created a short filing/verification window to standardize proofs for new cases. The Court continues to vet the influx of filings and align expert/Daubert schedules before resetting personal-injury trial dates.
Major Settlements That Shape the Landscape
Although personal-injury test cases are still moving toward trial, large public-water-system settlements have already reshaped the PFAS litigation environment:
- 3M Public Water Suppliers Settlement – Final Approval (April 1, 2024): Up to $10.3B (present value) over 13 years to help U.S. public water suppliers test for and remove PFAS. This is a court-approved deal tied to the South Carolina proceedings and has accelerated attention on individual exposure claims.
- DuPont/Chemours/Corteva Water Systems Settlement (June 2, 2023): A $1.185B fund to resolve a defined class of water-provider claims related to PFAS in drinking water.
State activity underscores the pressure. In August 2025, New Jersey announced an $875M PFAS settlement with Chemours, DuPont, and Corteva, with payments beginning no sooner than January 1, 2026—a state environmental resolution separate from the MDL, but indicative of continuing accountability trends.
What this means for individuals: These water-system deals don’t resolve personal-injury claims—but they establish liability frameworks, fund cleanups, and keep PFAS risks at the forefront. As admissible science solidifies and bellwethers approach, the pathway to resolving individual cancer and illness claims becomes more defined.
The Science That’s Moving the Needle
Courts are weighing an expanding body of peer-reviewed research on PFAS exposure and disease-specific risks. The MDL’s science proceedings (e.g., dedicated Science Day and ensuing expert scheduling) continue to shape what testimony may reach juries for conditions such as kidney cancer, testicular cancer, liver cancer, thyroid cancer/thyroid disease, and ulcerative colitis. Expect Daubert rulings and expert sequencing to be pivotal when the first personal-injury bellwether is reset. (For official court materials and schedules, consult the MDL portal.)
Who May Be Eligible to File an AFFF Lawsuit?
You may qualify if you were exposed to AFFF/PFAS (for example, as a firefighter, airport/industrial worker, or through contaminated water) and later developed one of the litigation-focused illnesses, such as:
- Kidney cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Liver cancer
- Thyroid cancer or thyroid disease
- Ulcerative colitis
Eligibility depends on documented exposure, medical diagnosis, and a medical “nexus” opinion linking the condition to PFAS. If you’re unsure whether your duty station, department, or community appears in PFAS contamination records, we can help evaluate.
What Compensation Can Cover
Personal-injury claims typically seek recovery for medical expenses, lost income/earning capacity, pain and suffering, and—where appropriate—future medical monitoring. Families may also pursue wrongful-death damages when applicable.
Why Timing Still Matters
- Statutes of limitations and repose periods differ by state; early legal evaluation protects your claim.
- Evidence preservation (personnel records, training logs, duty rosters, base or municipal testing results, medical records) is easier sooner than later.
- MDL momentum: With science proceedings completed for additional diseases and bellwethers expected once the calendar resets, filing early helps position your case for whatever programs or trial settings follow.
How Keefe Law Firm Can Help
We represent firefighters, veterans, airport and industrial workers, and impacted communities in the AFFF litigation. Our team:
- Reviews your exposure history and medical records,
- Secures expert opinions to support causation,
- Navigates the MDL deadlines and evidentiary requirements, and
- Pursues the maximum compensation available.
You protected your community. Our job is to protect your rights.
Free, confidential consultation: Speak with Keefe Law Firm to evaluate eligibility and next steps in your AFFF lawsuit.