U.S. District Judge Alvin Thompson ruled on Sept. 15 that lawsuits by 13 Connecticut firefighter unions and about a dozen individual firefighters alleging PFAS exposure from turnout gear may proceed against more than 20 companies, including 3M, DuPont and Honeywell. The complaint alleges exposure through skin contact, inhalation and ingestion and identifies materials such as 3M's Scotchlite and DuPont's Kevlar. The court allowed claims for damages and court-ordered medical monitoring even before symptoms appear, but did not determine liability. The ruling comes amid broader scrutiny of PFAS makers after prior multi-billion-dollar settlements.
Judge Lets Connecticut Firefighters' PFAS Lawsuits Against 3M, DuPont and Honeywell Proceed
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A federal judge has ruled that lawsuits brought by Connecticut firefighter unions and individual firefighters alleging exposure to PFAS from turnout gear may proceed, finding the claims sufficiently plausible to survive an early dismissal bid.
In a Sept. 15 decision, U.S. District Judge Alvin Thompson allowed proposed claims to advance against more than 20 manufacturers and suppliers, including 3M, DuPont and Honeywell. The suits, filed in June 2024, were brought by lawyers representing 13 firefighter union groups and about a dozen individual firefighters who say chemicals in their protective clothing increased their cancer risks.
Allegations and Evidence
Plaintiffs contend that turnout gear — designed to shield crews from extreme heat, smoke and other life-threatening dangers — instead exposed firefighters to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called "forever chemicals." The complaint alleges exposure occurred through skin absorption, inhalation and accidental ingestion while firefighters wore the equipment at fires and during emergency responses.
The filing identifies specific components and manufacturers: it alleges turnout gear included 3M's Scotchlite reflective material and DuPont's Kevlar fibers, and that Honeywell manufactured some protective garments. The complaint also notes that certain liabilities tied to DuPont are now associated with its former businesses and spin-offs, including Chemours and Corteva.
Court Findings
Judge Thompson found the unions had "organizational" standing to pursue damages and permitted individual firefighters to seek both compensation and court-ordered medical monitoring even if they have not yet developed outward signs of illness. He also concluded the plaintiffs had plausibly alleged that 3M owed a duty to warn about PFAS risks and that the company acted negligently.
Defendants had argued the complaint did not allege the turnout gear failed to serve its protective function. The court's ruling does not determine liability; it only allows the litigation to move forward past an early dismissal stage.
Wider Context
The litigation lands amid growing scrutiny of PFAS makers. The court noted that in 2023 DuPont, 3M and two other companies agreed to settlements exceeding $11 billion over claims that PFAS in firefighting foam and related products contaminated drinking water; those settlements were reached without admissions of wrongdoing.
PFAS are widely used in consumer and industrial products — from nonstick cookware to stain-resistant fabrics and cosmetics — and are called "forever chemicals" because they persist in the environment and the human body and have been linked to a range of health problems.
The decision permits discovery and further litigation but does not resolve the merits. Next steps will include pretrial proceedings, discovery and potential motions that could narrow issues or set the case for trial or settlement.
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