By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- 3M has agreed to payments worth $7.35 billion over nine years to settle more than 100,000 personal injury claims over its PFAS-based aqueous film-forming foam, the company announced Nov. 3.
- The settlement covers up to 120,000 eligible plaintiffs, including firefighters and military personnel who used the foam, most often in training exercises.
- It follows a 2023 settlement of up to $12.5 billion over drinking water contamination claims, bringing the two together to nearly $20 billion.
- 3M is not admitting wrongdoing and says it will contest the cases in court if settlement terms are not fulfilled.
- The company will record a pretax charge of $5.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2026.
MAPLEWOOD, Minn. — 3M has agreed to pay $7.35 billion over nine years to settle more than 100,000 personal injury lawsuits over firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported.
The company announced the settlement on its website after markets closed Tuesday, election night. Its stock rose less than 2% in after-hours trading. The settlement covers up to 120,000 eligible plaintiffs, including firefighters and military personnel who used aqueous film-forming foam to fight fires or, more often, in training exercises.
PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, do not biodegrade and have been linked to cancer and liver damage. 3M is not admitting wrongdoing as part of the deal and stands ready to fight the cases in court if settlement terms are not met.
It is the second major 3M settlement in the foam litigation in the same South Carolina federal court. In June 2023, the company settled a separate set of claims over drinking water contamination involving cities, municipalities and water districts for as much as $12.5 billion paid over 12 years. Together the settlements would total nearly $20 billion.
“This settlement is a significant milestone for 3M and substantially reduces litigation uncertainty,” CEO Bill Brown said in a news release, adding that it is another step in managing legacy PFAS matters. 3M will account for the settlement with a pretax charge of $5.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2026, and executives scheduled an investor call for Wednesday morning.
Motley Rice, a South Carolina firm representing plaintiffs, called the settlement a favorable result for victims who need support to cover mounting medical bills and other costs often associated with PFAS exposure.