In re: Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Products Liability Litigation
| MDL number | MDL No. 2873, U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Judge | U.S. District Judge Richard M. Gergel |
| Announced | November 3, 2026 |
| Settlement amount | $7.35 billion over nine years (present value $5.8 billion) |
| Who can take part | About 115,000 to 120,000 personal injury plaintiffs |
| Status | Enrollment phase. There is no public claim form. |
3M has agreed to pay $7.35 billion over nine years to settle PFAS personal injury claims tied to firefighting foam, the company announced on November 3, 2026. The deal targets about 99% of current injury claims inside and outside the federal mass tort pending in South Carolina, and it is the first broad resolution of the cancer and disease claims that firefighters, service members and residents near military bases have pressed against 3M for years.
Key takeaways
- 3M commits $7.35 billion between 2026 and 2034. The present value is $5.8 billion.
- About 115,000 to 120,000 plaintiffs are eligible, covering roughly 99% of current injury claims.
- Plaintiffs must enroll and sign a full release. 3M admits no wrongdoing.
- 3M can walk away if participation falls below confidential thresholds.
- This is not a class action. There is no claim form for the general public.
What the 3M PFAS settlement covers
The agreement resolves personal injury claims over per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” that are the focus of the Aqueous Film-Forming Foam multidistrict litigation, or MDL. AFFF is the firefighting foam used for decades by the military, airports and fire departments to put out fuel fires. Plaintiffs in the MDL say PFAS from the foam caused kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, liver cancer, ulcerative colitis and other conditions.
According to 3M’s announcement, the deal covers roughly 115,000 to 120,000 eligible plaintiffs, including every personal injury claim that has been the focus of the MDL. It also sets up a way to handle remaining and future injury claims both inside and outside the MDL. To take part, a plaintiff must enroll and give 3M a full release of PFAS related injury claims. The settlement is not an admission of liability.
How much 3M will pay and when
The money is spread out over nine years, and most of it does not start flowing until 2028. Based on 3M’s release and the company’s November 4 investor call, as reported by Yahoo Finance, the schedule looks like this:
| Year | Payment |
|---|---|
| 2026 | $50 million |
| 2027 | No payment |
| 2028 to 2033 | About $6.27 billion in annual payments once participation thresholds are met |
| 2029 and 2030 | $125 million each, if participation reaches higher levels |
| 2031 and 2032 | Up to $50 million each, depending on the future docket |
| Through 2034 | A $680 million reserve fund for remaining and future claims |
3M says about 20% of the total falls in the final two years. The company will take a pre tax charge of about $5.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Participation thresholds and 3M’s right to walk away
The deal only works if enough plaintiffs sign up. There is one participation threshold for all eligible plaintiffs and a second one for certain higher risk claim types. The exact levels are confidential and filed under seal. If participation falls short, 3M can withdraw, although the company said it does not expect that to happen. The parties expect the settlement administrator to be able to calculate participation rates within about a year.
3M has not published how much an individual plaintiff will receive. Payouts in mass tort settlements like this one usually depend on the diagnosis, the strength of the exposure evidence and other factors set by the settlement program.
What happens to cases in the AFFF MDL
3M expects Judge Gergel to issue an order that pauses personal injury cases against the company in the MDL while the settlement is put in place. The same order is expected to set evidence and timing requirements for plaintiffs who do not join and for people who file new cases later. 3M also said that during the vetting process about 40,000 claims were dismissed without prejudice.
What the deal does not cover
This agreement deals with personal injury claims against 3M only. It is separate from the 2023 settlement in which 3M agreed to pay $10.5 billion to $12.5 billion to public water systems for PFAS testing and treatment, money that goes to utilities rather than individuals. 3M still faces state attorney general cases, claims from water systems that opted out of the 2023 deal, international matters and regulatory cases. Other foam makers named in the MDL, such as DuPont and Chemours, are not part of this deal.
What PFAS injury plaintiffs should do now
If you already have a PFAS or AFFF injury case, your lawyer will receive the enrollment details and should explain your options before any deadline. This is not a class action, so you are not automatically included and there is nothing to file through a public website. If you have a qualifying diagnosis but have not filed a claim, speak with a lawyer soon, because state filing deadlines still apply and the expected court order may add new requirements for later cases. Our guide on how long a lawsuit takes explains why mass tort payments often take years to arrive. For a full breakdown of who is covered, the legal basis for the claims and key dates, see our AFFF lawsuit page.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the 3M PFAS settlement?
3M committed $7.35 billion over nine years, with a present value of $5.8 billion. That includes a $680 million reserve fund for remaining and future claims.
Who is eligible for the 3M firefighting foam settlement?
About 115,000 to 120,000 people who already have PFAS personal injury claims against 3M, inside or outside the AFFF MDL, are eligible to take part. They must enroll and sign a release.
Can I file a claim for the 3M PFAS settlement online?
No. This is a mass tort settlement for people with existing injury claims, not a class action with a public claim form. Participation runs through the plaintiffs’ lawyers and the settlement administrator.
When will 3M PFAS settlement payments be made?
3M pays $50 million in 2026 and nothing in 2027. Most of the money is scheduled for 2028 through 2033, once participation thresholds are met, with the last payments in 2034.
Does this settlement cover PFAS in my drinking water?
Only if you have a personal injury claim. Water contamination costs for public water systems were handled in 3M’s separate 2023 settlement, which pays utilities rather than households.
