At A Glance
- Who Does the AFFF Lawsuit Affect?
People who say PFAS from AFFF firefighting foam made them sick, including firefighters, military service members and people who lived or worked near bases and airports. About 115,000 to 120,000 people with existing injury claims against 3M are eligible for its new settlement.
- What Is Going On with the AFFF Lawsuit?
On November 3, 2026, 3M agreed to pay $7.35 billion over nine years to resolve about 99% of current PFAS personal injury claims against it. Claims against other foam makers, including DuPont and Chemours, continue in the federal MDL in South Carolina.
- What Could I Get From the AFFF Lawsuit?
3M has not published individual payout amounts. In mass tort settlements, payments usually depend on the diagnosis, the exposure evidence and the rules of the settlement program. Most 3M money is scheduled for 2028 through 2033.
- Can I File an AFFF Lawsuit?
There is no public claim form, because this is a mass tort, not a class action. If you have a qualifying diagnosis and no case yet, talk to a lawyer soon. State filing deadlines still apply, and the court is expected to set new requirements for later cases.
- How Much Does a Lawyer Cost?
Mass tort lawyers usually work on contingency, so you pay nothing up front. The fee comes out of any settlement or verdict, under the terms of your agreement and any court rules.
3M Agrees to $7.35 Billion Deal Over PFAS Firefighting Foam Injury Claims
The AFFF lawsuits are personal injury cases over PFAS, the “forever chemicals” in aqueous film forming foam that the military, airports and fire departments used for decades to fight fuel fires. Plaintiffs say exposure caused kidney cancer, testicular cancer, liver cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis and other conditions. Most federal cases are combined in one mass tort in South Carolina.
On November 3, 2026, 3M announced a $7.35 billion deal to resolve about 99% of current injury claims against it. Our newsroom covered the announcement in 3M agrees to $7.35 billion PFAS settlement. This page tracks the wider litigation and what it means for people with claims.
3M does not admit wrongdoing, and the claims against the other foam makers have not been proven in court.
Important AFFF lawsuit update
As of November 4, 2026, the 3M settlement is in its enrollment phase, and there is no public claim form. Only people with existing injury claims can take part, through their lawyers. Any website asking you to pay a fee to “register” for the 3M PFAS settlement is not official. Learn the warning signs in our guide to class action settlement scams.
Who Is Being Sued in the AFFF Lawsuit?
Plaintiffs have sued the companies that made AFFF or the PFAS chemicals used in it. 3M is the best known defendant, and other manufacturers, including DuPont and Chemours, are also named. The federal cases are combined in MDL No. 2873 before U.S. District Judge Richard M. Gergel in the District of South Carolina.
The parties include:
- 3M Company: Agreed on November 3, 2026 to pay $7.35 billion to resolve most personal injury claims against it.
- DuPont and Chemours: Other chemical and foam makers named in the MDL. They are not part of the 3M deal.
- Injury plaintiffs: Firefighters, service members and others who say AFFF exposure caused cancer or other diseases.
- Public water systems: Utilities that sued over PFAS contamination. Their claims against 3M were handled in a separate 2023 settlement.
Who Could Be Covered by the AFFF Lawsuits?
The 3M settlement covers about 115,000 to 120,000 eligible plaintiffs who already have PFAS personal injury claims, inside or outside the MDL. It also sets up a process for remaining and future injury claims. People who have not filed a claim are not automatically included.
What Circumstances Might Be Relevant?
- You worked as a military or civilian firefighter and used AFFF in training or emergencies.
- You served at a military base or worked at an airport where AFFF was used.
- You lived near a base or airport where foam was used and PFAS reached the water supply.
- You were diagnosed with kidney, testicular or liver cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis or another condition named in the litigation.
- You already have a PFAS injury case against 3M. Your lawyer will receive the enrollment details.
Because this is a mass tort, each person needs their own claim. Joining the 3M settlement means enrolling and giving 3M a full release of PFAS injury claims. Our guide on what a class action lawsuit is explains how that differs from a class case.
What Are the AFFF Lawsuits About?
Plaintiffs say PFAS from firefighting foam caused their illnesses and that manufacturers should be held responsible under product liability law. PFAS break down very slowly in the environment and in the body, which is why they are called forever chemicals.
3M’s November 2026 deal is spread over nine years, with a present value of $5.8 billion. According to 3M’s announcement and its investor call, payments are scheduled like this:
| Year | 3M payment |
|---|---|
| 2026 | $50 million |
| 2027 | No payment |
| 2028 to 2033 | About $6.27 billion 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 | $680 million reserve for remaining and future claims |
3M can withdraw if participation falls below confidential thresholds filed under seal. The company said it does not expect that to happen.
What Laws Are Involved?
The injury cases rely on state product liability law. The federal MDL process lets one judge manage the pretrial work for thousands of similar cases.
The key laws include:
- State product liability law: Covers claims that a product was defective or sold without adequate warnings.
- 28 U.S.C. 1407: The federal law that allows similar cases to be combined in a multidistrict litigation.
- State statutes of limitations: Set how long you have to file an injury claim. The deadline depends on your state.
How Do Other Toxic Exposure Cases Compare?
Military and environmental exposure cases often take many years. See our Camp Lejeune lawsuit page for another water contamination case affecting service members and families, and our list of the biggest settlements of 2026.
Those results are not a prediction for any AFFF claim. See how class action settlements work for the usual path from deal to payment.
Have a PFAS related diagnosis?
Do not wait to find out where you stand. Gather your medical records and work history, including where and when you used or were near firefighting foam. Then talk to a lawyer before your state filing deadline passes.
What Can Firefighters and Exposed Workers Do Right Now?
The right next step depends on whether you already have a case.
- If you already have an AFFF case, ask your lawyer about the 3M enrollment terms and any deadline.
- If you do not have a case, collect your diagnosis records and proof of foam exposure.
- Write down the bases, airports or fire stations where you worked or lived, with dates.
- Do not pay anyone who offers to register you for the 3M settlement.
- Report scam calls or emails to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Attorney
- Does my diagnosis qualify under the 3M settlement program?
- What happens if I do not enroll in the 3M settlement?
- Do I also have claims against DuPont, Chemours or other foam makers?
- What is my state filing deadline, and what proof of exposure do I need?
What Happens Next in the AFFF Cases?
3M expects Judge Gergel to pause injury cases against it in the MDL while the settlement is put in place. That order is also expected to set evidence and timing rules for people who do not join and for new cases filed later. The settlement administrator should be able to measure participation within about a year.
Claims against the other defendants continue. Follow other active cases in our list of open class action lawsuits and mass torts.
People with PFAS claims may wish to:
- Bookmark this page. We update it when the court rules or settlement terms change.
- Read our news story on the 3M PFAS settlement for the full payment details.
- Learn what a mass tort lawsuit is and how individual claims are valued.
- Read how long a lawsuit takes to set realistic payment expectations.
Is There a Filing Deadline for the AFFF Lawsuit?
There is no public claim deadline, because there is no public claim form. Your own deadline to file an injury case is set by your state’s statute of limitations, and the expected MDL order may add requirements for later cases. These are the dates that matter so far:
Key Dates in the AFFF Litigation:
- 2023: 3M agrees to pay $10.5 billion to $12.5 billion to public water systems for PFAS testing and treatment.
- November 3, 2026: 3M announces a $7.35 billion deal to resolve most PFAS personal injury claims.
- 2026: 3M makes its first $50 million payment.
- 2028 to 2033: Most settlement payments are due once participation thresholds are met.
- 2034: Final payments, including the reserve for remaining and future claims.
Statutes of limitations for injury claims are often only a few years and may start when you learned of your diagnosis. A lawyer can tell you which deadline applies. Our guide on how to sue a company covers the basics.
Case: In re: Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2873 (D.S.C.)
Judge: U.S. District Judge Richard M. Gergel
Status: 3M injury settlement in enrollment. Claims against other defendants pending
Source: 3M settlement announcement
AFFF Lawsuit FAQs
Only if you already have a PFAS injury claim. The 3M deal is open to about 115,000 to 120,000 existing plaintiffs, who enroll through their lawyers. There is no public claim form.
$7.35 billion over nine years, with a present value of $5.8 billion. That includes a $680 million reserve for remaining and future claims.
No. The agreement covers personal injury claims against 3M only. Claims against other foam makers continue in the MDL.
Only if you have a personal injury claim. Water system costs were handled in 3M’s separate 2023 settlement, which pays utilities rather than households. See class action settlement payouts for how payments usually work.