AFFF Firefighting Foam Litigation
Cohen Milstein is investigating personal injury claims on behalf of firefighters who have been exposed to a toxic firefighting foam called Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) and may have developed cancer as a result. As a result of these investigations, we may pursue litigation on behalf of those who have suffered cancer due to AFFF firefighting foam exposure.
What Is AFFF
Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) is a highly specialized firefighting foam known to contain toxic chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which have been linked with cancer. AFFF firefighting foam is highly effective for extinguishing jet fuel fires and petroleum fires. It has been commonly used to extinguish airport-related fires.
Who Is at Risk
Firefighters who are at a higher risk of exposure are:
- U.S. military firefighters, as the military widely used the foam for more than 60 years
- Firefighters assigned to airports because airports required the use of the foam until 2018
Exposure Health Effects
Firefighters who were regularly exposed to AFFF firefighting foam may be more likely to develop cancer, including:
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Colon cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Thyroid cancer
How We Can Help
We help individuals and local communities that may have been exposed to PFAS contamination through AFFF firefighting foam exposure and drinking and bathing water contaminated water.
We track and analyze all existing PFAS related litigation and know what issues have been litigated in other cases and what evidence has been identified and disclosed in those cases. Our team brings comprehensive resources in terms of in-house discovery, third-party environmental testing experts and regulatory teams, as well as crisis management teams. We track PFAS related actions and developments at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and at state environmental agencies, as well as the most recent developments related to testing and regulating PFAS compounds. We have unique insights into the roles of those agencies and their possible actions related to PFAS issues. We are frequently contacted by national environmental reporters who rely upon our legal insights on PFAS developments.
Our Leadership
Our PFAS Water Litigation and AFFF Firefighting Foam Litigation team includes nationally recognized trial lawyers, who are highly regarded for their subject-matter expertise in environmental toxic tort litigation.
Theodore J. Leopold is co-chair of the Complex Tort Litigation practice and leads the firm’s Environmental Toxic Tort team. In 2022, Mr. Leopold was recognized by Law360 as a “Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar” for his distinguished career representing plaintiffs in personal injury, product liability, and environmental toxic tort claims. He was also recognized as a Law360 “MVP – Environmental” (2018, 2021). He is court appointed Co-Lead Class Counsel in two of most high-profile environmental toxic tort mass actions in the U.S. today—In re Flint Water Cases (E.D. Mich.) and Victoria Carey, et al. v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours and The Chemours Company, et al. (E.D.N.C).
Leslie M. Kroeger is co-chair of the Complex Tort Litigation practice and is a member of the firm’s Environmental Toxic Tort team, which has been recognized as among the best in the nation by The National Law Journal, “Winner – Elite Trial Lawyers – Environmental Protection” (2019), and Law360, “Practice Group of the Year – Environmental” (2020, 2018).
If you or a loved one has been injured and you believe you may have a legal claim, please contact us at (877)515-7955 or fill out the Contact Us form.