A $7.35 billion settlement with 3M marks a major development in the nationwide AFFF litigation, MDL No. 2873, resolving personal injury claims for approximately 115,000 to 120,000 eligible plaintiffs. The settlement follows years of litigation on behalf of people who allege they suffered serious health consequences from exposure to PFAS contained in firefighting foam and drinking water.Motley Rice attorneys hold key leadership roles in the nationwide litigation. Motley Rice’s co-founder Joe Rice served as co-lead and led negotiations for the 3M settlement until his passing in September 2026. Fred Thompson has served as court-appointed liaison counsel since the MDL’s inception and several other Motley Rice attorneys work on the litigation including David Hoyle who served on the 3M settlement negotiation team.“This resolution carries forward the work of our late co-founder Joe Rice, who worked on this settlement until the day he passed. He believed deeply in the pursuit of justice on behalf of all plaintiffs in this matter. His imprint on this work is everlasting, and we are incredibly proud to see the effort he helped lead culminate in this $7.35 billion settlement,” shared Motley Rice attorney and 3M negotiating team member, David Hoyle.Plaintiffs in the multidistrict litigation allege PFAS in AFFF contaminated groundwater near military bases, airports and other locations where the foam was used to extinguish liquid-fuel fires, causing personal injuries, property damage and other losses.“For the thousands of victims who have sought answers and accountability for nearly a decade, 3M’s $7.35 billion settlement is welcome news. We commend MDL No. 2873’s leadership for achieving this favorable result for victims who are in urgent need of support to cover the mounting medical bills and other costs frequently associated with toxic PFAS exposure,” Fred Thompson stated.