Kent County property owners reach $54 million proposed settlement with 3M company, Wolverine Worldwide to resolve PFAS claims
Motley Rice LLC is pleased to announce the Western District of Michigan Court’s preliminary approval of a $54 million class action settlement on behalf of residents of Kent County, Mich., whose properties were contaminated with PFAS, “forever chemicals.”
The settlement will create a Fund that disburses payments to eligible members of the Settlement Class in the North Kent Study Area for damages to property, including loss of use, loss of value and emotional distress related to the contamination of their water supply.
PFAS chemicals were found in residential wells in Kent County Michigan in 2017, and property owners have been engaged in litigation against 3M and Wolverine for related damages, alleging both companies were responsible.
“If fully approved, the proposed settlement will provide compensation for property-related damages to eligible property owners in the Kent County, Michigan for environmental harm caused to the residents drinking water by PFAS contamination,” said attorney Esther Berezofsky.
PFAS, referred to as “forever chemicals,” are a class of highly toxic substances which are persistent in humans, livestock, aquatic life, and the environment. PFAS were first developed in the 1950s and used to provide the non-stick coating on cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, firefighting foams, and other products. Environmental regulatory agencies, as well as organizations concerned with human health and safety, both in the US and Europe, have established that these chemicals are highly toxic and hazardous to the environment and human health.
Read the full complaint.
Read the order granting preliminary approval.
About Motley Rice
Motley Rice LLC is one of the nation’s largest plaintiffs’ litigation firms. With a tradition of representing those whose rights have been violated, Motley Rice attorneys gained recognition for their pioneering asbestos lawsuits, their work with the State Attorneys General in the landmark litigation against Big Tobacco, and their representation of 9/11 families in the ongoing lawsuit against terrorist financiers.
The firm litigates complex cases for people, communities and governmental entities in numerous areas, including environmental contamination; opioids litigation, securities fraud; antitrust; consumer protection; mesothelioma; prescription and over-the-counter drugs; medical devices; human rights; aviation disasters; and wrongful death. Motley Rice is headquartered in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., and has additional offices in Connecticut; Washington, D.C.; New Jersey; New York; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; and West Virginia. For more information, contact Motley Rice attorney Esther Berezofsky (NJ, PA) at 1.800.768.4026 or visit www.motleyrice.com. Motley Rice LLC, a South Carolina Limited Liability Company, is engaged in the New Jersey practice of law through Motley Rice New Jersey LLC. Esther Berezofsky is the attorney responsible for New Jersey practice.
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