Connecticut Firefighters' Lawsuit Against 3M, DuPont, Honeywell Allowed to Proceed

A federal judge has ruled that 3M, DuPont, and Honeywell must face claims by Connecticut firefighters who say their protective gear was contaminated with 'forever chemicals'.

The lawsuit alleges that the turnout gear, which shields against extreme heat and flames, leached toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) through absorption into skin, ingestion, and inhalation.

U.S. District Judge Alvin Thompson in Hartford, Connecticut, said the unions had 'organizational' standing to seek damages, and firefighters could seek damages and medical monitoring even if they had no outward symptoms of cancer and other diseases.

The plaintiffs sufficiently alleged that 3M owed a duty to warn about the risks and committed negligence. PFAS were found in 3M's Scotchlite reflective material, DuPont's Kevlar, and Honeywell's turnout gear.