Democratic Attorneys General Sue Trump Administration Over CDC Childhood Vaccine Schedule Changes 
FDA Biologics Chief Vinay Prasad to Leave Agency in April Amid Policy Disputes 
Global Flight Cancellations 2026: Middle East Air Travel Chaos Explained 
Novo Nordisk Warns of Profit Decline as Wegovy Faces U.S. Price Pressure and Rising Competition 
xAI Faces Lawsuit Over Grok AI-Generated Sexual Content Involving Minors 
DOJ Antitrust Chief Rejects Political Fast-Track for Paramount-Skydance Deal 
Jerome Powell May Stay on Fed Board Amid Criminal Investigation, Court Documents Reveal 
FDA Warns Novo Nordisk Over Misleading Ozempic Ad Claims 
Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Move to End Temporary Protected Status for Somali Immigrants 
Nanya Technology Shares Surge 10% After $2.5 Billion Private Placement from Sandisk and Cisco 
SK Hynix Eyes Up to $14 Billion U.S. IPO to Fund AI Chip Expansion 
9 Tips for Avoiding Tax Season Cyber Scams 
Microsoft Backs Anthropic in Legal Fight Against Pentagon's AI Blacklist 
Lynas Rare Earths Signs Vietnam Deal with LS Eco Energy to Boost Magnet Metal Production 
On Monday, a U.S. appeals court ruled in favor of 3M, E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co, and other manufacturers of "forever chemicals." The court rejected a lower court's ruling, allowing approximately 11.8 million Ohio residents to sue the companies.
Reuters noted that the ruling relieves considerable legal pressure placed on the chemical manufacturers to settle the plaintiffs' claims.
Court Ruling Questions Class Action Suit's Validity
According to Yahoo, Lead plaintiff Kevin Hardwick's complaint against the manufacturers faced scrutiny from the court. The appeals court found his complaint to be overly broad and lacking evidence that the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) detected in his body could be directly attributed to the defendants.
The court emphasized that the complaint targeted the collective actions of the companies rather than individual responsibility. Notably, the case involved just 10 out of thousands of companies involved in PFAS manufacturing.
The lower court's approval of the class action suit has been vacated, and the court instructed the dismissal of Hardwick's lawsuit. The lawsuit aimed to hold the companies accountable for the health impacts of PFAS exposure and sought to establish a fund to monitor Ohio residents.
Additionally, Hardwick's request for the companies to fund studies on the health effects of PFAS was denied. These forever chemicals, commonly found in consumer products, have been linked to cancer and other diseases.
Robert Bilott, attorney for Hardwick, expressed disappointment with the court's decision. He stated that it contradicts what is known about the history of PFAS manufacturing in the United States. Bilott's legal team is currently evaluating whether to appeal the ruling further.
The Persistence and Prevalence of Forever Chemicals
PFAS substances earned the nickname "forever chemicals" due to their resistance to breaking down in nature or in the human body. The growing number of lawsuits filed against 3M, DuPont, and other manufacturers in recent years reflect concerns over alleged PFAS contamination.
In June, 3M agreed to pay $10.3 billion to settle hundreds of claims regarding public drinking water pollution caused by PFAS. Furthermore, Chemours Co, DuPont de Nemours Inc, and Corteva reached a similar settlement worth $1.19 billion with U.S. water providers.
Photo: 3M News Center
