PFOA/PFOS Contamination Case Filed in WA

Napoli Shkolnik PLLC has filed a lawsuit against five manufacturers of aqueous firefighting foams (“AFFF”) containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (“PFOS”) and perfluorooctanoic acid (“PFOA”) for the contamination of the groundwater relied upon by the residents of Airway Heights and Medical Lake, Washington. The class action complaint was filed in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Washington and names the The 3M Company, Tyco Fire Products L.P., Buckeye Fire Equipment Company, National Foam, Inc. and Chemguard Inc. as the defendants.

Decades of use, storage, and disposal of AFFF at Fairchild AFB caused the widespread PFOA and PFOS contamination of groundwater in the surrounding communities, including contaminating the municipal water system and private wells serving Airway Heights and Medical Lake as they are downgradient of Fairchild AFB. Over 11,600 residents of Airway Heights and Medical Lake have been exposed to drinking water contaminated with PFOA and PFOS and have had their properties and soil contaminated with PFOA and PFOS.

The class action complaint alleges that plaintiffs and other similarly situated residents of the in Airway Heights and Medical Lake, Washington have been exposed to high levels of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), and are now at an increased risk of several health effects, including effects on the liver and the immune system, high cholesterol, changes in thyroid hormone, as well as kidney and other cancers. Studies have also shown an association between increased PFOA blood levels and increased risks for several health effects in children (for example, effects on birth weight, cognitive and behavioral development, immune function, and cholesterol levels).

The complaint also states that property values in the area have dropped as a result of the contamination.

“These persistent and toxic chemicals should have never been produced and released into the environment. It is vital that we hold these companies accountable and seek justice for those individuals and families that have been harmed and for the community as a whole,” said Tate Kunkle, one of the environmental attorneys who filed the class action.

If you own property in Airway Heights or Medical Lake, Washington, or have been diagnosed with testicular cancer, kidney cancer, liver or thyroid disease, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure that may be the result of your exposure to PFOA or PFOS, you may be able to recover damages. Napoli Shkolnik PLLC and Paukert & Troppman PLLC are ready to help those who pursue personal injury and property claims related to PFC contamination in Airway Heights and Medical Lake. Give us a call today to discuss your legal options; the call and our advice are free. This is a no-obligation consultation and we only recover a fee if we win your case.

About Paukert & Troppman PLLC

Paukert & Troppman PLLC is based in Spokane, Washington that focuses on providing outstanding service to each and every client. Their lawyers have been rated “superb” by AVVO and they have a well-established history of achieving results for their clients including multi-million dollar settlements and favorable decisions in a number of significant from Washington appellate courts.