Mass tort lawsuit · Checked on November 3, 2026
Firefighting foam (AFFF) lawsuit: status November 2026 (MDL 2873)
Yes, the AFFF lawsuit is active. About 15,270 cases were pending in federal MDL 2873 on November 2, 2026. Firefighters and others allege that PFAS chemicals in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) caused kidney, testicular and other cancers and thyroid disease. Chemours told the SEC that personal injury cases are in talks with a mediator, with no settlement assured.
| Case | MDL 2873 |
|---|---|
| Court | U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina |
| Judge | Richard M. Gergel |
| Pending cases | 15,270 (as of November 2, 2026) |
| Stage | Personal injury cases in mediation; no deal announced |
| New cases | Law firms are filing new cases |
| Next scheduled date | None announced in the records we checked |
| Last checked | November 3, 2026 |
What plaintiffs allege
Plaintiffs allege that 3M, DuPont, Chemours, Tyco and other makers of AFFF knew PFAS chemicals were harmful and did not warn users, and that exposure caused kidney, testicular, liver, thyroid and bladder cancers, ulcerative colitis and thyroid disease. The companies deny the claims.
Where the case stands
- Water provider claims were resolved through class settlements (reported).
- For personal injury cases, Chemours reported in its June 2026 quarterly filing that the parties are discussing resolution with a mediator and that a settlement is not certain (verified, SEC filing).
- A separate new MDL (3191) covers firefighter turnout gear that is not AFFF.
Settlement status
Water provider claims were resolved through class settlements (reported). For personal injury claims, no settlement has been announced: Chemours told the SEC in its filing for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 that the parties are discussing resolution with a mediator and that a settlement is not certain (verified).
Updates
Newest first. Each entry says whether we read the record ourselves (verified) or it comes from coverage (reported).
- November 2026: The federal panel's report of November 2, 2026 listed 15,270 pending cases (verified, JPML report).
- October 2026: 3M reported that in September and October the court dismissed tens of thousands of personal injury claims without prejudice for failing information requirements; settlement talks with a mediator continue (verified, 3M Form 10-Q).
- October 2026: The federal panel's report of October 1, 2026 listed 15,264 pending cases (verified, JPML report).
- June 2026: Chemours reported, for the quarter ended June 30, that personal injury cases are in talks with a mediator, with no settlement certain (verified, SEC Form 10-Q).
What law firms commonly ask callers
Law firms reviewing these cases usually ask about the following. This is general information, not an assessment of any claim:
- the type of firefighting or other work and years of AFFF exposure
- the diagnosis and the date it was made
Questions
Is the AFFF lawsuit real?
Yes. The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation listed 15,270 pending cases in MDL 2873 as of November 2, 2026 (verified). A pending case is a claim filed in court, not a finding that the claim is true.
When will the AFFF lawsuit settle?
Nobody can predict when or whether a mass tort will settle. What has been disclosed so far: Water provider claims were resolved through class settlements (reported). For personal injury claims, no settlement has been announced: Chemours told the SEC in its filing for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 that the parties are discussing resolution with a mediator and that a settlement is not certain (verified).
Can firefighting foam cause cancer?
That is what the lawsuits allege, and the companies deny it. No court has made a final decision on that question. For medical questions, talk to your doctor.
Is there an AFFF personal injury settlement?
Not as of November 3, 2026. Settlement talks were reported in a company SEC filing, but no deal was announced.
Sources
- JPML, Pending MDL Dockets by Actions Pending, November 2, 2026 verified
- Chemours Form 10-Q, quarter ended June 30, 2026 (SEC) verified
- 3M Form 10-Q, quarter ended September 30, 2026 (SEC) verified
Verified means we read the court, agency or company record ourselves on the check date. Reported means the fact comes from news or law firm coverage and could not be confirmed on a primary record.