DuPont Agrees to $27 Million Settlement in PFAS Contamination Case

E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. has agreed to pay $27 million to resolve allegations that it played a role in contaminating drinking water with toxic PFAS chemicals in upstate New York. The deal, announced just days before trial proceedings were set to begin, brings the total amount of settlements in the long-running case to $92 million. According to a text order filed by U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino, the court acknowledged the agreement and awaits a formal motion for final approval.

The resolution ends a nine-year legal battle waged by hundreds of residents in the village of Hoosick Falls and the surrounding town of Hoosick. Plaintiffs alleged their water supply was tainted with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)—a type of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), often referred to as a "forever chemical" because of its persistence in the environment and human body.

Background of the Litigation

Residents accused several corporate defendants of contaminating local air and groundwater through decades of unregulated industrial use of PFOA. The chemical, used primarily in the production of nonstick coatings like Teflon, was employed at a local manufacturing facility from the late 1960s until 2003. Over time, plaintiffs claimed, PFOA released into the environment led to elevated levels of the compound in residents’ blood, creating serious health risks.

Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corp., which most recently operated the facility, had purchased it from Honeywell International Inc. Both companies, along with 3M Co., reached a joint $65 million settlement in 2021 to resolve their share of liability.

The lawsuit further asserted that DuPont and 3M were responsible not only for supplying PFOA-containing materials but also for failing to warn the public of its dangers, despite the suit claimed, long-standing internal knowledge of the risks associated with the chemical.

Plaintiffs Welcome Resolution

Stephen Schwarz of Faraci Lange LLP, who served as co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs, expressed relief over the final settlement. “On the eve of trial, after a nine-year fight that included an interim appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, we are gratified to have reached what we believe will be the final resolution of this case,” Schwarz said in a public statement. “This will provide significant added benefit to the residents of Hoosick Falls and the town of Hoosick.”

The case has drawn national attention for its potential to shape litigation strategies surrounding PFAS exposure, a growing area of environmental tort law. Numerous studies have linked PFOA exposure to increased risks of cancer, thyroid disease, and immune system disorders, heightening public concern over its use and regulation.

Legal Teams Involved

The plaintiffs were represented by a coalition of firms, including James J. Bilsborrow and Robin L. Greenwald of Weitz & Luxenberg PC, Stephen Schwarz and Hadley L. Matarazzo of Faraci Lange LLP, and Gerald Williams of Williams Cedar LLC.

DuPont was represented by John M. Johnson, Lana A. Olson, Jeffrey P. Doss, and M. Elizabeth Harrison of Lightfoot Franklin & White LLC, Benjamin W. Hill and Allee Von Stackelberg of Capezza Hill LLP, and Andrew D. Carpenter of Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP.

What’s Next?

While this settlement closes the chapter for DuPont in the Hoosick Falls litigation, PFAS-related claims continue to mount nationwide. The chemical industry remains under intense scrutiny as regulatory agencies, public health advocates, and private litigants push for greater accountability. The final approval of the settlement will now proceed through the court, marking a key milestone in one of New York’s most closely watched environmental contamination cases.