June 5, 2023

Hopatcong, New Jersey – The Borough of Hopatcong, New Jersey is proud to announce that its attorneys have reached a settlement with DuPont who has agreed to pay $1.185 billion to public water systems across the United States, including Hopatcong, who have PFAS chemicals in their drinking water supplies. The lawsuits allege that DuPont and several other manufacturers sold PFAS-containing products when the companies knew that PFAS compounds would readily contaminate the environment and drinking water supplies.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals that are used to create many nonstick, stain resistant, and waterproof products. These chemicals are also used in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). AFFF is a firefighting agent used to control and extinguish Class B fuel fires at airports, military bases, and fire training centers.

The Borough of Hopatcong filed suit against DuPont and other defendants in September 2020.  The lawsuit is proceeding against the other defendants.

Of the historic settlement, Douglas & London firm partner Gary Douglas said: “This is only the first of many dominoes to fall in our unwavering quest to hold accountable those companies who have contributed to one of the worst environmental disasters in the history of mankind.” Gary was selected as lead trial counsel in the case of City of Stuart, Florida v. 3M Company, et al., the first bellwether case in the consolidated multi-district litigation (MDL) before Judge Richard Gergel in the United States District Court for the District of Southern Carolina, set for trial on June 5, 2023.