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Thompson Hine LLP, a full-service business law firm with approximately 400 lawyers in 11 offices, was ranked number 1 in the category “Most innovative North American law firms: New working models” by The Financial Times and was 1 of 7 firms shortlisted for The American Lawyer’s inaugural Legal Services Innovation Award. The firm has been recognized by the National Law Journal as a Legal Technology Trailblazer and featured by Bloomberg for its innovative service delivery models, which drive accuracy and predictability. The firm’s commitment to innovation is embodied in Thompson Hine SmartPaTHTM – a smarter way to work – predictable, efficient and aligned with client goals. For more information, please visit ThompsonHine.com and ThompsonHine.com/SmartPaTH.

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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemical compounds recognized for their stability and water- and stain-resistant properties, earning them the moniker “forever chemicals.” Because of these properties, PFAS compounds are used in a wide range of products and applications, including wire insulation, electronics, pharmaceuticals, paints and coatings, carpets and upholstery, textiles, personal care products (such as cosmetics, shampoos, lotions, toothpastes, dental floss), adhesives and sealants, pesticides, herbicides and firefighting foams. While there are thousands of PFAS compounds, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) are two of the more well-known and studied.

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Due to their stability, PFAS compounds persist in the environment and have been found in drinking water, groundwater and soils, and because they are ubiquitous, data showing that most Americans have detectable levels of PFAS in their blood suggests that most have measurable exposure to PFAS. PFOA and PFAS reportedly may cause a variety of health issues, including increased cholesterol levels, changes in liver enzymes, small decreases in infant birth weights, decreased vaccine response in children, increased high blood pressure or preeclampsia in pregnant women, and higher incidence of kidney or testicular cancer. However, many questions remain about the extent of such alleged health effects and various studies are underway to better evaluate and understand the potential risks.

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Nevertheless, litigation focused on PFAS began over 20 years ago and has increased dramatically in the past several years. Claims have been brought by municipalities suppling water, state attorneys general and individuals, and these claims seek remediation and treatment costs where PFAS is detected in groundwater or water supplies, allege diminished property values as a result of stigma, or assert the presence of PFAS in wells, soils or groundwater and seek medical monitoring or allege personal injury of individuals exposed to PFAS. Manufacturers of PFAS were the initial targets of such litigation, but as time has passed, the net has greatly widened to include a large number of parties that use or used PFAS to manufacture consumer or industrial products. Public knowledge and scrutiny of PFAS continue to grow based on various state and federal reporting regulations (for example, under the Toxic Substances Control Act and the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act), other public databases containing PFAS data from remediation sites across the country, state laws and regulations governing PFAS in consumer products, California’s Proposition 65 warning requirements, and federal and state laws, regulations and cleanup actions addressing PFAS in the environment.

Our team has a long history of helping clients navigate the complex legal issues accompanying PFAS and other mass and toxic tort claims. We serve as national, regional and state counsel for Fortune 500 companies in cases throughout the United States.

Companies choose our firm to handle their mass and toxic tort cases because of our reputation as trial lawyers and our cross-disciplinary approach to litigation. We know how to win in court. Our clients know it, and so do our competitors. Should trial be the right strategy, we are skilled in handling every aspect of it, from pretrial discovery to motion practice, working with world-class expert witnesses, developing defense themes and overall case management through trial. We regularly handle environmental exposure mass and toxic torts, such as claims brought by residential property owners who allege personal injury and diminished property value as a result of contamination from a nearby facility. Those cases require that the defense strategy be coordinated with the regulatory compliance strategy, and maintaining a consistent position in defending the litigation and fulfilling remediation obligations is critical. To ensure a coordinated strategy, we staff our matters with trial lawyers as well as environmental compliance lawyers who work together seamlessly to ensure that our clients’ business objectives are met. But handling mass and toxic tort trials, appeals and claim resolution is just a part of what we do. Preventive counseling, with the goal of avoiding lawsuits, is a strategic value we provide to our clients. We review regulatory and compliance issues and conduct audits to help clients identify and correct potential problems – before they occur.

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We have extensive experience in organizing, preparing and executing all aspects of mass and toxic tort defense, including discovery, pretrial proceedings and trial.

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We have unmatched access to a cadre of world-renowned experts in various fields, including epidemiology, industrial hygiene, oncology, rheumatology, internal medicine, pathology, bacteriology, toxicology and environmental consulting.

We employ a multidisciplinary approach, utilizing lawyers in the areas of product liability, environmental and life sciences to serve our clients’ needs.

We have developed the staff, resources, technology and experience to efficiently manage tens of thousands of cases involving millions of documents.

We have established an extensive local counsel network to efficiently and cost-effectively manage national mass and toxic tort cases.<br>We utilize real-time compilation tools to share information and enhance communication.

We have significant sophisticated extranets, customized electronic invoicing and 24/7 IT support to efficiently manage client matters and communication.

We have lawyers who are members of the American College of Trial Lawyers, International Association of Defense Counsel, Defense Research Institute, International Society of Barristers, Network of Trial Law Firms, Federation of Defense &amp; Corporate Counsel, The Force and United States Law Firm Group.

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Firm Events

Videos

Navigating PFAS Risk: Key Regulatory and Litigation Trends for 2026

EPA PFAS Brownfields FAQ: Key Impacts on Grants, Due Diligence and CERCLA Liability

The Future of EPA’s CERCLA PFAS Hazardous Substance Designation

Federal PFAS Regulation: 2025 Midyear Review

PFAS Roadmap: Risk Mitigation Strategies for 2024 and Beyond

PFAS Year in Review: EPA Issues Second PFAS Strategic Roadmap Progress Report

U.S. EPA Finalizes PFAS Reporting Rule

Trends In PFAS Litigation: Proposed Federal Drinking Water Regulations and So Much More

What is PFAS and Why Should I Care?

EPA Announces Historic PFAS Drinking Water Regulation

U.S. EPA Unveils Whole-of-Government PFAS Strategic Roadmap

PFAS: Due Diligence and Risk Assessment in Real Estate Transactions

PFAS Regulatory & Legislative Actions Update

Ohio EPA and Department of Health Issue PFAS Action Plan for 2020 Implementation

Governor DeWine Orders State Agencies to Develop PFAS Action Plan for Drinking Water Sampling in Ohio

EPA Unveils PFAS Chemical Action Plan: Drinking Water and Environmental Remediation Impacts

Practices

Karen M. Firstenberg

Tanya C. Nesbitt

William J. Hubbard

Joel D. Eagle

Andrew L. Kolesar

Heather A. (Austin) Richardson

Podcasts

Environmental L.A.W.S. – PFAS 2021

Environmental L.A.W.S. – PFAS Regulatory and Remediation Update with John Simon, Principal, Gnarus Advisors LLC

PFAS Analysis and the Precautionary Principle: Scientific and Legal Implications of Varied Test Methods and Agency Guidance

PFAS Litigation & Regulatory

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