×

$670 million C8 lawsuit against DuPont settled

PARKERSBURG – A $670.7 million settlement in principle has been reached resolving the C8 lawsuits pending against DuPont, officials announced on Monday.

DuPont and Chemours, the spinoff company which now owns and operates the Washington Works plant in Wood County, have agreed to each pay $335.35 million to settle the 3,500 cases in the class-action lawsuits against DuPont over damages from exposure to the chemical C8 in U.S. District Court in Columbus.

“This is a tremendous positive step toward resolving the litigation in a way that provides compensation for our injured clients without the need for additional, lengthy and expensive trials,” said Harry Deitzler, an attorney involved in the initial C8 lawsuits in Wood County who also represents plaintiffs in the federal cases, on behalf of the plaintiffs and Rob Bilott of Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP, a co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs’ steering committee in the multi-district litigation.

“We look forward to working with DuPont to finalize this settlement and get these injured class members paid as quickly as possible,” Deitzler said.

Chemours was spun off from DuPont in 2015. C8, also known as PFOA or perflourooctoanate, was once used at the Washington Works to make Teflon.

A science panel created from the settlement of the 2001 class-action lawsuit said there was a probable link between C8 and six diseases: kidney cancer, testicular cancer, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, pregnancy induced hypertension including preeclampsia and hypercholesterolemia.

“We are pleased to have reached a mutually satisfactory resolution for all parties that brings this matter to a close,” said Dan Turner of DuPont Corporate Media Relations.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.15/week.

Subscribe Today