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Motley Rice said in an announcement on its website on 4 November 2026 that 3M has reached a $7.35 billion settlement resolving personal injury claims in the nationwide AFFF litigation, known as MDL No. 2873. According to the firm, the deal covers around 115,000 to 120,000 plaintiffs eligible to take part, who allege they suffered serious health problems caused by exposure to PFAS found in firefighting foam and drinking water.
Key points
- Motley Rice said 3M has agreed a $7.35 billion settlement in MDL No. 2873, the nationwide AFFF litigation.
- The firm said the deal resolves injury claims brought by around 115,000 to 120,000 eligible plaintiffs.
- Motley Rice said its co-founder, Joe Rice, acted as co-lead counsel and headed the negotiations that produced the settlement before his death in September 2026.
- The firm said Fred Thompson has been court-appointed liaison counsel in the case since the multidistrict litigation began.
- David Hoyle, a Motley Rice attorney, was named by the firm as a member of the team that negotiated the settlement with 3M.
Leadership and negotiations
Motley Rice said several of its attorneys hold leadership positions in the litigation. The firm said Joe Rice led the negotiations that culminated in the settlement up to the time of his death in September 2026, and that Fred Thompson has continued to serve as liaison counsel appointed by the court since the case was first brought together as a multidistrict action. David Hoyle, the firm said, was part of the team that negotiated the agreement with 3M.
David Hoyle said: “This resolution carries forward the work of our late co-founder Joe Rice, who worked on this settlement until the day he passed. He believed deeply in the pursuit of justice on behalf of all plaintiffs in this matter. His imprint on this work is everlasting, and we are incredibly proud to see the effort he helped lead culminate in this $7.35 billion settlement.”
The underlying claims
Motley Rice said plaintiffs in the litigation allege that PFAS contained in AFFF contaminated groundwater near military bases, airports and other sites where the foam was sprayed to put out liquid-fuel blazes, leading to injury, property damage and other claimed losses.
Fred Thompson said: “For the thousands of victims who have sought answers and accountability for nearly a decade, 3M’s $7.35 billion settlement is welcome news. We commend MDL No. 2873’s leadership for achieving this favorable result for victims who are in urgent need of support to cover the mounting medical bills and other costs frequently associated with toxic PFAS exposure.”