Proactive Investors - A landmark case brought against a raft of big US chemical groups for their manufacture of 'forever chemicals' has been thrown out by an appeal court in Ohio.
In what is being seen as a big win for the companies, the judge rejected the class action brought on behalf of every Ohio resident, for not being specific enough.
Lead plaintiff Kevin Hardwick had not shown the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, found in his body could be traced directly to any one of the defendants but instead alleged the companies collectively had polluted the environment.
"Seldom is so ambitious a case filed on so slight a basis," wrote Circuit Judge Raymond Kethledge, Reuters reported, noting there are thousands of companies that have manufactured PFAS but just 10 listed as defendants in the case.
Hardwick had wanted the companies named to pay for studies into the impact of PFAs, which have been linked to cancer and other conditions.
A 3M (NYSE:MMM) spokesperson told reporters the company was pleased with the decision.
Robert Bilott, an attorney for Hardwick, said they are evaluating whether to appeal, adding the court's decision runs "counter to what we know about the history of manufacturing of PFAS in the United States".
In June, 3M agreed to pay US$10.3 billion to settle hundreds of claims over alleged pollution of drinking water, with Chemours, DuPont (NYSE:DD) and Corteva paying a sum in the billions on similar settlement terms.
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