AFFF Firefighting Foam Lawsuit in Ohio

What Ohio residents should know

Ohio residents are not necessarily limited to filing only in Ohio state court. Many mass tort claims may be evaluated by national firms, filed in federal court, coordinated through MDL proceedings, or handled through another legal process.

State law may still matter for deadlines, damages, claim evaluation, and certain procedural issues.

Ohio's DuPont PFAS settlement and the AFFF litigation

Ohio was the first state to sue DuPont over “forever chemicals”: then-Attorney General Mike DeWine filed suit in 2018 over PFOA (C8) released from the Washington Works plant on the Ohio River. On November 29, 2023, the state announced a $110 million settlement with DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva resolving its PFAS claims — including those related to firefighting foam — with the funds allocated 80% to Washington Works pollution, 16% to AFFF damages, and 4% to natural resources. That state environmental recovery is separate from individual injury claims, which for Ohio residents are coordinated in MDL-2873 before Judge Richard M. Gergel in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina.

Sources: WOSU / Associated Press — chemical firms to pay $110 million to Ohio over PFAS (Nov. 30, 2023).

Possible eligibility factors

Ohio residents may want to speak with a lawyer if they used or were exposed to Aqueous film-forming firefighting foam and PFAS chemicals and later experienced kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, or another condition being reviewed in PFAS-related AFFF claims.

• Use, prescription, employment, service, or exposure history.
• Medical diagnosis and treatment records.
• Approximate dates of use, exposure, diagnosis, and treatment.
• Information about prior conditions, alternative exposures, or other facts a lawyer may need to evaluate.

What records support AFFF claims in Ohio?

• Fire department, airport, military, industrial, or training records showing AFFF or PFAS exposure.
• Incident reports, foam-use logs, safety data sheets, water testing records, address history, or base/worksite records.
• Diagnosis records, pathology reports, oncology or specialist notes, treatment records, and death certificates where applicable.
• Witness names, co-worker statements, photos, calendars, or documents tying the exposure to a specific site and time period.

What exposure and legal context matter in Ohio?

State residents may have encountered AFFF or PFAS through fire departments, airports, military bases, industrial facilities, training areas, or water contamination.

Where are Ohio AFFF cases handled?

Living in Ohio does not necessarily mean the case will be filed only in Ohio. Claims may be evaluated by national firms, filed in federal court, coordinated through MDL proceedings, or handled through another legal process.

Federal courts in Ohio

• Northern District of Ohio
• Southern District of Ohio

What is the filing deadline for AFFF lawsuits in Ohio?

For a Ohio resident researching AFFF claims, the starting point is usually Ohio's general personal injury period: 2 years under Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10. That is only a starting point, not a final legal deadline for every person.

The real filing deadline can depend on diagnosis date, when the injury and possible cause were discovered, exposure location, wrongful-death issues, prior claim paperwork, and whether the case is filed directly, transferred to an MDL, or handled through another process.

Discovery-rule note: Ohio's statute includes discovery-based accrual provisions for certain exposure-related claims.

How long do Ohio residents have to file?

Ohio's personal injury statute of limitations applicable to product liability claims is 2 years (Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10). Accrual timing, tolling, and repose periods can still change the real deadline in an individual case.

• Filing period: 2 years — Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10.
• Discovery rule: Ohio's statute includes discovery-based accrual provisions for certain exposure-related claims.
• Statute of repose: Ohio applies a 10-year statute of repose to many product liability claims (§ 2305.10(C)).

Because the controlling deadline depends on diagnosis date, discovery facts, exposure history, wrongful-death rules, and how the claim is filed, only a licensed attorney can confirm the deadline that applies to a specific situation. This page is general legal information, not legal advice.

What should Ohio residents ask a lawyer?

• Are you reviewing personal injury AFFF/PFAS claims, water-system claims, or both?
• What exposure records do you need for my firefighting, military, airport, industrial, or water-contamination history?
• Is my diagnosis one currently being evaluated in the personal injury litigation?
• How do state filing deadlines affect my diagnosis and exposure timeline?
• Would my claim be handled locally, nationally, or through the MDL?
• Are there upfront costs?