Kimberly-Clark class action claims company contaminates drinking water with PFAS

Kimberly-Clark class action overview: 

• Who: Several New Milford, Connecticut, residents filed a class action lawsuit against Kimberly-Clark Corp. 
• Why: The lawsuit claims Kimberly-Clark improperly used, stored and emitted per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into the area’s drinking water supply.
• Where: The Kimberly-Clark PFAS lawsuit was filed in federal court in Connecticut.

Residents of New Milford, Connecticut, filed a class action lawsuit against Kimberly-Clark Corp. for allegedly emitting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into the area’s drinking water supply.

The residents claim Kimberly-Clark improperly used, stored, emitted, discharged, disposed of and/or distributed PFAS chemicals in New Milford.

The residents risk developing cancers, diseases and conditions linked to PFAS exposure and lost the enjoyment of their homes and property due to the contamination, the Kimberly-Clark class action says.

“PFAS chemicals can leach into soil and, from there, enter groundwater systems,” the lawsuit says. “Once PFAS have contaminated groundwater, they can spread through aquifers, which are layers of water-bearing permeable rock, sand,or gravel from which groundwater can be extracted.”

Residents suffer property damage, medical monitoring as a result of PFAS, class action claims

The class action proposes two classes: a medical monitoring class and a property damage class.

“As a direct and proximate result of defendant Kimberly-Clark’s negligence, plaintiffs and the members of the class have suffered, presently suffer and will continue to suffer real property damage, out-of-pocket expenses, personal property damage, loss of use and enjoyment of property, diminution in property value, the necessity for long-term medical monitoring, upset, aggravation and inconvenience,” the PFAS lawsuit claims.

The plaintiffs ask Kimberly-Clark for damages, attorneys’ fees and relief that includes Kimberly-Clark installing a system to filter PFAS out of the drinking water supply, as well as corrective measures for the future and a medical monitoring program for New Milford residents exposed to the PFAS.

In January, Connecticut’s attorney general filed a pair of lawsuits against more than two dozen companies, including Chemours and 3M, over claims they contaminated the state with toxic chemicals.

Do you believe your drinking water is contaminated with PFAS? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Ian W. Sloss, Johnathan Seredynski, Krystyna Gancoss and Kate Sayed of Silver Golub and Teitell LLP.

The Kimberly-Clark class action lawsuit is DePaul, et al. v. Kimberly-Clark Corp., Case No. 3:24-cv-00271, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.

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