Bennington, Vermont, Saint-Gobain soil and water contamination $34M class action lawsuit settlement

Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics has agreed to a $34 million settlement to resolve class action lawsuit claims it subjected a Vermont community to soil and water contamination by per- or poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, “forever chemicals.”

The settlement benefits two Classes: the Property Class and the Exposure Class. 

The Property Class includes individuals who owned residential property in the zone of concern on or after March 14, 2016. This Class includes only homeowners and does not include renters, guests, or visitors. 

The Exposure Class individuals who lived in the zone of concern before Aug. 23, 2019, ingested water contaminated with perfluorooctanoic acid, and had a blood serum test showing a perfluorooctanoic acid blood level above 2.1 ppb.

Class Members may be members of both Classes. The “zone of concern” covered by the settlement includes areas of Bennington, North Bennington, and Shaftsbury, Vermont. 

Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics produces polymer product technology for fields including aerospace, automotive, consumer, electronics, energy, industrial, safety, and more. For decades, Saint-Gobain allegedly produced coated fabric and other coated products in Bennington and North Bennington, Vermont using a chemical known as ammonium perfluorooctanoate (APFO). 

This manufacturing resulted in the release of hazardous “forever chemicals” into the surrounding soil and groundwater, according to a class action lawsuit against Saint-Gobain. Plaintiffs in the class action claim Bennington and North Bennington faced soil and water contamination from perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). PFOA, along with other per- or poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment or human body.

PFAS like PFOA are linked to health issues such as decreased fertility, suppressed immune responses, hormone problems, high cholesterol, birth defects, and even cancer. The Saint-Gobain class action lawsuit argues the company knowingly put Bennington residents at risk for these health problems by contaminating the soil and groundwater around their Vermont manufacturing plant.

Saint-Gobain hasn’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to resolve the claims against it with a $34 million settlement. 

Saint-Gobain soil and water PFAS contamination lawsuit settlement benefits

The PFAS settlement includes a $26.2 million fund for the Property Class and a $6 million fund for the Exposure Class.

Under the terms of the contamination lawsuit settlement, Property Class members can collect cash payments of thousands of dollars based on their property value and their water supply. Payments will vary depending on if homeowners have municipal water or well water and if their well water is contaminated by PFOA. 

Based on these criteria, class members will receive a percentage of their property value along with a flat payment ranging from around $2,000 to up to $20,000.

In addition to providing compensation for property damage, the settlement establishes a court-supervised medical monitoring program. This provides free testing and health monitoring to the Exposure Class. This includes various blood and urine tests to monitor for health conditions associated with PFOA exposure.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is Feb. 2, 2022. 

The final approval hearing for the PFAS settlement is scheduled for April 18, 2022.

In order to receive benefits from the Saint-Gobain PFAS “forever chemicals” contamination class action lawsuit settlement, members of both the Property Class and the Exposure Class must submit a valid claim form within 125 days of final approval.

The claim form deadline is estimated to be Aug. 21, 2022.

Who’s Eligible

The settlement benefits two Classes: the Property Class and the Exposure Class. 

The Property Class includes individuals who owned residential property in the zone of concern on or after March 14, 2016. This Class includes only homeowners and does not include renters, guests, or visitors. 

The Exposure Class individuals who lived in the zone of concern before Aug. 23, 2019, ingested water contaminated with perfluorooctanoic acid, and had a blood serum test showing a perfluorooctanoic acid blood level above 2.1 ppb.

Potential Award

$2,000 to up to $20,000

Proof of Purchase

Proof of ownership, or blood test, depending on class

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

08/21/2022

Case Name

Sullivan, et al. v. Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation., Case No. 5:16-CV-125, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont

Final Hearing

04/18/2022

Settlement Website

BenningtonVTClassAction.com

Claims Administrator

Sullivan v. Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation Settlement Administrator
PO Box 43434
Providence, RI 02940-3434
Call our toll free number:
info@benningtonvtclassaction.com
866-726-3778

Class Counsel

Didi Gingue
BARR STERNBERG PC

Defense Counsel

Rachel Passaretti-Wu
DECHERT LLP