3M, Daiken Alabama Water Contamination $12M Class Action Settlement

Update:

• This class action settlement is paying out up to $300 as of Dec. 9, 2022.

• Congratulations to everyone who filed a claim and got paid!

3M and Daiken agreed to a $12 million “forever chemicals” water contamination class action settlement to resolve claims they contaminated residential water sources in Alabama.

The water contamination settlement benefits residential customers of the West Morgan-East Lawrence Water and Sewer Authority, the Town Creek Water System, the West Lawrence Water Cooperative, the V.A.W. Water System, or the Trinity Water Works who received services from these companies and/or paid fees for these services during periods between Oct. 5, 2013, and Sept. 26, 2016. 

The settlement includes two Subclasses: the Ratepayer Subclass and the Resident Subclass. These groups are defined as follows:

• Ratepayer Subclass: Class Members who paid for water originating from either the West Morgan-East Lawrence Water and Sewer Authority, the Town Creek Water System, or the West Lawrence Water Cooperative between Nov. 1, 2013, and Oct. 31, 2016, or the V.A.W. Water System or Trinity Water Works between Nov. 1, 2013, and June 30, 2016.
• Residential Subclass: Class Members who reside in Alabama, Georgia, or Tennessee and who, for at least six months, owned or resided in a residential unit that received water from either the West Morgan-East Lawrence Water and Sewer Authority, the Town Creek Water System, or the West Lawrence Water Cooperative between Oct. 5, 2013, and Sept. 29, 2016, or the V.A.W. Water System or Trinity Water Works between Oct. 5, 2013, and May 31, 2016.

Detailed eligibility restrictions can be found on the settlement website.

3M and Daiken are two manufacturing companies that produce a wide variety of products. Both 3M and Daiken have faced contamination allegations in the past. According to legal action against the companies, these practices continue to affect residents in southern states.

Plaintiffs in the water contamination class action lawsuit accuse 3M and Daiken of discharging fluorochemicals into the Tennessee River and later into residential water supplies. 

The river was allegedly contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS). These fluorochemicals are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment or in the human body. 

PFAS and other “forever chemicals” can cause serious health risks, such as increased cholesterol levels, liver changes, complications in pregnant women, decreased birth weights, and even certain cancers. According to the PFAS water contamination class action lawsuit, 3M and Daiken knowingly exposed residents of Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee to these risks through PFAS contamination.

3M and Daiken haven’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to end the water contamination class action lawsuit with a $12 million settlement. Of the $12 million total settlement fund, 3M will contribute $11.1 million, while Daiken will contribute $900,000.

Members of the Ratepayer Subclass will receive payments between $50 and $745 per account, depending on the length of time their account was active and the number of charges paid. 

Residential Subclass Members will receive payments between $50 and $100.

In addition to providing cash funds, 3M and Daiken reportedly provided the West Morgan-East Lawrence Water and Sewer Authority with a new water filtration system designed to remove PFAS chemicals from drinking water.

The “forever chemicals” water contamination settlement final approval hearing is scheduled for March 15, 2022. 

The deadline for exclusion and objection is Feb. 10, 2022.

In order to benefit from the settlement, Residential Subclass Members must file a valid claim form by April 15, 2022.

Ratepayer Subclass Members do not need to file a claim form and will automatically receive settlement payments in the mail.

Who’s Eligible

The settlement includes two Subclasses: the Ratepayer Subclass and the Resident Subclass. These groups are defined as follows:

• Ratepayer Subclass: Class Members who paid for water originating from either the West Morgan-East Lawrence Water and Sewer Authority, the Town Creek Water System, or the West Lawrence Water Cooperative between Nov. 1, 2013, and Oct. 31, 2016, or the V.A.W. Water System or Trinity Water Works between Nov. 1, 2013, and June 30, 2016.
• Residential Subclass: Class Members who reside in Alabama, Georgia, or Tennessee and who, for at least six months, owned or resided in a residential unit that received water from either the West Morgan-East Lawrence Water and Sewer Authority, the Town Creek Water System, or the West Lawrence Water Cooperative between Oct. 5, 2013, and Sept. 29, 2016, or the V.A.W. Water System or Trinity Water Works between Oct. 5, 2013, and May 31, 2016.

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

No proof of purchase applicable. 

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

04/15/2022

Case Name

Lindsey v. 3M Company, Case No. 5:15-cv-01750, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama

Final Hearing

03/15/2022

Settlement Website

WMELDrinkingWaterSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Lindsey v. 3M Company Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 43502
Providence, RI 02940-3502
888-890-6713

Class Counsel

Timothy C. Davis
HENINGER GARRISON DAVIS LLC

Defense Counsel

3M’s Counsel:
M. Christian King
LIGHTFOOT FRANKLIN & WHITE LLC

DAI’s Counsel:
Steve F. Casey
JONES WALKER LLP