Prior to this, DuPont and the Chemours Co. had agreed in February 2017 to a $671 million payout to settle separate multidistrict litigation in Ohio federal court. This litigation involved thousands of personal injury lawsuits linked to PFOA use. Subsequently, in January 2021, the three companies agreed to an additional $83 million settlement over the pollutant and jointly pledged $4 billion to cover liabilities for their historical use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), as outlined in a memorandum of understanding.
Corteva, in a statement to Law360, emphasized that it does not produce PFAS products and that this settlement addresses “historic liabilities” under the January 2021 memorandum.
Representatives for DuPont and the Chemours Co. were not immediately available for comment on Wednesday.
The Legal Eagles Behind Ohio’s Victory
Ohio’s legal team included Aaron Farmer, Gregg Bachmann, Mark Navarre from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, and a robust lineup from Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, Markovits Stock & DeMarco LLC, and Taft Law. The companies found representation in Squire Patton Boggs LLP, McCarter & English LLP, Bartlit Beck LLP, and Norris McLaughlin PA.
