A federal judge in Georgia last week granted partial class certification in a significant lawsuit concerning “forever chemical” (PFAS) pollution, allowing approximately 4,500 area residents to collectively pursue claims for past water rate increases. However, the ruling simultaneously denied class status for claims seeking future water filtration costs, deeming those damages too speculative at this stage.

The decision means that the affected residents can now move forward as a unified group to seek compensation for increases in their water bills, which were incurred due to efforts to remediate PFAS contamination in their municipal water supplies. This marks a crucial procedural victory for the plaintiffs, streamlining the process for a specific category of damages.

Conversely, claims related to the anticipated costs of future water treatment, filtration systems, and other potential future damages were blocked from class treatment. The court found these potential injuries were not yet specific or concrete enough to warrant collective legal action, requiring a more individualized assessment.

What the Decision Means for the Lawsuit:

• Past Damages Eligible: The estimated 4,500 residents can now collectively sue for compensation for past increases in their water bills that were necessary to address the PFAS contamination.
• Future Costs Not Yet Certified: Claims for future water treatment and other anticipated costs were denied class status, as the judge deemed them too speculative and not yet a concrete injury to the entire class.
• Lawsuit Continues: This partial certification is not the final outcome of the case. It allows a specific part of the lawsuit to proceed as a class action while other claims, including those against the defendants for future damages, will continue to be litigated.

The lawsuit stems from allegations that one or more companies polluted Summerville’s water with PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These “forever chemicals” are known for their persistence in the environment and the human body, posing potential health risks and necessitating costly remediation efforts for affected water systems.

A class action lawsuit was initially filed in 2021 on behalf of these residents, with Earl Parris, Jr. serving as the plaintiff representative. The legal action aims to hold the chemical companies accountable for the contamination and secure clean water for affected communities.

This legal battle follows a previous settlement related to the contamination, where a specialty chemical manufacturer involved in the pollution paid $1 million. That settlement was designated to establish permanent improvements to the affected city’s water system, indicating ongoing efforts to address the widespread issue of PFAS in local water sources.

The partial class certification allows the plaintiffs to consolidate a significant portion of their past financial injury claims, potentially expediting a resolution for thousands of affected residents while the broader legal battle continues.

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PULCRA FIRST CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT

Parris v. 3M Company, No. 4:21-CV-00040-TWT

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA

ROME DIVISION

If you have used and paid for water provided by the City of Summerville, Georgia, during the period January 2020, to January 23, 2025, your rights may be affected by a proposed Partial Class Action Settlement.

A Partial Class Action Settlement has been reached between a Class of drinking water users in the City of Summerville and one of the Defendants, Pulcra Chemicals, LLC, in the lawsuit brought against several Defendants for the contamination of the City of Summerville drinking water supply with Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (“PFAS”). The proposed Partial Class Action Settlement (“Settlement”) provides for the establishment of a Temporary Drinking Water Fund which will be used to provide temporary drinking water for members of the Class of Summerville water users who elect to receive it. You will have a choice of either delivery of bottled water or installation of a point-of-use filter in your home or business. You will not receive any direct payment as part of this Partial Settlement.

The Court in charge of this case has preliminarily approved the Partial Class Action Settlement and must conduct a final hearing (Fairness Hearing) to decide whether to approve the proposed Settlement. The Temporary Drinking Water Fund will not be established until the Court approves the Settlement and it becomes fully effective by its terms, and the time for all appeals has expired. The Court will hold a Fairness Hearing on the Settlement on April 23, 2025, in United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Richard B. Russell Federal Building & United States Courthouse, Courtroom 2108, United States Courthouse, 75 Ted Turner Drive, SW, Atlanta, GA 30303-3309.

Your legal rights and options – and the deadlines to exercise them – are explained in the Notice. If the Partial Class Action Settlement is approved, you have the right to participate. If you disagree with the Partial Settlement, you have the right to object. If the Court approves the Partial Class Action Settlement, the lawsuit will continue against the other Defendants, including 3M Company, Daikin America, Inc., E.I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company, Huntsman International, LLC, Mount Vernon Mills, Inc., The Chemours Company, Pulcra Chemicals, LLC, and The Town of Trion, Georgia. Additional relief for the Class Members may be obtained from these Defendants.

Your rights are affected whether you act or don’t act. Please read the Notice carefully. Important deadlines are:

April 24, 2025 Summerville Press Release can be found here.

The proposed Partial Class Action Settlement and other important documents filed with the Court can be found on this website.

If you have used and paid for water provided by the City of Summerville, Georgia, during the period

January 1, 2020, to March 5, 2025, your rights may be affected by a proposed partial class action settlement.

A federal court authorized this notice. This is not a solicitation from a lawyer.

This second proposed Class Action Settlement (“Settlement”) provides for an additional Defendant, Huntsman International, LLC (“Huntsman”), to contribute to the Temporary Drinking Water Fund which will be used to provide temporary drinking water for members of the Class of Summerville water users who elect to receive it. You will have a choice of either delivery of bottled water or installation of a point-of-use filter in your home or business. You will not receive any direct payment as part of this Settlement.

The Court in charge of this case must conduct a hearing to decide whether to approve the second proposed Settlement. The Temporary Drinking Water Fund will not be established until the Court approves the first (Pulcra Chemicals, LLC) Settlement and it becomes fully effective by its terms, and the time for all appeals has expired. Huntsman’s contribution will occur after this second proposed Settlement is approved and the time for all appeals has expired.

Your legal rights and options – and the deadlines to exercise them – are explained in this Notice.  Your rights are affected whether you act or don’t act. Please read this Notice carefully.

Important deadlines are:

The proposed Second Class Action Settlement and other important documents filed with the Court can be found on this website.

MOUNT VERNON MILLS AND TRION THIRD CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT

Parris v. 3M Company, No. 4:21-CV-00040-TWT

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA

ROME DIVISION

If you have used and paid for water provided by the City of Summerville, Georgia, during the period

January 1, 2020, to March 5, 2025, your rights may be affected by a proposed partial class action settlement.

A federal court authorized this notice. This is not a solicitation from a lawyer.

This third proposed Class Action Settlement (“Settlement”) provides for two additional Defendants, Mount Vernon Mills, Inc., and the Town of Trion, Georgia, to contribute to the Temporary Drinking Water Fund which will be used to provide temporary drinking water for members of the Class of Summerville water users who elect to receive it. You will have a choice of either delivery of bottled water or installation of a point-of-use filter in your home or business. You will not receive any direct payment as part of this Settlement.

The Court in charge of this case must conduct a hearing to decide whether to approve the third proposed Settlement. The Temporary Drinking Water Fund will not be established until the Court approves the first (Pulcra Chemicals, LLC) Settlement and it becomes fully effective by its terms, and the time for all appeals has expired. The contributions of Mount Vernon Mills and Trion will occur after this third proposed Settlement is approved and the time for all appeals has expired.

Your legal rights and options – and the deadlines to exercise them – are explained in this Notice.  Your rights are affected whether you act or don’t act. Please read this Notice carefully.

Important deadlines are:

April 7, 2025: Objections to the Settlement must be postmarked.

May 27, 2025: Notice of Intention to Appear at the Fairness Hearing must be postmarked.

June 11, 2025: Fairness Hearing, U.S. District Court, Atlanta

The proposed Partial Class Action Settlement and other important documents filed with the Court can be found on this website.