A Dalton-based law firm is actively recruiting area farmers and landowners to join a class action lawsuit against manufacturers and other parties allegedly responsible for PFAS contamination. The firm is running advertisements heard on WZQZ Radio, urging those affected to come forward and participate in the legal action.

This move follows a separate lawsuit already filed by a group of local property owners against major corporations including 3M Company, Daikin America, DuPont, and Mount Vernon Mills Inc., as well as the Town of Trion. The plaintiffs allege that their properties have been contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment.

The current lawsuit stems from claims that the Town of Trion dumped sewage sludge containing PFAS onto the plaintiffs’ land, allegedly beginning in 1992. The plaintiffs further contend that Mount Vernon Mills used products containing PFAS that contributed to the contamination. PFAS chemicals have been linked to a range of serious health problems, including various cancers and liver damage. The plaintiffs, including Russell Dooley and others, are seeking a jury trial and are requesting the removal of the contamination, as well as punitive damages. While the exact amount of damages sought has not been specified, the lawsuit highlights the alleged dumping of significant amounts of PFAS-laden sludge by the Town of Trion over several decades.

This legal battle comes after a previous settlement of $250,000 between the Town of Trion, Mount Vernon Mills, and other parties related to PFAS contamination. The new lawsuit suggests a broader reach of the contamination and a desire for more comprehensive remediation efforts. Affected farmers and landowners in the area are encouraged to join in the lawsuit in which attorneys have requested a jury trial.