Settlement Information
The purpose of this website is (i) to advise you of a proposed Settlement of certain Claims against the 3M company (“3M”), in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina (the “Court”); (ii) to summarize your rights in connection with the Settlement; and (iii) to inform you of a Court hearing to consider whether to grant Final Approval of the Settlement (the “Final Fairness Hearing”), to be held on February 2, 2024 at 10:00 AM EST, before the Honorable Richard M. Gergel, United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, located at 83 Meeting Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29401.
Your Legal Rights and Options
Option And Deadline |
Your Legal Rights |
Do NothingNo Deadline |
Regardless of whether you file a Claims Form or receive any distribution under the Settlement, unless you timely opt-out as described below, you will be bound by the Settlement and any judgment or other final disposition related to the Settlement, including the Release set forth in the Settlement Agreement, and will be precluded from pursuing Claims against 3M separately if those Claims are within the scope of the Release. |
Submit A Claimvaries (see full schedule below) |
You must file a Claims Form to be eligible to receive a payment under the Settlement Agreement. You can submit your Claims Form online here, or you can download, complete, and mail your Claims Form to the Claims Administrator at AFFF Public Water System Claims, PO Box 4466, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821. For a complete list of deadlines, please see the table titled “Important Dates and Deadlines” below. |
Object To The SettlementBy November 11, 2023 |
Any Settlement Class Member who has not successfully excluded itself (“opted-out”) may object to the Settlement. Any Settlement Class Member that wishes to object to the Settlement or to an award of fees or expenses to Class Counsel must file a written and signed statement designated “Objection” with the clerk of the Court, provide service on 3M’s Counsel and Class Counsel at the addresses in question 8 of the FAQ page in accordance with federal rule of civil procedure 5, and comply with all Objections provisions of the Settlement Agreement. Objections submitted by any Settlement Class Member to incorrect locations shall not be valid. |
Exclude Yourself or Opt OutBy December 11, 2023 |
If you do not wish to be a Settlement Class Member, and do not want to participate in the Settlement and receive funds from the Settlement, you may exclude yourself from the Settlement Class by completing and mailing a Notice of intention to opt-out (referred to as a “Request for Exclusion” or an “opt-out”). Anyone within the Settlement Class that wishes to Opt Out of the Settlement Class and Settlement must file a written and signed statement entitled “Request for Exclusion” with the Notice Administrator, provide service in accordance with federal rule of civil procedure 5, and comply with all opt-out provisions of the Settlement Agreement. To be treated as valid, the Request for Exclusion must be served on the Notice Administrator, the Special Master, the Claims Administrator, counsel for 3M, and Class Counsel. For more information, see question 8 of the FAQ page. |
Withdraw requests for exclusionBy March 15, 2024 |
If you submitted a Request for Exclusion, but wish to remain a Settlement Class Member, you may withdraw the Request for Exclusion at any time prior to the Final Fairness Hearing. |
Important Dates and Deadlines
| Deadline to Withdraw Request for Exclusion | 3/15/2024 |
This date will be announced when the Effective Date is established. |
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CAREFUL: It has been brought to our attention that putative Class Members have received spam notice or postcard reminders. Spam notice may have spelling or other errors, but it may also look legitimate. Therefore, please be reminded that this website is the best source of information about and updates on the Settlements, including information about important upcoming deadlines. As such we recommend that you check back here frequently.