Well water in Oneida County has tested positive for some of the highest levels of PFAS in the nation.

The nationally recognized attorneys from Baron & Budd, P.C. alongside Cossich, Sumich, Parsiola & Taylor, LLC, and Crooks Law Firm S.C., have filed a class action lawsuit against Ahlstrom Rhinelander LLC and 3M Company for their roles in contaminating private well drinking water in Oneida County. The suit was filed on August 9, 2023 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin (Case no. 3:23-CV-546).

The lawsuit alleges that the application of Ahlstrom’s waste from a paper mill onto farmland in Oneida County caused extensive and severe contamination in private well water. After application, toxic PFAS migrated to groundwater where it has concentrated at levels that are thousands of times greater than EPA health advisories. These PFAS chemicals were sold and produced by 3M Company.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals that are used to create many nonstick, stain resistant, and waterproof products. The PFAS chemicals found in the well water in these areas are often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they do not easily break down and are highly water soluble, which increases the rate at which they spread contaminating soil, groundwater, and surface water.

“For years, Ahlstrom and its predecessors dumped millions of pounds of waste containing hazardous chemicals on farmland throughout the Town of Stella and Oneida County. The company that sold and manufactured the products knew they were toxic and could cause contamination, but they chose to value profits over safety and clean water,” said Baron & Budd Shareholder, Brett Land. “We are doing our part to hold them accountable for the damages they have caused to families and communities across the state.”

Residents affected by the water contamination in this area may participate in a lawsuit against the companies that manufactured the toxic substances that have leaked into the groundwater. Lawsuits filed for PFAS contamination seek to recoup the costs associated with:

• Remediation and/or access to clean water
• Past and future water contamination testing
• Loss of use and enjoyment of property; and
• Decreases in property value

If you live in Oneida County and your home has a well water system or if you received a letter from the Department of Natural Resources about water testing, please consider contacting an attorney. Seeking the guidance of an attorney is important in these types of cases.

Baron & Budd, alongside Cossich, Sumich, Parsiola & Taylor, LLC, and Crooks Law Firm S.C., actively represent those affected by PFAS contamination including public and private drinking water providers, wastewater treatment facilities, airports, and fire training facilities. Our attorneys are experienced in representing individuals across the country in these types of water contamination cases. We have been committed to safeguarding the environment and protecting our clients for more than 40 years.

If you have been affected by water contamination, contact us at 214-523-6206 about your potential case.

ABOUT BARON & BUDD, P.C.

With more than 45 years of experience, Baron & Budd has the expertise and resources to handle complex litigation throughout the United States. As a law firm that takes pride in remaining at the forefront of litigation, Baron & Budd has spearheaded many significant cases for hundreds of entities and thousands of individuals. Baron & Budd has been repeatedly selected by The Legal 500 as one of the country’s premier law firms in mass tort claims and class action litigation. Since the firm was founded in 1977, Baron & Budd has achieved substantial national acclaim for its work on cutting-edge litigation, trying hundreds of cases to verdict and settling tens of thousands of cases in areas of litigation as diverse and significant as dangerous and highly addictive pharmaceuticals, defective medical devices, asbestos and mesothelioma, California wildfires and environmental contamination, fraudulent banking practices, e-cigarettes, motor vehicles, federal whistleblower cases, and other consumer fraud issues.

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