3M, DuPont Face ‘Formidable’ Lawyer in Forever Chemicals Cases

3M Co., DuPont de Nemours and other makers of so-called forever chemicals face a new opponent in a string of pollution lawsuits who was the driving force behind record multibillion lawsuits over tobacco and opioids.

Joe Rice has been asked to join the group of lawyers leading lawsuits targeting per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, according to court filings in South Carolina this week. While lawyers for cities, towns and water agencies have negotiated more than $13.5 billion in pollution settlements, Rice is being called in to help resolve tens of thousands of personal-injury and property damage claims.

The 69-year-old ...