3M Wins Bid to Keep Maine PFAS Liability Suits in Federal Court

3M Co. won its bid to keep one of Maine’s forever chemical liability lawsuits in federal district court after an appeals panel ruled the company is entitled to this jurisdiction under the federal office removal statute.

The US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled Wednesday the state’s lawsuit seeking damages for the widespread contamination of fish, wildlife, surface water, and groundwater from per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) requires a court to determine if this commingled with firefighting foam contamination, which 3M developed and deployed as federal contractor.

Judge Sandra L. Lynch rejected Maine’s argument that the company produced aqueous ...