Flat Rock council authorizes joining nationwide PFAS settlement claim against DuPont, 3M

Council authorized the city attorney to retain the lead law firm handling the nationwide multi-district litigation related to PFAS and to participate in the claims process for the $13.6 billion nationwide settlement.

The city attorney told council the lead firm already represents a number of neighboring member communities and will front litigation costs on a contingency-fee basis; if there is recovery the firm will be reimbursed for costs and take its contingency fee, and if there is no recovery the city will incur no expense. The administration said the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) hosted a webinar outlining the claims process and that the claims deadline required a prompt decision.

Council voted to approve the resolution as presented and directed staff to work with the law firm to provide the requested flow-rate and utility information needed to pursue a claim.

What happens next: the city will coordinate data collection (flow rates and related DPW records) with the firm and the GLWA timetable; the city’s participation is contingent on the firm’s contingency terms and successful claim filing before the specified deadlines.