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PFAS Claims for Firefighter Turnout Gear

Claim reviews for municipalities, fire districts, departments, and other turnout gear purchasers

Our No-Risk Commitment

Review the Cost of Your Gear

Departments and public entities that purchased turnout gear containing PFAS may have claims relating to the products they acquired. A purchaser claim review focuses on:
Documented PurchasesInvoices, purchase years, brands, and approximate gear inventory
Product CompositionSpecifications, labels, and manufacturer representations about the gear
Economic LossPurchase-price or diminished-value losses and, where legally supported, related costs
  • 1/3 Contingency Basis: Our legal services are provided on a contingency fee structure—we only get paid if you recover funds
  • No Upfront Costs: All litigation, court, and case development expenses are advanced 100% by our firm

  • No Testing Required: You do not need to test your gear before an initial review; any testing should be arranged with counsel and qualified safety personnel

    
Begin with basic gear information: Share your department name, approximate gear inventory, brands, purchase years, and replacement plans. Preserve representative gear and records.

Why Departments Are Reviewing Their Gear

Departments are reviewing their turnout gear in light of federal research on PFAS in gear textiles. Results vary by fabric and product, so each department's inventory should be evaluated on its own.
NIST research (January 2024) found PFAS in the turnout-gear textiles it tested
NIST found that simulated wear can increase the amount of PFAS released from some textiles
A PFAS finding in one tested material does not establish that every item or brand contains the same chemicals or presents the same risk

PFAS in Gear Textiles

Wear Increases Release

Results Vary by Product

Current Litigation

Non-AFFF turnout-gear litigation is centralized in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota as MDL 3191. Purchaser actions allege product defects, misleading representations, and related economic harm. These remain allegations.

Separate Proceedings

Turnout-gear purchaser claims follow their own track. Other PFAS matters require separate analysis of the appropriate proceeding.
  • AFFF Claims: Claims involving firefighting foam are handled separately from turnout-gear purchaser claims
  • Individual Injuries: Firefighter health claims require separate analysis and are not part of a department's purchaser review

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What a Review Can Address

  • Purchase-price or diminished-value losses on PFAS-containing gear

  • Reasonable testing costs, where legally supported

  • Gear replacement and disposal costs, where legally supported

  • Related property costs, where legally supported

  • Separating ordinary scheduled replacement from additional loss tied to the alleged defect; recovery and eligibility are not guaranteed

Why Choose Us?

We offer a national authority in environmental law combined with deep scientific expertise.
Nationally recognized legal authority with a B.A. in Hydrogeology and former NSF Research Fellow; dual-boarded NBTA certified trial attorney with over 100 jury verdicts

Kenneth Bartlett, Esq.

Trial Counsel

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About Us
We are a litigation firm dedicated to holding corporations accountable for environmental contamination and pharmaceutical injuries.
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203-421-4400 inquiry@bartlettlawpc.com P.O. Box 4017 Madison, CT 06070
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