July 24, 2026|Product Liability Insider
By Anne Marie Ellis, July 24, 2026
New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against several leading manufacturers of PFAS chemicals and their corporate successors, alleging they knowingly produced, marketed, and sold PFAS-containing products despite decades of knowledge regarding the chemicals’ persistence, toxicity, and environmental impacts.
The complaint alleges that the defendants promoted PFAS for use in a wide range of consumer products—including stain-resistant textiles, water-repellent apparel, food packaging, non-stick cookware, and cosmetics—while concealing evidence that the chemicals could accumulate in people, wildlife, and the environment and were associated with significant health risks.
According to the lawsuit, company research dating back to the 1970s and 1980s identified concerns regarding PFAS contamination, toxicity, and bioaccumulation. The AG alleges that despite this knowledge, the companies continued to market PFAS-containing products as safe and failed to adequately warn consumers, regulators, or workers about potential risks.
The lawsuit asserts claims under New York environmental and consumer protection laws, alleging that the companies contributed to widespread PFAS contamination of the state’s air, water, and natural resources, while engaging in deceptive marketing and other misconduct.
The Attorney General is seeking:
- Funding for statewide PFAS investigation and remediation efforts;
- Damages, restitution, disgorgement of profits, and civil penalties;
- Injunctive relief requiring adequate warnings regarding PFAS-containing products; and
- Orders prohibiting future deceptive marketing and sales practices.
The case is significant because it reflects the continued expansion of PFAS litigation beyond contamination claims tied to manufacturing sites and aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). By focusing on the historical use of PFAS in consumer products and alleged concealment of known risks, the lawsuit could further increase litigation and regulatory exposure across the PFAS supply chain and may encourage similar actions by other state Attorneys General.
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