C-8 is a toxic compound used in the manufacturing of Teflon as well as everyday household products such as non-stick cookware, fast food wrappers, pizza boxes, dental floss, microwave popcorn bags, stain-resistant carpets, and hundreds more.
The chemical company DuPont allegedly poured millions of gallons of C-8 into the drinking water supply of the Parkersburg region of West Virginia, including the Ohio River. Numerous lawsuits arose over the issue, and they were consolidated into a class action by Judge George W. Hill of the Wood County Circuit Court in West Virginia in November 2004.
In February 2017, DuPont reached a global settlement of more than $670 million to cover all of the C-8 lawsuits filed in federal court. The class included people who had been certified as living in the six named water districts or used private wells in the area close to DuPont’s Washington Works plant.
Cory Watson Attorneys played a leading role in the DuPont C-8 litigation involving chemicals DuPont used in Teflon production. Cory Watson Principal Jon C. Colin was appointed to serve as Co-Lead Counsel, representing plaintiffs in the litigation, MDL 2433: In re: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company C-8 Personal Injury Litigation.
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with cancer or some other serious health condition after being exposed to C-8, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering. Contact the personal injury lawyers at Cory Watson Attorneys for a free case evaluation by calling (877) 562-0000 or completing our online consultation form.
C-8 Public Health and Safety
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is expected to protect the health and well-being of American citizens and the environment, failed to set standards to limit the amount of C-8 present in drinking water until 2016. Setting official standards earlier would have helped protect thousands of Americans from the wanton disregard DuPont has exhibited toward public health and safety by disposing of C8 directly into the Ohio River.
What Diseases Does C-8 Cause?
C-8 has been linked to diseases, such as:
- Ulcerative colitis
- High cholesterol
- Pregnancy-induced hypertension
- Thyroid disease
- Testicular cancer
- Kidney cancer
C-8 has been used for so long in so many applications, that it’s estimated that some amounts of C-8 can be found in virtually every U.S. citizen. Although safe levels of C-8 exposure are not known, the EPA has placed a figure of 0.07 parts per billion as an accepted level. However, some scientific researchers believe that levels as low as 0.03 parts per billion can still be life-threatening.
Who Was Part of the Original Class in the DuPont C-8 Lawsuit?
The original C-8 class action against DuPont involved plaintiffs from Ohio and West Virginia who had drunk contaminated water from any of the following water districts:
- Little Hocking, Ohio
- Lubeck Public Service District, West Virginia
- City of Belpre, Ohio
- Tuppers Plains, Ohio
- Mason County Public Service District, West Virginia
- Village of Pomeroy, Ohio
It doesn’t matter where you reside now. If you lived in one of the areas listed and drank contaminated water for at least a year before developing health problems, you could qualify to receive compensation.
Can I Still Make a Claim Against DuPont?
Although the statute of limitations has expired to become part of the C-8 class action against DuPont (with cases involving minors a possible exception), you may still pursue your own civil action. If you didn’t receive a settlement from the class action, or if you have recently suffered more serious injuries or adverse health conditions arising from C-8 exposure, you should speak with an attorney right away to discuss your case.
Every state has deadlines for when you can file a personal injury lawsuit, and it could be as short as two years from the date you discovered your C-8-related condition. As mentioned previously, cases involving minors may have time extensions, but you need to talk to an attorney immediately for advice and guidance. If you do not have an attorney file a lawsuit for you within the prescribed statute of limitations, you may forfeit your right to recover compensation.
Contact Cory Watson Attorneys Now.
For more than 44 years, Cory Watson has litigated, settled, and worked on large-scale water contamination cases involving Fortune 500 companies, such as DuPont. We’ve represented individual and community plaintiffs who resided in more than a dozen states. Our team of attorneys and legal professionals have experience with the science and medical issues that are critical to these cases. We are prepared to stand toe-to-toe with these multi-national defendants to fight for the rights of our clients.
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with cancer after being exposed to C-8, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering. Contact the personal injury lawyers at Cory Watson Attorneys for a free case evaluation by calling (877) 562-0000 or completing our online consultation form.
C-8 Science Panel Findings
- C-8 Science Panel Website
- Probable Link Evaluation of Autoimmune Disease (PDF)
- Probable Link Evaluation of Cancer (PDF)
- Probable Link Evaluation of Thyroid Disease (PDF)
- Probable Link Evaluation of Birth Defects (PDF)
In the News
- Suits Filed Claiming Injury, Death from C8 Exposure, Parkersburg News and Sentinel
- Attorney Files C-8 Injury Cases, Parkersburg News and Sentinel
- Class Action Notification to be Sent Out, Parkersburg News and Sentinel