'Easy grandstanding': Congress backs trial lawyers' effort to condemn chemicals, win lawsuits while science debated By John O'Brien | Mar 11, 2019
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – As Congress vilifies chemicals known as PFAS, some question whether the research upon which lawmakers – and trial lawyers – are relying shows that anyone has actually been harmed by them.
At the same time, law firms that spent big on Democrats’ push to reclaim majorities in the House (successful) and Senate (not) in the 2018 election stand to gain from the public shaming of PFAS as they pursue their lawsuits.
One of those lawsuits purports to be a class action on behalf of the entire country that has not been made sick.
It claims PFAS are in 99% of the population. However, it does not allege that the lead plaintiff – or anyone else - has contracted a disease as a result. ...
Milloy expects the companies to reach settlements that will leave the plaintiffs lawyers with tens of millions of dollars while hiding from the Congressional spotlight.
“When this started, companies defended themselves,†he said. “Now they really don’t.
“The price we all play is that we lose technology and the science takes a hit because it was never defended. The fundamental principle of toxicology is the dose makes it poisonous. Just because PFAS are in water or bodies doesn’t mean it has any effect.â€
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