By Treven Pyles on January 15th, 2026 in Jones Act
Individuals who develop cancer after handling AFFF aboard vessels have two legal paths available. Under the Jones Act, injured maritime workers can sue their employers for negligent exposure to PFAS. AFFF MDL is also available for marine firefighters who want to pursue claims against manufacturers for not adequately warning about the dangers of the foam.
Under the Jones Act, injured seamen can pursue claims against their employer if workplace-related PFAS exposure through vessel duties or deficient safety protocols contributed to their illness. Employers may be held liable when workers handle AFFF during firefighting drills, emergency response situations, or equipment maintenance without proper protective equipment, warnings, or safety procedures.
Employers are liable through Jones Act claims for medical costs for past and future treatment, income lost during illness and recuperation, and future earning potential if the disease prevents maritime work. These claims generally provide substantially higher compensation than traditional workers' compensation benefits.
The Jones Act uses a favorable standard where the employer's fault only has to be part of the cause. Seamen may succeed in claims even when multiple hazards contributed to the harm or when crew members experienced differing effects from exposure.
Multidistrict Litigation No. 2873, In re Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Products Liability Litigation, was established in 2018 to streamline federal cases involving PFAS exposure from firefighting foams. More than 15,300 individual lawsuits are pending in U.S. federal courts as of December 2025, up from about 7,600 in January 2025.
This litigation brings together environmental contamination and injury claims against manufacturers such as 3M, DuPont, and Chemours that produced PFAS-containing foam. Plaintiffs claim these companies failed to disclose long-term health dangers like cancer and chronic disease. The South Carolina MDL coordinates pretrial proceedings and evidence gathering for better efficiency.
Marine firefighters exposed through AFFF use aboard vessels or occupational firefighting duties may participate in these personal injury claims. Current MDL bellwether preparations focus on kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, and other exposure-related conditions.
Seamen with PFAS-related illnesses should consider both legal options since they target different parties. Jones Act cases hold maritime employers responsible for workplace safety lapses like poor training and inadequate protective gear. MDL suits target manufacturers for producing toxic chemicals and selling dangerous products they knew could cause harm.
Using both strategies increases potential compensation by targeting the manufacturers who created the chemicals and the employers who made workers use them without sufficient protection. These claims work together to provide full compensation for all the harm seamen endured.
MDL participants gain access to pooled scientific evidence, collective experts, and shared legal resources. Jones Act cases can use this same evidence, like expert findings on PFAS dangers and what manufacturers knew about the risks.
Filing a Jones Act claim requires seamen to show they spent considerable work time on vessels in navigable waters. They must show that employer negligence played a part in their exposure and health issues. Documentation like vessel work records, foam duties, and safety breaches backs up their case.
Joining the AFFF MDL requires marine firefighters to file their case in or transfer it to the federal court in South Carolina's District. They need to document their exposure and health conditions with medical records and employment history. Their claims should fit the conditions being handled in the MDL, and missing court deadlines can hurt their chances of participating.
The Environmental Litigation Group has been representing victims of toxic exposure since 1990. You may be eligible for compensation under the Jones Act if you developed cancer or chronic illness during maritime service. Reach out with your work history and medical records so we can review your eligibility for compensation.