Chippewa County approves legal agreement to join PFAS multidistrict litigation

Chippewa County commissioners voted Feb. 13 to enter a legal services agreement that will allow the county to join multidistrict litigation related to PFAS contamination and AFFF firefighting foam.

Administration presented the proposed agreement with the law firm (identified in committee materials as Smith and Johnson) and asked the board to act as a co-plaintiff alongside the county Economic Development Corporation. A county official described the approach as similar to the opioid settlements, saying any recoveries would likely come in over time.

"The committee was asked to enter into a legal services agreement for the county and the EDC as in a multidistrict litigation regarding PFAS," the meeting record states. Commissioners moved and carried the agreement by voice vote.

The transcript indicates the litigation targets manufacturers of firefighting foam used at military locations; the administration noted uncertainty about outcomes and that potential financial recovery, if any, would arrive gradually. Commissioners did not instruct an immediate payout or earmark settlement proceeds; they approved only the county joining the litigation and signing the legal-services agreement.

The action means Chippewa County will be formally represented in the multidistrict litigation and eligible to share any settlement or judgment proceeds if the litigation succeeds. The board noted parallels with other multi-jurisdictional settlements, including that collection and distribution of award funds often take years and are subject to litigation results and negotiated allocations.