A Columbus attorney will be part of the team taking on corporate giant 3M over “forever chemical” contamination in Georgia.
Ben Finley, 58, attorney at The Finley Firm, is leading a star-studded team of lawyers, water experts , and famous consumer justice advocate Erin Brockovich to challenge 3M due to possible contamination in the soil and water in Dalton, Rome, and Calhoun.
“PFAS” are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, colloquially known as “forever chemicals” because they never break down. They’re man-made chemicals used in many industrial and consumer products like heat and oil resistance on frying pans and stain resistant carpets. PFAS are known to cause testicular, kidney and liver cancer , as well as reproductive and fertility issues.
“(Decades ago) 3M sent their (PFAS-containing) products by rail car to Northwest Georgia for the carpet industry needs,” Finley said. “The contaminant ended up in the water system in Dalton utilities, then the groundwater.”
If it ended up in your house, Finley explained, “you take a shower with that water, water the lawn, make coffee in the morning, it’s extremely problematic.”