Litchfield City Council Meeting | Oct. 2, 2025

Article Summary: The City Council approved a resolution to enter into a legal services agreement regarding PFAS product liability litigation. The city will join a nationwide class action lawsuit to potentially recover costs related to water treatment and remediation.

PFAS Litigation Key Points:

• No Cost to City: The agreement is on a contingency basis; the city pays nothing unless money is recovered.

• Target: The lawsuit targets manufacturers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often found in firefighting foam and non-stick products.

• Objective: To secure settlement funds to offset future costs for testing, treatment, or remediation of PFAS in the water system.

• Counsel: The city will be represented by Stag Liuzza, L.L.C. and Drafahl Law Firm.

Litchfield is taking proactive legal steps to protect its water system from the financial burden of emerging environmental regulations. On Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, the City Council voted to join a multi-district litigation against manufacturers of PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals.”

City Attorney Michael McGinley explained that massive settlement funds have been established by companies like DuPont and 3M following litigation regarding the health impacts of these chemicals.

“Communities are signing up with these law firms in order to… file claims on their behalf and to recover money from these funds,” McGinley said.

He emphasized that there is “no cost to the city of Litchfield” to join the suit. If the city needs to perform remediation in the future due to PFAS contamination, any funds recovered from the lawsuit would help offset those expenses for taxpayers.

Mayor Fleming noted that PFAS contamination is currently a “hot button topic” in the state, making this a timely decision for the municipality.