logo
Spokane Valley man leads class-action lawsuit against makers of Gore-Tex

Spokane Valley man leads class-action lawsuit against makers of Gore-Tex

Yahoo13-02-2025
Feb. 12—A Seattle law firm, on behalf of a Spokane Valley man, has filed a class-action civil lawsuit against the maker of Gore-Tex, a synthetic waterproof membrane that revolutionized outdoor gear, over concerns that the company is misleading customers about the presence of harmful "forever chemicals."
The federal suit was filed Tuesday in the Eastern District of Washington in Spokane by the law firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, which has led several high-profile cases, including a $398 million settlement obtained last month following an antitrust suit filed against Tyson Foods Inc., Perdue Farms and others over alleged wage fixing.
In the case filed Tuesday, the lawsuit alleges that the makers of W.L. Gore & Associates, which is based in Newark, Delaware, has engaged in "greenwashing" its products. In other words, the suit accuses W.L. Gore of claiming its products are environmentally safe while they continue to use chemicals that have been shown to cause harmful side effects, such as cancer in humans.
"Gore's greenwashing campaign misleads the public by purporting to be highly committed to environmental responsibility and at the forefront of sustainable manufacturing processes," the complaint states. "But, in truth, Gore continues to produce Gore-Tex Fabric using PFAS, a suite of harmful "forever chemicals" with extremely dangerous health and environmental effects.
"Gore also fails to disclose that its Gore-Tex Fabric sheds PFAS chemicals via ordinary use, which means that outdoor enthusiasts, as well as those simply wearing Gore-Tex Fabric to keep dry, are inadvertently contaminating the environment areas and their water supply when they venture out in their GoreTex gear, as the gear sheds PFAS."
The first plaintiff named in the suit is Micah Mason of Spokane Valley. Efforts to reach Mason on Wednesday were not immediately successful.
But according to the suit, Mason relied on "environmentally sound" advertising and labels when in 2021 he purchased Volcom snow pants that contained the Gore-Tex membrane, a breathable barrier that allows water vapor from sweat to escape but prevents water molecules from penetrating fabric.
Nowhere on the product's labeling did it disclose that Gore-Tex contained PFAS or forever chemicals, the suit states.
"Had Defendant disclosed these practices, Plaintiff would not have purchased the Product or would have paid less for it," the complaint states. "Defendant's unfair, unlawful, and deceptive conduct in manufacturing, marketing, and selling Gore-Tex Fabric as environmentally beneficial has caused Plaintiff out-of-pocket loss."
Waterproof revolution
According to its website, W.L. Gore & Associates was founded by a couple seeking to capitalize on a new invention.
Bill and Vieve Gore started the company in 1958 in their basement in Newark, Delaware, after discovering a potential use for polytetraflouroethylene, or PTFE, that had been developed by Roy Plunkett at Dupont in 1938.
Bill Gore gave up his job as a research chemist at Dupont, and the couple's first experiments in the basement led to a waterproof, three-layer system that propelled the company into one of the 200 largest privately held companies in the U.S., according to its website.
The company employs some 13,000 people worldwide and generates about $4.8 billion in annual revenues. Gore-Tex is used in numerous products, including hunting boots and the uniforms that U.S. service personnel use to stay warm in cold climates.
An email to W.L. Gore & Associates seeking comment was not immediately returned on Wednesday.
Forever chemicals
According to the lawsuit, the company recognized years ago that it may have problems regarding the chemicals it uses to make the waterproof membranes.
The lawsuit includes recent images of company advertising under the heading: "Performance for the people. Performance for the planet. Our performance as a company depends on the sustainable performance of our products, our operations and our people.
"We are working to protect the planet and people because our society, and our business, depends on it," the advertisement reads.
At issue is a group of manmade chemicals, perflouroalkyl and polyflouroalkyl, known as PFAS, that are also knowns "forever chemicals."
Developed in the 1940s, PFAS have been used for multiple consumer products and industrial applications. However, the chemicals take years to degrade in nature.
High levels of the chemicals, the suit states, have since been linked to cancers, heart disease, high cholesterol, thyroid disease, low birth weight and other ailments.
Locally, high levels of PFAS on the West Plains have been traced to firefighting foam used at the Air Force base and Spokane International Airport.
According to the lawsuit filed this week, W.L. Gore realized more than a decade ago that its customers required environmentally safe products.
Gore-Tex, which was first marketed in 1976, works as a three-layer system. The layered systems are then sold to other apparel manufacturers who are required to note the Gore-Tex brand.
In the past, the company acknowledged that it used products that contained APFO, or ammonium salt form of perfluorooctanoic acid, a chemical within the broader group of PFAS. But the federal government in 2014 outlawed its use for manufacturing.
Then in 2021, W.L. Gore announced that it had developed a new Gore-Tex lining that used an expanded polyethelene that does not contain PFAS, according to the suit.
"But Defendant does not disclose that Gore still includes ePTFE in several of its current products and still uses a (durable water repellant) treatment derived from PFAS," the suit states. "Gore also omits disclosure that its Gore-Tex Fabric still sheds PFAS via ordinary use."
The suit alleges that studies have shown that PFAS used in the garments can shed the chemicals as the they degrade with use.
"This means that hikers who are taking their outdoor apparel on the trails are inadvertently shedding PFAS material straight into the pristine environments they are appreciating and seeking to preserve," the complaint reads. "This also means that regular consumers are also inadvertently shedding PFAS into local water supplies while walking on city streets, spending time in their yards, or while enjoying city parks."
In addition to Mason, of Washington, the suit seeks to include anyone who purchased Gore-Tex products from 2018 to 2024 from 27 other states, including California, Idaho and Montana and the District of Columbia.
In the complaint, where it explains why attorneys chose Spokane federal court as the venue, attorneys noted that they were seeking more than $5 million in damages. But the 138-page complaint later asks the judge to determine damages at trial.
Asked whether the firm had a damages figure in mind, Steve Berman, who signed the complaint on behalf of the law firm, said he did not.
"That will be the subject of expert testimony," he wrote in an email.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

K18 Launches HeatBounce, Haircare's First Intelligent Heat Protectant
K18 Launches HeatBounce, Haircare's First Intelligent Heat Protectant

Forbes

time12 hours ago

  • Forbes

K18 Launches HeatBounce, Haircare's First Intelligent Heat Protectant

Photo courtesy of K18 K18 just embarked on its biggest launch of the year. The biomimetic hair brand released its HeatBounce conditioning heat protectant on July 23. Powered by proprietary ResiliCore heat-shielding technology, the patented development was inspired by nature's most flexible and heat-resilient protein resilin. The cutting-edge formula was designed to be the first of its subcategory. 'It dynamically activates with heat, reinforcing the inner structure of the hair fiber,' co-founder and CEO Suveen Sahib said exclusively, comparing it to Gore-Tex waterproof fabric. 'It's lightweight, breathable protection from within, unlike the old-school rubberized approach. It's designed to keep hair resilient during styling and long after, when external heat and mechanical exposures can do just as much harm. It's proactive, it's responsive and it's built on years of research into how nature defends itself from heat.' The Decision To Launch HeatBounce With only eight original SKUs since launching its groundbreaking $75 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask in 2020, each K18 release comes with meticulous detail and execution. The current launch follows the March 2025 release of AstroLift Reparative Volume Spray. 'We only launch when we can believe we can truly change the game,' Sahib said. 'Heat protection has stayed stagnant for decades, relying on surface coatings that act like rubber raincoats. They're heavy, temporary and ineffective where damage really starts. Meanwhile, heat styling has evolved, with faster tools, dynamic temperatures and more frequent use. Yet, the tech to protect hair hasn't kept up.' This is where HeatBounce entered the chat. Calling it the 'first intelligent heat shield for hair,' Sahib went on to stress the importance of treating heat protection with all-day maintenence. 'The biggest misconception in heat care is that protection is a one-and-done event: apply, style, done,' he explained. 'But in reality, heat stress is progressive. It starts in the salon and continues long after the client walks out, especially under environmental heat exposure and our daily styling routines.' Sahib insists there's no innovation on the market that compares. 'Traditional products protect the outside, and HeatBounce defends from the inside where thermal breakdown starts,' he said. 'ResiliCore activates with heat to reinforce internal bonds and create a resilient, flexible defense network. And unlike traditional coatings, it doesn't break down or build up. It continues protecting through additional exposures such as mechanical and environmental stress.' Photo courtesy of K18 Maximizing The Benefits of HeatBounce The brand will spread education on HeatBounce through its longtime ambassador Devante Turnbull, who has most recently been using K18 products on tour with SZA. The new formula starts as a lightweight cream, then transforms into a fine mist for even, weightless application. It can be use on damp or dry hair before any kind of heat, blow-drying, flat-ironing, curling or diffusing. It can also double as a shield for daily protection. All K18 products were formulated to work cohesively as a full system, and no matter the launch, the brand will always stick to its pillars. 'Biology knows best,' Sahib said. 'Our work isn't cosmetic, it's molecular. With K18Peptide, we repaired broken keratin chains. With HeatBounce and ResiliCore, we're helping prevent that damage from happening in the first place. For us, this is not a line extension. It's a leap forward, marking a new era in proactive, biotech-powered styling.'

FINAL DEADLINE ALERT: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Investigates Claims on Behalf of Investors of Organon
FINAL DEADLINE ALERT: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Investigates Claims on Behalf of Investors of Organon

Business Wire

timea day ago

  • Business Wire

FINAL DEADLINE ALERT: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Investigates Claims on Behalf of Investors of Organon

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Organon & Co. ('Organon' or the 'Company') (NYSE: OGN) and reminds investors of the July 22, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company. Defendants provided these overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts Share Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See Defendants provided investors with material information concerning Organon's prioritization of its capital allocation strategy through regular, quarterly dividends. Defendants' statements included, among other things, reassurance that capital allocation through the aforementioned dividends was a '#1 capital allocation priority' and that Organon was committed to consistent deployment of capital. Defendants provided these overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of the Company's priorities, particularly, related to capital allocation through quarterly dividends. Notably, Defendants concealed the high priority of Organon's debt reduction strategy following the Company's acquisition of Dermavant, resulting in a 70% decrease for the regular quarterly dividend. Such statements absent these material facts caused Plaintiff and other shareholders to purchase Organon's securities at artificially inflated prices. Investors and analysts again reacted promptly to Organon's revelations. The price of Organon's common stock declined dramatically. From a closing market price of $12.93 per share on April 30, 2025, Organon's stock price fell to $9.45 per share on May 1, 2025, a decline of more than 27% in the span of just a single day. The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Organon's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others. To learn more about the Organon & Co. class action, go to or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook. Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP ( Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

Puraffinity and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Partner to Advance PFAS Remediation Technologies
Puraffinity and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Partner to Advance PFAS Remediation Technologies

Associated Press

time4 days ago

  • Associated Press

Puraffinity and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Partner to Advance PFAS Remediation Technologies

US Army and Puraffinity will conduct a series of laboratory and field trials. LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, July 20, 2025 / / -- Puraffinity, a leading innovator of advanced adsorbents for the removal of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), announces a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). The goal of the collaboration is to conduct research and field demonstrations involving Puraffinity's Puratech G400, an adsorbent material developed for the treatment of PFAS-contaminated waters. Under this agreement, ERDC and Puraffinity will conduct a series of laboratory and field trials. These trials will compare the performance of Puratech G400 with other PFAS treatment technologies such as Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) and Ion Exchange Resins (IEX). The primary objective is to explore Puratech G400's potential in improving treatment outcomes and reducing operating expenses (OPEX) and capital expenditure (CAPEX) in PFAS remediation. The research will target contamination sources from legacy facilities, including aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF). The key research objectives include: • Conducting laboratory and pilot-scale testing using real-world PFAS-contaminated water samples from both Department of Defense (DoD) and non-DoD sites. • Developing performance data to inform potential future applications on DoD installations and other settings. • Evaluating the use of Puratech G400 as a complementary or polishing step to existing destruction technologies. 'This collaboration with the ERDC marks a significant milestone in our mission to deliver innovative, scalable, and sustainable PFAS treatment technologies,' said Vincent Caillaud, CEO of Puraffinity. 'We are proud to work alongside one of the world's foremost research institutions to generate robust performance data and contribute meaningfully to the field of PFAS remediation.' The research initiative forms part of a broader strategic effort, reflecting Puraffinity's commitment to scientific rigor and collaborative innovation with government, industry, and academic stakeholders addressing the global PFAS challenge. Ade Alao Puraffinity [email protected] Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store