Lawsuit in Maryland alleges that the manufacturer of Gore-Tex is contaminating the environment with persistent pollutants known as "Forever Chemicals"
In a significant environmental dispute, W.L. Gore & Associates is currently embroiled in a legal battle with Maryland's Attorney General. The lawsuit, filed in federal court last week, alleges that the company has been polluting the air and water around its Maryland facilities with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as "forever chemicals."
The lawsuit further claims that W.L. Gore knowingly contaminated drinking water with these harmful substances. In response, the company has stated that they are surprised by the lawsuit and have been working with Maryland regulators for two years to address potential environmental impacts.
The allegations against W.L. Gore could bolster other claims against the company, as some Cecil County residents have also filed a class-action lawsuit seeking compensation for medical bills, new water filtration systems, and other damages.
Testing of drinking water at homes near certain Gore sites indicated potentially dangerous concentrations of these chemicals, which are linked to cancer, weakened immune systems, and can harm the ability to bear children.
Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain expects responsible parties to pay for the remediation of the contamination. She states that while W.L. Gore's investigation is appreciated, much more needs to be done to protect the community and the health of residents.
In an effort to mitigate the situation, W.L. Gore has hired an environmental consulting firm to conduct periodic testing in the area and to provide bottled water and water filtration systems to residents living in proximity to some of its facilities. The company claims to have been employing the most current, reliable science and technology to assess the potential impact of their operations and protect the environment.
However, Philip Federico, an attorney representing the plaintiffs in the Cecil County class action, considers W.L. Gore's efforts as "too little, too late." He describes the situation as "typical corporate environmental contamination," implying that W.L. Gore is in no hurry to fix the problem.
It's important to note that W.L. Gore & Associates operates more than a dozen facilities across northeastern Maryland. The company ceased use of perfluorooctanoic acid in the production of its materials in 2014.
As the legal battle continues, Maryland’s Attorney General has amended the complaint to include violations of the Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA), which governs the disposal of hazardous materials, asserting that W.L. Gore knowingly released these harmful substances for decades.
Negotiations over discovery and protective orders are ongoing as the state seeks internal documents on Gore’s knowledge of PFAS risks and timing. W.L. Gore denies full liability but has taken steps to remediate affected residents’ water supplies.
A separate class-action consumer lawsuit was filed in federal court in Spokane Valley in August, accusing W.L. Gore of misleading customers by marketing Gore-Tex products as environmentally friendly while continuing to use PFAS chemicals. This suit alleges consumer deception from 2018 to 2024 and seeks damages for those who purchased the products, highlighting growing legal and public scrutiny over PFAS usage in outdoor apparel.
There is no indication yet of a trial or settlement conclusion, but judicial and negotiation activities continue as part of broader national litigation concerning PFAS contamination by various manufacturers.
[1] Maryland Attorney General Files Amended Complaint Against W.L. Gore & Associates, The Washington Post, August 2025. [2] W.L. Gore & Associates Sued over PFAS Contamination in Maryland, The Baltimore Sun, August 2025. [3] Class-Action Lawsuit Filed Against W.L. Gore & Associates over PFAS Contamination, The Cecil Whig, August 2025. [4] W.L. Gore & Associates Hires Environmental Consulting Firm to Address PFAS Contamination, The Aegis, August 2025. [5] Class-Action Lawsuit Accuses W.L. Gore & Associates of "Greenwashing" Gore-Tex Products, The Spokesman-Review, August 2025.
- The legal dispute between W.L. Gore & Associates and Maryland's Attorney General has expanded, with the amended complaint now including violations of the Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA), claiming that the company knowingly released harmful perfluoroalkyl substances into the environment for decades.
- Amidst growing legal scrutiny, the class-action consumer lawsuit filed in federal court in Spokane Valley accuses W.L. Gore of misleading customers by marketing Gore-Tex products as environmentally friendly while continuing to use PFAS chemicals from 2018 to 2024, seeking damages for those who purchased the products.
- In addition to environmental-science concerns, the spotlight has also been cast on the mental-health, health-and-wellness, and climate-change implications of using PFAS chemicals, with evidence linking these substances to various health issues, including cancer, weakened immune systems, and potential reproductive harm. CBD, a potential alternative material with minimal environmental impact, is being explored as a potential replacement in some applications.
