Wausau Mayor Discusses PFAS Lawsuit

Monday, December 11th, 2023 -- 8:01 AM

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg says the city's recently filed lawsuit against dozens of PFAS manufacturing companies is the latest way she's trying to protect taxpayers against the impacts of the forever chemicals, according to Mike Leischner with WSAU.

"We do know that the judge here, that was assigned, understands civil litigation. So, we feel like this is a good opportunity for us to make this case in front of our community to make sure that we're covered. This has been a really expensive ordeal."

She says if the city does cash in it will be up to the Council to decide what happens with the settlement, which could include retiring debt associated with the new drinking water plant or marking the funds for environmental cleanup.

"But we want to be smart about it. We want to make sure that we're looking ahead because the EPA and the DNR are looking at regulating other things too. Wastewater. Biosolids.

She says the New York based law firm that they've enlisted specializes in litigation like this, which is important. "When we get on calls, it's maybe 20 lawyers sometimes, but they are very well known. They're the gold standard when it comes to this kind of litigation. So, we trust them and we know they have our best interest."

She says while the city has benefited from PFAS related lawsuits already, this is a chance for them to tell their story of how the chemicals impacted drinking water.

"We wanted to file it on our home turf; we wanted to be able to make our case in front of a jury of our peers; and we wanted to bring people in here, so the public can hear what they have to say."

The lawsuit currently resides in Marathon County Circuit Court with nearly 75 defendants listed including known PFAS manufacturing companies and their insurance providers. Court action in the suit is pending.

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