Class action lawsuits regarding Teflon cookware have been filed against DuPont in federal courts in approximately 25 states throughout the country. These similar suits are now consolidated in one federal court located in Des Moines, Iowa, under the MDL or "Multi District Litigation" rules. DuPont is the primary and predominant manufacturer of Teflon, which goes into Teflon cookware.

What the public has not been made aware of is that Teflon cookware gives off noxious chemicals and particulate at certain levels of heat. It is of no coincidence that DuPont now, since the filing of these lawsuits, advertises that Teflon cookware is safe for the purpose for which it was intended, and that is cooking on low and medium heat. What they still do not tell the public is that on higher levels of heat, toxic substances are emitted and it is believed that humans are thereby exposed to these toxic substances. It has been known for years that birds owned by people cooking with Teflon cookware experience inexplicable death of their pets. Bird lungs are very sensitive, and for years DuPont has known that the noxious gases and particulate given off by Teflon cookware kills pet birds. DuPont's remedy in the past has been to advise bird owners to open their windows when cooking with Teflon cookware.

As we believe, and has been alleged in these lawsuits, of which this law firm is involved, in representing individuals who have had and who have used Teflon cookware in the past, Teflon cookware is defective as a product, and if people intending to purchase Teflon cookware had been made aware of the defect described above, in all likelihood they would have chosen not to purchase Teflon cookware, but would have purchased cookware that does not pose this danger. The Teflon cookware class action cases described herein are for defective products only, and are not seeking compensation for anyone injured by using Teflon cookware. Under consumer protection laws, we are seeking, but not limited to, the replacement cost of your teflon cookware. For many years it has been known that heating Teflon cookware on high heat causes noxious gases to be given off that causes an illness known in industry as "polymer fume fever," which involves flu like symptoms which last several days. Unfortunately, it would be very difficult to ascertain whether past illness was caused from using Teflon cookware or whether in fact a person had contracted influenza which thereby caused their illness.

Currently, the litigation is proceeding toward motions and a possible hearing on class action certification. In the meantime, more information is being gathered about Teflon cookware, and what information DuPont has provided in the past to government agencies, such as the United States Food and Drug Administration, and the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, which resulted in these government agencies granting approval for Teflon cookware to be placed in the stream of commerce.

Feel free to call any of the lawyers at HILL, PETERSON, CARPER, BEE & DEITZLER, P.L.L.C., for further information.

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