The Miller Law Firm, P.C. is currently investigating allegations of water contamination in Kent County Michigan. The source of the contamination is believed to have originated near former manufacturing facilities owned and operated by Wolverine World Wide, Inc., located in Rockford, Michigan and may affect the surrounding communities including, Rockford, Belmont, Comstock Park and Plainfield Charter Township.
Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (“Wolverine”) manufactures shoes and owns several successful brands, including Merrell, Saucony, Stride Rite, and Hush Puppies. In order to make its shoes weatherproof, Wolverine applied water resistant chemicals to its shoes. Through our investigation, we have learned that the water resistant products used by Wolverine contain toxic chemicals which have accumulated in the surrounding environment. These toxic chemicals – PFOS (perfluoctane sulfonate) and PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances) – are tied to numerous human health problems and diseases and are suspected to be the primary source of water contamination in Kent County. From 1908 to 2010 Wolverine operated a tannery, shoe factory, warehouse, hide storage area and wastewater treatment plant in Rockford, Michigan.
Recently, unsafe levels of PFOS have been detected in the drinking water of residents of communities surrounding Wolverine’s former Rockford tannery and manufacturing plant. Water tests reveal that the levels of PFOS in residential water supplies around Rockford are far above what is considered safe by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
If you or someone you know lives in Kent County or any area surrounding Rockford, Michigan, or if you have been notified that your drinking water contains elevated levels of PFOS or any PFAS chemical, please contact the Miller Law Firm at 248-841-2200 or send us an email at WolverineClassAction@miller.law.