Robert Bilott is an outstanding environmental lawyer, currently based in CIncinnati, who has uncovered the worldwide impact of contamination by a group of “forever chemicals” known as polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that accumulate in the environment and in living things, including people.

With a combination of innovative litigation, scientific understanding, and extraordinary perseverance, Bilott has achieved one of the most significant victories for environmental law and corporate accountability to date.

In a legal battle lasting over two decades, Bilott represented 70,000 people living near Parkersburg, West Virginia, whose drinking water had been contaminated with a toxic “forever chemical,” known as PFOA, released by the chemical giant DuPont. Expanding upon the concept of class-action litigation, Bilott eventually obtained over 1 billion US dollars in benefits for the victims, including direct cash settlements for thousands of disease victims, totalling over 753 million US dollars, and ongoing medical monitoring for those exposed.

As a result of the settlement of the lawsuit against DuPont, Bilott set up a unique scientific process which contributed significantly to the understanding of the global health risks associated with PFAS chemicals. Exposure to PFAS can cause severe health damage, including cancer and impaired reproductive capacity.

The landmark court case, also depicted in the movie Dark Waters (2019), has been followed by more lawsuits being filed not only across the US, but also in other countries.