Dupont Receives Subpoena

Dupont reports here that they have in fact received a subpoena from the Environmental Crimes Section of the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).  On their website they state that the subpoena:

"relates to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and its salts, C8, ammonium perfluorooctanoate, and FC-143. The subpoena calls for the production of documents previously produced to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other documents related to those chemicals." 

As one might anticipate, Dupont's counsel is also stating that "[w]e will be fully responsive to the DOJ in this matter."

Cooperation with the government is a key factor that can assist a company should there be evidence of any wrongdoing.  Providing this information to the public and expressing a desire to cooperate is certainly a helpful move for a company. A key concern for a company here is not only a government investigation but the possibility of civil collateral consequences that might come from a government investigation or action. The Wall Street Journal provides here more details on a civil settlement of last year.

(esp)