3M Earplug Lawsuits
From 2003 to 2015, many military servicemembers and veterans were issued earplugs that did not provide proper hearing protection. Many people who used 3M earplugs and depended upon the product for hearing protection are now experiencing hearing issues, such as tinnitus and hearing loss.
Currently, there are multidistrict litigation proceedings in progress against 3M to help people who were negatively affected by failing to receive the ear protection they needed while serving in the military.
An MDL is different from a class-action lawsuit. In a class-action lawsuit, many plaintiffs file a claim against a company as a group. Each member of a class-action lawsuit receives equal compensation, often equal to the amount paid for the defective product. In an MDL lawsuit, many people file a claim against a company, but each case is reviewed individually. This allows each plaintiff to get a different level of compensation based on his or her individual experience.
The MDL against 3M has already yielded positive outcomes. Most recently U.S. Army Veteran James Beal was awarded $77.5 million.
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3M Earplus and the military
Based in St. Paul, the 3M company sold yellow, black and dark green earplugs to the U.S. military. Originally, the earplugs were developed by Aearo Technologies. 3M bought Aearo Technologies in 2008. This acquisition resulted in 3M’s liability for issues caused by products issued by Aearo Technologies.
The U.S. military had an exclusive contract with 3M for earplugs, and many soldiers who used the earplugs experienced hearing loss due to product failure. 3M officials have admitted the company knew its earplugs didn’t protect hearing, but did not make users aware of the product’s ineffectiveness.
Are defective earplugs linked to hearing loss?
Yes, defective earplugs are linked to hearing loss and tinnitus. When earplugs function properly, they protect the ears from damage related to loud noises, such as those experienced by many members of the military during their years of service. People who served in the military between 2003 and 2015 trusted that the earplugs supplied by 3M would protect them from hearing loss, but this was not the case.
Permanent hearing loss can cause a major change in quality of life, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) can cause psychological and emotional distress. People who have experienced these issues may be entitled to compensation for their pain, suffering and medical bills.
Who is eligible to file a lawsuit or claim against 3M?
If you served in the military between 2003 and 2015, used 3M dual-ended Combat Arms Earplugs and experienced permanent hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in the ears), you may be eligible to take part in the lawsuits against 3M.
3M earplug lawyers can also help you determine whether you are eligible for a claim against 3M. He or she will work with you to understand the details of your case and whether you may be entitled to financial compensation for your hearing loss related to the use of 3M earplugs during military service.
Am I suing the government?
Understandably, many veterans have a strong connection to the military and are not interested in suing the U.S. government. The government and the military are not at fault for providing soldiers with ineffective earplugs.
If you decide to file a lawsuit against 3M, you are not suing the government or the military, you’re suing 3M and Aearo Technologies, the companies responsible for creating the faulty earplugs and failing to warn soldiers of the possibility of hearing loss and tinnitus.
Which are the faulty earplugs?
3M’s dual-ended Combat Arms earplugs (Version 2 CAEv.2) is the faulty product related to hearing loss, tinnitus and the military earplug lawsuit.Your 3M earplug lawyer can work with you to get more information and determine whether you used these earplugs during your military career. If you’ve experienced hearing loss or tinnitus after serving in the military between 2003 and 2015, reach out to Sonstein Law for a free case evaluation.
