What’s Happening: 3M Earplug Lawsuit Update

Riddle Brantley LLP | December 16, 2020 |

Mass Torts

In 2018, 3M settled a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act with the Department of Justice for $9.1 million over an alleged defect in their Combat Arms Earplugs that could have caused hearing damage in tens of thousands of military service members, but they did not admit any fault or liability in the settlement.

But that’s not the end of the story. What’s happening now with 3M earplug lawsuits? 3M distributed over 2.2 million earplugs between 2003 and 2015 — how many more servicemembers may have been affected by 3M’s alleged negligence?

JANUARY 2022 UPDATE: Due to fast-moving developments in this litigation, Riddle & Brantley can no longer accept additional 3M earplug claims. We anticipate that a global settlement may be on the horizon — please stay tuned to our website for the latest updates as more information becomes available.

IMPORTANT: If you or a loved one served in the military between 2003 and 2015 and have suffered hearing damage, you may be entitled to compensation. Please call 1-800-525-7111 or complete our short form below for a FREE consultation with a Riddle & Brantley product liability lawyer and see if you qualify for a 3M earplug lawsuit.

3M Combat Arms Earplug Defect

Between 2003 and 2015, 3M sold over two million of its Combat Arms earplugs to the U.S. military. The earplugs’ groundbreaking, dual-ended design was intended to allow military personnel the ability to protect their hearing from loud sounds like gunshots while still being able to hear field commands from officers.

However, the earplugs allegedly have a design flaw that causes them to imperceptibly loosen and allow damaging sound in. Now thousands of military personnel may suffer from serious hearing injuries potentially caused by 3M earplugs, including tinnitus and deafness.

3M is also alleged to have modified the earplugs to get them to pass critical tests in order to sell them to the U.S. military, without informing the U.S. military or the service members of the modification.

The Whistleblower Lawsuit

In 2016, rival earplug maker Moldex-Metric filed a whistleblower suit on the federal government’s behalf claiming that 3M and the original manufacturer of the earplugs, Aearo Technologies, knew about the design flaws as early as 2000.

3M settled this suit for $9.1 million but denied the claims and refused to admit liability.

What’s Happening with 3M Earplugs Lawsuits Now?

With 2.2 million earplugs distributed, tens of thousands of service members may have been injured by the alleged defect and thousands have filed military earplug lawsuits against 3M. To date, over 140,000 individual claims against 3M are included, making this one of the largest product liability cases in recent history.

If you’re a former service member and you believe that your hearing loss or tinnitus may have been caused by defective 3M earplugs, call 1-800-525-7111 to see if you qualify for a claim.

The consultation is 100% FREE and our team at Riddle & Brantley is dedicated to getting injured service members the compensation they deserve. Call 1-800-525-7111 and let’s review your case.

You may qualify for a 3M earplugs lawsuit if:

You served in the military between 2003 and 2015 in active duty or active duty for training
You were issued and used 3M Combat Arms earplugs
You received a discharge other than dishonorable
You have been diagnosed with hearing loss or tinnitus

“If you’ve served our country and suffered hearing loss or tinnitus potentially due to defective earplugs, you deserve justice — and now is the time to have your claim investigated.”

–Gene Riddle, attorney and managing partner, Riddle & Brantley

3M’s Response

In response to these claims, 3M attempted to get the cases thrown out, arguing that the company is protected from liability as a government contractor. On July 27, 2020, however, a federal judge threw out these claims and declared that 3M did not qualify for this protection.

On April 20, 2020, a judge in Pensacola, FL unsealed hundreds of pages of 3M documents in response to the lawsuits, giving the public and claimants a look at crucial information that may reveal how much 3M really knew about the product defect.

Currently, 3M earplugs lawsuits are expected to get a first trial date sometime in 2021. Until then, injured claimants continue to come forward, alleging that their hearing damage may be caused by 3M’s allegedly faulty earplugs.

For a FREE consultation with an experienced 3M earplugs lawyer handling claims related to hearing loss and tinnitus, please call 1-800-525-7111.

There is no obligation and you won’t pay any attorney fees unless we win your case and you receive compensation.

Please call 1-800-525-7111 today and let’s review your claim.

Justice Counts for injured servicemen and women who may have suffered hearing loss and tinnitus due to defective 3M military earplugs and we would love to help you get the justice and compensation you deserve if we can.

“I used 3M earplugs while in the military between 2003 and 2015 and suffered hearing damage. What can I do?”

If you served in the U.S. Armed Forces between 2003 and 2015, used a set of Combat Arms earplugs, and later developed hearing damage such as tinnitus or hearing loss, you may be entitled to compensation.

Call Riddle & Brantley today at 1-800-525-7111 or fill out the convenient form below for a FREE, no-obligation consultation with an experienced product liability lawyer.

We will review your claim and help determine if you qualify for a 3M earplug lawsuit.

You may qualify for a 3M earplugs lawsuit if:

You served in the military between 2003 and 2015 in active duty or active duty for training
You were issued and used 3M Combat Arms earplugs
You received a discharge other than dishonorable
You have been diagnosed with hearing loss or tinnitus

Riddle & Brantley stands behind our veterans and men and women in uniform and are dedicated to fighting for your rights against potentially negligent companies like 3M. Many of our attorneys and staff have close family ties to the military.

You’ve already done your part to protect us — now let us protect you.

“By far the best law firm that actually cares about helping veterans.”

–B. Fields, Riddle & Brantley client

Remember, there are no upfront costs or attorney fees unless you receive compensation. Since 1985, we’ve recovered millions of dollars in compensation for victims of injury due to others’ negligence and we would love to help you if we can (see disclaimer below).

Please call 1-800-525-7111 today and let’s review your case.

Justice Counts.

*** Disclaimer: The results mentioned are intended to illustrate the type of cases handled by the firm. These results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and they should not be construed to constitute a promise or guarantee of a particular result in any particular case. Every case is different, and the outcome of any case depends upon a variety of factors unique to that case.

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