The Massive Size of the 3M Earplug Lawsuits: How Did We Get Here?
Since 2001, millions of U.S. service members have deployed overseas. Of course, serving in the military can be inherently dangerous. But service members expect the safety equipment provided will help protect them during training and combat. No one expects their safety equipment to harm them. Sadly, the 3M brand earplugs provided to service members from 2003 to 2015 may have harmed many active-duty service members and veterans.
The U.S. Government’s Million-Dollar Settlement with 3M
Several years ago, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it had reached a settlement with 3M after allegations that 3M sold earplugs to the U.S. Department of Defense, knowing that they were defective. DOJ stated that 3M failed to “disclos[e] defects that hampered the effectiveness of the hearing protection device.” Under the qui tam provision of the False Claims Act, an anonymous whistleblower initiated a lawsuit against 3M. The U.S. government eventually settled with 3M for $9.1 million. Still, this settlement didn’t compensate the hundreds of thousands of veterans who suffered hearing loss and damage because of the defective earplugs.The 3M lawsuits have grown to a massive size, with more than 230,000 actions pending in federal court in Pensacola, Florida. The lawsuits have grown so much in large part because it’s relatively easy to identify those who may have faced harm from the defective 3M earplugs – U.S. military veterans. Moreover, veterans tend to retain contact with military-related networks, allowing news of the potential harm to veterans and the federal government’s settlement with 3M to pass more easily to potential claimants.
Ongoing 3M Litigation
The plaintiffs in the 3M suits, including the U.S. government and veterans who used the 3M earplugs, allege veterans suffered hearing loss after using 3M’s Combat Arms Earplugs, Version 2 (CAEv2), which were defective. These lawsuits have grown to the largest multidistrict litigation action in history. While the trials are ongoing, three of the four suits that have gone to trial resulted in verdicts for the plaintiffs, with the most recent verdict on October 1, 2021, leading to an $8.1 million for the plaintiffs.
Seek Skilled Legal Guidance
If you believe you have hearing damage from using 3M’s defective earplugs, call the Madeksho Law Firm at 888-910-6376 or use our online contact form to set up your free consultation. You won’t pay anything unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
