UPDATE: In January 2022, two Army Veterans were awarded $110-million in 3M earplug lawsuits. Potential compensations that you may be eligible to recover include: If you or a loved one served in the military and suffer from permanent hearing loss or tinnitus after wearing the 3M earplugs from 2003 to 2015, you may be entitled to compensation. Compensation for Hearing Loss and TinnitusĪt Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys, we believe that 3M should recompense military men and women harmed by the company’s willful negligence.
However, despite 3M agreeing to pay a settlement amount, the company never accepted liability for the defective military earplugs. Military to resolve claims that the company knowingly sold the defective earplugs to the government. The whistleblower lawsuit came to a head in July 2018 when 3M Company agreed to pay $9.1-million to the U.S. This design defect kept the earplugs from properly protecting any user’s ears, which meant that each time they used the earplugs, soldiers were unknowingly putting themselves at risk of later suffering hearing loss/tinnitus. In fact, the earplugs were too short and would not stay firmly in place within a soldier’s ears. Department of Justice (DOJ), it was revealed that 3M dual-ended military earplugs were ineffective in properly blocking loud noises. (DOJ) investigation revealed that 3M dual-ended military earplugs were ineffective in properly blocking loud noises.ĭuring an investigation conducted by the U.S. These earplugs were then issued to military personnel who would most likely be exposed to ongoing loud noises, such as explosions and gunshots. The lawsuit further claimed that the company knew of this design defect back in 2000 and covered it up.Īs a military contractor, 3M then received millions of dollars from the government as payment for the now allegedly defective earplugs. Under the False Claims Act in May 2016, a whistleblower lawsuit brought allegations against 3M claiming the company knowingly sold and distributed defective earplugs to the U.S. Any company that designs, distributes, or sells defective products that cause a person to harm should be held liable for injuries suffered. Operation Ocean Shield in the Indian OceanģM needs to be held accountable for placing the well-being of our country’s protectors in harm’s way for profit.Military service men and women most likely issued defective 3M dual-ended military earplugs served domestically and in the following war zones: If you are a veteran who used 3M Combat Arms Earplugs, call Langston and Lott, PLLC today to speak with a experienced attorney or complete our online case evaluation by following the link above and let our law firm get to work for you.Location of Military Men & Women Affected In 2018, 3M settled the lawsuit with the US Department of Justice for $9.1 Million. The lawsuit alleged that 3M and Aearo Technologies both knew the earplugs where defective, and they even faked bogus tests to meet the US military’s standards. In 2016, a Whistleblower lawsuit was filed under the “False Claims Act” by a competing Ear Plug manufacturer, Moldex Metric Inc.
#Dual ended combat arms earplugs full
The failure of dual-ended Combat Arms Ear Plugs (version 2) to protect soldiers’ ears has resulted in tinnitus (ringing or buzzing of the ears) as well as partial or full hearing loss.
One end of the earplugs was supposed to block all noise the other side was intended to protect the eardrums from gunfire and loud explosions while allowing the user to communicate freely. The earplugs were said to provide two levels of protection. Aero Technologies and subsequently 3M only sold the earplugs exclusively to the military. In 2008, 3M acquired Aearo Technologies and all its liabilities for $1.2 Billion.įrom 2003 to 2015, 3M supplied a maximum of 2.2 million earplugs to the US military to use in war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, as an exclusive supplier for the US military for earplugs. In 2003, the US military ordered The Dual-Ended Combat Arms™ Earplugs, Version 2 (CAEv2) from Aearo Technologies.