What is this lawsuit about?
In July of 2018 3M and the U.S. Department of Justice settled allegations that 3M KNOWINGLY supplied the U.S. military with defective dual-ended Combat Arms earplugs that could loosen and allow for hearing damage-inducing sounds to enter the ear canals of wearers. The earplugs have a two-toned appearance with the olive side intended for use to block all noise and the yellow side supposedly allowing for a wearer to hear a conversation or other quieter noises nearby while still blocking louder sounds.
The Department of Justice alleged that: 3M knew as early as 2000
– before the earplugs became standard issue – that there were flaws in the design; that the largest flange on the earplugs on the side not inserted in the ear canal could subtly and undetectably loosen the earplug from the ear canal by pushing on it externally and that the short stem of the inverted cone did not fit deeply into the ear canal to block all dangerous decibel levels; and that 3M tried to keep other
companies from selling better and more effective earplugs.
What type of hearing damage did the wearers of these earplugs suffer?
- Tinnitus or “ringing in the ears” which can sound like a variety of things such as ringing, horns, buzzing, hissing, and screeching, among others.
- Hearing loss, which can also manifest in a variety of ways, but which can generally be described as a gradual or even quick reduction in the ability to hear noise around you.
What service members fit the criteria?
- If you served in the U.S. military and were deployed from 2003-2015 (especially in combat zones including but not limited to: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Libya, Somalia; Yemen); and
- You used the defective earplugs; and
- You have suffered hearing loss or tinnitus.
What could a successful 3M lawsuit settlement or trial verdict cover?
- Medical expenses (Past, present, and future)
- Pain and suffering, including emotional
- Compensation for your hearing loss and/or tinnitus
- Disability
- Loss of past, present, and future income or earning capacity
- Your loss of the way you enjoy your life
- The cost of assistive devices like hearing aids
- And other related damages.
