3M Earplugs Cause Hearing Loss for MilitaryOur Soldiers were supplied defective Combat Arms Earplugs
The Russo Firm attorneys are evaluating claims that active-duty military personnel and veterans suffered significant hearing damage due to wearing defective 3M Combat Arms Earplugs (Version 2 – CAEv2). You may be entitled to compensation if you used 3M earplugs while serving in the U.S. military between 2003 and 2015.
International conglomerate 3M had a contract with the U.S. government providing earplugs for soldiers in the U.S. military to protect their hearing during combat. The plugs were engineered to block out loud noises and blasts associated with active combat and testing on bases while allowing soldiers to still hear crucial orders. However, some of the plugs were defective, which may have resulted in complete or partial hearing loss to certain military members. The Russo Firm believes that active-duty military persons and veterans deserve to be paid compensation for their suffering after using the defective plugs.
Why The Earplugs Allegedly Cause Harm
- Hearing loss
- Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears
- Permanent hearing damage
- Deafness
Thousands of military members in conflict zones from 2003 to 2015, like Iraq and Afghanistan, employed 3M’s Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs which may have resulted in full or partial hearing loss, or tinnitus. The plugs were designed by Aero Technologies, a subsidiary of 3M, to protect against loud noises in the field while allowing soldiers to freely communicate with each other. In 2018 a whistleblower came forward to warn people of the design flaw. After the U.S. Department of Justice investigated the claims, $9.1 million was paid out by 3M to the federal government to resolve allegations that the conglomerate was aware of the flaw and supplied them regardless. The plugs have been discontinued.
What To Know About The 3M Lawsuit:
Internal 3M Documents Show A Strong Case For Negligence Documents and depositions have been unsealed by a presiding judge in one of the 3M lawsuits that appear to paint a damning portrait of the corporation’s sales tactics and safety efforts. Moreover, the U.S. military may not have known about the issue with the earplugs from the start, unlike 3M’s claim. 3M could not produce any call transcript or document indicating that any representative of the military had been informed.
3M Earplug Lawsuits Keep Coming In
Over 1,000 defective earplug lawsuits have been filed against 3M since January 2019, alleging that 3M knowingly supplied the U.S. military with protective earplugs. Many of these lawsuits have been integrated into multidistrict litigation (MDL) to speed the process up.
How To File A 3M Earplugs Lawsuit
To file a 3M earplugs lawsuit, potential plaintiffs are required to have a diagnosis from a registered doctor of tinnitus and/or hearing loss resulting in an impairment rating with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at or around the time of discharge from the military. The relevant frame of service is 2003 to 2015. If deemed eligible, servicemen and women may be entitled to compensation for their hearing loss.
The Russo Firm and 3M Earplug Lawsuits
The Russo Firm is currently investigating 3M Earplug lawsuits for individuals throughout the United States who may be entitled to financial compensation as a result of 3M’s failure to adequately warn about the risks associated with their defective product.
Contact Our Experienced 3M Earplug Litigation Lawyers For A Free Case Evaluation
If you or a loved one have suffered an injury as a result of using 3M earplugs, call The Russo Firm at 844-847-8300 or contact us online to talk with an experienced lawyer about your injuries. If you can’t travel to our office, we will come to you, or we can work by phone, fax, email, or other methods of communication. Remember, you pay no fee unless we obtain compensation for you.