Espanol
Home > Practice Areas > 3M Earplug Lawsuit

Nationwide Product Lawyers Could Help With Your 3M Earplug Claim

In 2018, company 3M settled a lawsuit with the United States government for $9.1 million. 3M manufactured earplugs, specifically the Combat Arms Earplugs, Version 2 (CAEv2), and sold them to the United States military. The lawsuit was brought under the False Claims Act and alleged that the combat earplugs were defective. It also alleged that 3M had known about the defect since 2000, leaving it undisclosed to the military and falsifying a certification that the earplugs complied with military standards.

3M’s settlement with the government does not cover damages to the military men, women and contractors who used these earplugs and suffered serious hearing-related ear injuries. United States servicemembers, veterans and military contractors who have been injured have the right to pursue compensatory damages against 3M.

3M Military Earplug Defects

Combat Arms Earplugs have a dual-ended design. The yellow side was designed to allow the wearer to hear low-level sounds. The green side was designed to block noise. Manufactured to provide protection against loud, combat-related noises, they have a design flaw. In combat situations, the earplugs could loosen in the ear unnoticed by the wearer. Without proper protection, many servicemembers suffered serious and permanent ear injuries.

Do I Have a Viable 3M Earplug Case to Recover Compensation?

We do not know how many active servicemembers, veterans and military contractors have been injured by 3M’s earplugs. It is estimated that more than two million pairs of Combat Arms Earplugs were manufactured and sold to the military. The Combat Arms Earplugs were military standard issue between 2001 and 2016.

Many military personnel, veterans and military contractors have already filed claims against 3M for serious ear injuries. Whether you have a viable claim against 3M will depend on your specific situation. You could have a claim if you:

  • Served in the military or were a military contractor between 2001 and 2016
  • Used military standard earplugs
  • Have been diagnosed with hearing-related injuries
  • Suffer from hearing-related injury symptoms

Defective Earplug Symptoms

According to the Mayo Clinic, you may be suffering from hearing loss if you are experiencing one or more of the following symptoms:

  • You experience tinnitus, or ringing in your ears
  • You experience vertigo, or a sensation of balance loss
  • You hear muffled speech and noises
  • You often ask people to repeat themselves
  • You increase the volume on electronic devices

Hearing loss is a serious injury. It can affect your everyday life, making it difficult to interact with others and leading to feelings of depression and isolation or even flashbacks to combat situations.

We recommend that you speak with an experienced lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your injuries. Our Miami product liability lawyers can help you determine whether you have a viable claim and may be entitled to seek compensation.

Need Help Filing a 3M Earplug Claim? Call Our Nationwide Product Liability Lawyers

Colson Hicks Eidson has decades of extensive experience and success handling defective product claims against large corporations like 3M. A Miami-based law firm, we handle multi-district and mass tort litigation nationwide.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with an ear injury, such as hearing loss, or if you believe you have suffered damages due to 3M military earplugs, contact us today at 305-476-7400. We will provide you with a free case evaluation and help you understand your legal options for your specific situation.

Practice Areas

    ×