After failing to use bankruptcy court to escape financial liability, 3M has agreed to pay more than $6 billion to settle nearly 260,000 defective military earplug lawsuits. The settlement will be paid over the next five years, with details still needing to be finalized and announced to the public. It represents a hard-fought victory for the thousands of men and women who suffered life-altering hearing injuries serving and protecting this country.
U.S. military service members from across the country piled lawsuits against 3M, alleging that the company knowingly sold defective earplugs to the military. The Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs (v.2) were unable to completely mute loud noises and could slip loose with regular use, resulting in a high risk of deafness, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The defective earplugs were mostly used between 2003 and 2015, especially in combat areas of Afghanistan and Iraq.
Before the settlement deal was reached, 3M had lost 10 of 16 previous defective military earplug cases that reached trial. The corporation attempted to use bankruptcy to shrink its liability in those losses and potential future losses, but the bankruptcy attempt was dismissed in June.
For more information about the landmark $6-billion settlement between 3M and military earplug claimants, you can click here to view a full article from Reuters®.
Can You File a 3M Earplug Hearing Loss Lawsuit?
Yes, you may be able to still file a 3M earplug hearing loss lawsuit. Even though 3M has agreed to a $6-billion settlement fund for defective military earplug claimants who lost their hearing, claimants can still come forward and take legal action.
If you lost your hearing or suffer from tinnitus after using a Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplug from 3M, contact Robert Peirce & Associates, P.C. right now. You could still have a limited window to start a claim and demand your fair portion of the settlement. We are honored to handle these cases for military service members and veterans who were affected by 3M’s unsafe product design and misleading marketing. Our main office is in Pittsburgh, but we can help 3M earplug lawsuit clients nationwide.
Call (844) 383-0565 to schedule a completely free and confidential case consultation with our firm.