3M Faces Potentially Billions in Liabilities Over Earplug Lawsuits:
We want to send our service members off to train and perform in combat with the best equipment possible. But what happens when the government relies on the safety of equipment that doesn’t perform as it should? This is the situation company 3M is facing related to its Combat Arms Earplugs, Version 2 (CAeV2), manufactured and provided to service members from 2003 to 2015. The earplugs were allegedly not long enough for the ear canal, unknowingly exposing service members to the sounds of aircraft, loud explosions, arms fire, and more. Now, 3M faces the largest federal class action lawsuit in U.S. history and potentially billions in liabilities.
The 3M Lawsuits
The whole earplug controversy began with a whistleblower. The anonymous claimant filed a qui tam lawsuit under the False Claims Act, federal legislation that allows someone with evidence of fraud against the government to sue on behalf of the U.S. government. Aero Technologies originally developed and manufactured the earplugs, and 3M purchased the company. In the qui tam suit, the whistleblower alleged that 3M knew the earplugs were defective.The U.S. Department of Justice intervened in the whistleblower suit, and 3M eventually settled with the government for $9.1 million. While the lawsuit was a good first step, it did nothing to compensate the many U.S. veterans and service members who suffered hearing loss because of the defective ear plugs. As a result, 3M now faces more than a quarter million lawsuits related to the ear plugs.
3M’s Potential Future Liabilities
In the first 16 trials selected to test the strength of the plaintiffs’ case against 3M, the plaintiffs have won ten verdicts totaling more than
$300 million
. That liability alone is a serious blow to 3M, but the company still faces hundreds of thousands more claims and lawsuits from veterans related to the earplugs. As the lawsuits progress, 3M’s could face billions of dollars in judgments.
You Need Experienced Legal Guidance
If you’re facing hearing loss or damage from 3M earplugs after serving in the military, you should discuss your options with a lawyer. At the Madeksho Law Firm, we fight hard for our clients, and we can help you too. We are still accepting these cases and will file your claim. Give us a call at 1-888-910-6376 or contact us online. Your initial consultation is free, and there's never a fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
