Our law firm is currently handling lawsuits on behalf of individuals who used 3M Dual-Ended Combat Arms V2 Earplugs from 3M and Aearo Technologies Inc. Users of the earplugs allege that the earplugs are defective and cause serious injuries, including tinnitus and hearing loss.
In 2003, the United States military purchased a line of earplugs called Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs. Combat Arms earplugs were originally produced by Aero Technologies, which was brought by 3M in 2008. 3M then sold the earplugs to all branches of the military. These earplugs were used exclusively by Armed Forces members in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Dual-Ended Combat Arms earplugs are intended to protect hearing while situated in loud environments by filtering out noises at certain decibel levels. 3M altered the design to shorten the earplugs because they did not comfortably fit when a helmet was worn simultaneously. This design modification resulted in the stem of the earplug being too short even for normal size ear canals. Because the earplug could not be inserted deeply into the ear, the seal did not provide adequate protection. Instead of blocking out loud noises from aircraft, artillery, and explosives, the earplugs may have caused hearing damage for hundreds of thousands of servicemen. Over 250,000 lawsuits have been filed against 3M, making it the largest mass tort litigation in history.
3M Combat Arms V2 Earplugs have been linked to hearing loss and tinnitus. The symptoms of tinnitus include:
If you or a loved one has been injured by 3M Earplugs, you may recover compensation for any or all of the following:
The Lake Law Firm was founded by Edward J. Lake, Esq., a personal injury lawyer for over 25 years. Our dedicated team of attorneys is committed to seeking justice on behalf of those who have suffered injury or death due to the negligence of others. Our experienced attorneys handle many different types of pharmaceutical drugs, medical devices, and other defective products. The lawyers in our firm have helped collect millions of dollars for their clients. The Lake Law Firm will advocate for you and your rights. Please contact us for a free confidential case evaluation.
In January 2019, plaintiffs filed a motion requesting that the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidate 3M defective earplug cases to a single federal court. The cases were consolidated in the Northern District of Florida.
In April 2021, the first bellwether trial led to a $7.1 million verdict for 3 plaintiffs, which included a $2.1 million award for punitive damages. The army veteran plaintiffs claimed that 3M failed to adequately warn them about flaws in the design that caused hearing loss.
In December 2021, a bellwether trial led to a $22.5 million award for the plaintiff. This was the largest victory to date against 3M for defective earplugs.
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