Veterans Hearing Loss Lawsuit
MILITARY SERVICEMEMBERS LEFT BEHIND
A recent settlement in a False Claims Act case has brought to light that 3M knowingly sold defective and dangerous earplugs to the United States Military for use by service members. Between the years 2003 and 2015, 3M provided its Version 2 Combat Arms™ Earplugs to the US government pursuant to a contract.
Those who served our country and were injured by 3M’s wrongful conduct deserve justice and this is why we are evaluating claims and seeking compensation for thousands of veterans across the United States. If you are a service member who has hearing loss or tinnitus and used 3M’s™ Combat Arms™ Earplug Version 2, contact us for a no-cost, no-obligation, confidential consultation and we can provide options in seeking compensation for your injuries.
HOW DO 3M EARPLUGS CAUSE HARM?
The 3M™ Combat Arms™ Earplug Version 2 are two-sided earplugs, and each side is meant to perform a different protective function and prevent hearing loss or tinnitus. The olive-green side was meant to block out all sound no matter the volume level. The yellow side of the Combat Arms™ Earplug was intended to block out sound of a certain volume level, common to combat and military operations, that are known to cause hearing loss or tinnitus while still allowing service members to hear conversations and commands. The sounds of a certain decibel include gunfire, explosions, and other dangerously loud noises common in combat situations. The Combat Arms™ Earplugs were meant to incorporate a special shape that would function to block out these weaponry noises and the like while allowing service members to communicate effectively on the battlefield. But, because they were too short, the Combat Arms™ Earplugs had the tendency to imperceptibly shift in the ear, causing them to become loose and not provide the necessary protection from gunfire and other combat noise. This product defect resulted in pain, injury and numerous medical bills for thousands of military personnel.
HEARING LOSS & TINNITUS
Many service members who wore and trusted the 3M combat earplugs have been diagnosed and treated for hearing loss and tinnitus. Common symptoms of hearing loss include muffled speech, difficulty hearing against background noise or in a crowd, frequently asking others to repeat what they’re saying and speak slower and louder, needing to increase the volume on the TV or radio, challenges hearing consonants, and withdrawing from conversations or avoiding social settings. The symptoms of tinnitus include persistent noise, ringing, buzzing or hissing in the ears. Both of these conditions are serious, and can be permanent. Those who suffer due to 3M’s greed deserve to be compensated.
3M DECEIVED SERVICEMEMBERS
3M and Aearo Technologies (its predecessor) knew that the earplugs were too short to accomplish either the complete sound blocking function or the function to block out gunfire and other damaging noises. Despite these companies knowing that the earplugs were defective and could be causing physical harm to military service members using them in combat situations, the defects in the products were never disclosed to the government. 3M failed to warn the users of the earplugs their true performance characteristics on packaging or warnings.
In 2016, a whistleblower who worked for Aearo filed a case on behalf of the United States Government and the Department of Defense alleging that 3M know about the flaws in its earplugs as early as 2000, but hid this fact from the military in order to sell tens of thousands of pairs of faulty earplugs pursuant to an exclusive contract. In July 2018, 3M agreed to pay more than $9 million to the Department of Justice to resolve these allegations.
Now, thousands of veterans are pursuing cases against 3M for the injuries they sustained as a result of 3M’s wrongful and illegal conduct. By order of the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, cases are being consolidated in the United States Federal Court for the Northern District of Florida, the Honorable Casey Rodgers (a combat veteran herself) presiding.
DO I QUALIFY FOR COMPENSATION?
In order to participate in the 3M lawsuit, you must meet the following criteria –
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- ✓ Used 3M™ Combat Arms™ Earplug Version 2 during training or service
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- ✓ Diagnosed with hearing loss or tinnitus
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- ✓ Served in the U.S. military between 2003 and 2015
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TAKE LEGAL ACTION
Thousands of veterans are suing over these defective combat earplugs and are receiving disability compensation for hearing loss or tinnitus. If you have suffered because of 3M’s negligence and greed, contact us before the claim deadline to discuss your case. You deserve to be compensated for everything you’ve been through.
We are already representing thousands of service members in this lawsuit – we are ready to help you too. Contact us for a free, confidential consultation to see if you qualify for compensation.
3M LAWSUIT FAQS
You likely qualify to participate in the litigation if (1) you served between 2003 and 2015, (2) you used the 3M dual-sided earplugs, and (3) you have experienced or been diagnosed with tinnitus or hearing loss. Contact us today to find out.
Contact us today so that we can confirm that you qualify. Our team will provide a quick, free, and confidential consultation. If you qualify, we will provide you with a standard representation agreement and intake questionnaire. These documents will allow us to begin the process of representing you in the 3M Earplug Litigation and ensuring that you can receive monetary compensation when the litigation resolves.
3M’s conduct and liability are outside the benefits the VA provides to compensate service members for health conditions and your ability to qualify for compensation under the 3M Earplug Litigation should not depend on whether or not you are currently receiving benefits. Also, you participation in the Litigation should not affect any VA benefits you current receive.
We have spoken with and represent service members who have experienced tinnitus or hearing loss in connection with their service, but have not received an official diagnosis by the VA. This can be for a variety of reasons, and is not necessarily a bar to your participation in the 3M Earplug Litigation. Contact us today so that we can answer your questions and see if you qualify.
Even if your use of the 3M dual-sided earplugs was during training, at gun ranges, or in other applications, you still qualify to participate in the litigation.
CONTACT US FOR A FREE CASE EVALUATION
If you have been affected by 3M™ Combat Arms™ Earplugs, contact the attorneys at Price Armstrong. We represent clients nationwide from our three offices in Birmingham, AL, Tallahassee, FL and Albany, GA. We can help you seek justice and protect your rights throughout the process. Call us today at (205) 208-9588 for a free initial consultation and review of your case. Let us fight for you – call now!
