June 21, 2021 — The 3rd trial involving 3M’s Combat Arms Earplugs has ended with an infantryman being awarded $1.7 million by a jury in Florida.
The jury decided that 3M was 62% responsible for the man’s injuries, or about $1 million.
The lawsuit was filed by Lloyd B., a former infantryman and M240 machine gun operator who was diagnosed with hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) in both of his ears in 2009.
He developed hearing loss despite wearing 3M’s earplugs during training at Fort Lewis in Washington state in 2005 and 2006, where explosives were set off inside buildings to simulate city combat.
He was also deployed to Iraq, where he continued to be exposed to loud noises. Unfortunately, he was not aware that 3M’s earplugs could loosen and fail to protect his ears from damaging noises.
3M has been hit with around 230,000 lawsuits from military members who lost their hearing, developed tinnitus, or suffered other hearing problems despite wearing the earplugs.
Those cases are currently centralized in a federal Multi-District Litigation (MDL) in Florida. The $1.7 million verdict was awarded in the third “bellwether” trial in the MDL. The first trial ended in a separate jury awarding $7.1 million to three veterans who lost their hearing. The second trial ended in a defense verdict in favor of 3M last month.
The lawsuits are centralized in in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida — 3M Combat Arms Earplug Products Liability Litigation — Case Number 3:19-MD-02885.
Do I have a 3M Earplug Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting 3M earplug induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know is a military veteran who lost their hearing despite using 3M earplugs, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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