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3M Earplug Class Action Lawsuit

3M Earplug Class Action Lawsuit

Lawsuits are being filed for veterans or active duty military member who suffered hearing loss after using 3M earplugs between 2003 and 2015.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting 3M earplug induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know is a veteran or active duty military member who was diagnosed with hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in the ears), 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.

UPDATE: 3M Reaches $6 Billion Settlement in 240,000 Earplug Lawsuits

In August 2023, 3M announced that it agreed to pay a $6 billion settlement in more than 260,000 lawsuits involving hearing loss from military earplugs.

The settlement will resolve the largest mass-tort litigation in U.S. history, which involved hundreds of thousands of lawsuits that were centralized in a MDL in Florida.

3M Military Earplug MDL Now Involves 240,000 Hearing Loss Claims

As of May 2021, around 240,000 military servicemen and women have registered to claim they suffered hearing loss and/or tinnitus from 3M’s dual-ended Combat Arms earplugs. Instead of a class action, the cases are centralized in Multidistrict Litigation (MDL No. 2885) – 3M Combat Arms Earplugs Products Liability Litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida.

3M Earplugs Settlement

In July 2018, the Department of Justice announced that it reached a $9.1 million settlement to resolve allegations that 3M knowingly sold defective earplugs to the military.

Lawsuit Claims 3M Sold Defective Military Earplugs

The DoJ claimed that 3M and its predecessor, Aearo Technologies Inc., knew as early as 2000 that the Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2 (CAEv2) were too short — allowing the earplugs to slowly loosen and fail to protect a user’s ears from dangerous noises.

Military Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is one of the most devastating long-term side effects of military service. It is usually caused by dangerous levels of noise from gunshots, explosions, aircraft, roadside bombs, or heavy equipment.

Complications of Hearing Loss

People who suffer from tinnitus (ringing in the ears) may have trouble concentrating or sleeping due to the noise. This can exacerbate depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) because it is difficult to hear conversations and maintain social relationships.

Disability Benefits for Hearing Loss

Noise-induced hearing loss is a permanent disability, but it can sometimes be rehabilitated with hearing aids. Hearing loss usually make it difficult to find employment, work in jobs that require good hearing, or go to school to develop new skills. This is why over 2.7 million veterans get disability benefits for hearing loss.

What is the problem?

Thousands of military members were issued defective earplugs that may have caused severe long-term hearing problems. Instead of a class action, our lawyers are filing individual lawsuits against 3M.

Military Hearing Loss Lawsuits

Veterans and active duty military members may be eligible to join a lawsuit if they were issued 3M Combat Arms Earplugs (CAEv2) during 2002 and 2015 and suffered any of the following injuries:

  • Deafness
  • Hearing loss
  • Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
  • Other hearing problems

About Class Actions

Class actions are useful when a lot of people have a similar legal claim and everyone is seeking a relatively minor payout, such as a refund for purchasing a product based on false advertising. However, when a lot of people have very serious injuries, class actions can have disadvantages for individuals with the most serious legal claims.

Why Our Lawyers are Filing Individual Lawsuits as Opposed to a Class Action

Instead of a class action, our lawyers are filing individual lawsuits so we can focus on helping people with the most serious injuries — including permanent hearing loss or deafness — seek compensation for their disability, lost income or lifelong earning potential, medical expenses, pain and suffering, decreased quality of life, and more.

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 veteran or active duty military member who suffered hearing loss after using 3M earplugs between 2002 and 2015, 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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