March 1, 2019 — Hundreds of veterans have filed lawsuits for hearing loss they suffered after using 3M Combat Arms earplugs during military service between 2003 and 2015.
One recent lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri by Jonathan F., a veteran who joined the Army Reserves in 2007 and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2011 and 2012.
He was issued 3M’s dual-ended Combat Arms earplugs — like millions of other veterans — and he wore them during training and in the field during his military service. He was diagnosed with tinnitus (persistent ringing sounds in the ears) in 2014 after his service.
The lawsuits allege that 3M’s dual-sided earplugs were too short to properly fit some users’ ear canals. The earplugs failed to maintain a tight seal and would loosen without the user realizing it — allowing dangerously loud sounds to cause hearing damage, lawsuits claim.
3M previously agreed to pay $9.1 million to the Justice Department to settle allegations that it knowingly sold earplugs without disclosing design defects that decreased hearing protection for many users.
Combat Arms earplugs were created by Aearo Technologies and sold to the military in 2003. After 3M acquired Aearo Technologies, the earplugs continued to by supplied as standard equipment to nearly every service member in the U.S. military until 2015, when the earplugs were discontinued by 3M. The earplugs were never recalled.
Do I have a 3M Military Earplug Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting 3M Combat Arms Earplug induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know is a military veteran who was diagnosed with hearing loss or tinnitus after serving between 2003 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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