October 8, 2021 — A jury in Florida has awarded $8.2 million to a U.S. Army veteran who suffered hearing loss after using earplugs made by 3M.
The plaintiff in the trial is a 35 year-old man from Tacoma, Washington, who developed tinnitus and hearing loss after using 3M earplugs while serving in the Army from 2004 to 2009.
After a 2-week trial in September, he was awarded the biggest verdict yet against 3M in the mass-tort litigation over the earplugs, which are also known as Combat Arms Earplug version 2 (CAEv2).
Lawyers convinced the jury that the earplugs were defective because they could loosen in a user’s ear canal, failing to protect them from loud noises. The jury found 3M to be 100% liable for his injuries.
His lawsuit was the fourth to to to trial out of more than 259,000 cases pending against 3M in the Multi-District Litigation (MDL).
3M has already lost two previous trials involving military earplugs. In April of this year, three servicemen were awarded $7.1 million. Two months later, another veteran was awarded $1.7 million.
Unless a settlement is reached, 3M is scheduled to face 11 more trials through May 2022, with the next trial set for October 18, 2021.
The MDL is 3M Combat Arms Earplug Products Liability Litigation in the U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida — Case No. 19-MD-2885.
Do I have a 3M Earplugs Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting 3M earplugs induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know is a military service member who was diagnosed with hearing loss or tinnitus after 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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