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The company originally known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, now known as 3M, produces a wide variety of products in different fields of industry, including worker safety and consumer goods. They offer many products in everything from electronics to various protective equipment and devices. It began its life as a mining venture in Minnesota in 1902 and later evolved into a variety of other manufacturing industries. By the 21st century, the company was well known for its devices in the area of personal safety and medicine, as well as electronics. One of its offerings included combat safety earplugs, which were issued to the military and intended to prevent hearing loss from close-range loud sounds from weapons fire and combat. Unfortunately, a defective design in one type of earplug issued to military personnel allowed the earplug to come loose in the ear canal, which allowed loud sounds to permeate to the eardrum. Many Servicemembers found themselves suffering from ailments such as hearing loss and tinnitus. Consequently, recent 3M earplug lawsuit updates state that 3M faced numerous class action lawsuits alleging damages stemming from the design. Read on to learn more.
Background of the 3M Earplug Lawsuit
The company developed the Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2 (CAEv2) for both military and civilian use. It was a double-ended earplug that 3M insisted would offer varying levels of protection in both combat situations and quieter situations. Between 2003 and 2015, these were standard-issue earplugs for members of the US military. However, in May 2016, a whistleblower complaint against 3M claimed that the company made false claims to the US government concerning the efficiency of the earplugs and their safety. The whistleblower stated that 3M knew there was a defective design in the earplug but still issued them. The first round of lawsuits from former military members who suffered hearing loss as a result of the use of the defective earplugs came in 2018, and several others followed suit. 3M agreed to pay $9.2 million to the US government over the allegations but did not admit liability in any 3M lawsuit update. Since 2018, over 140,000 3M earplug lawsuits from US military Veterans were filed against 3M. A recent 3M earplug lawsuit update states that 3M has settled close to 260,000 lawsuits by August 2023, totaling over $6 billion to current and former US military members who may have been affected by the defective design.
3M Earplug Lawsuit Update: What’s the Latest?
There have been many recent developments in the last six months concerning 3M earplug lawsuit updates.
September 28, 2024: 3M was denied an immediate appeal by the Delaware Superior Court in a dispute over personal injury litigation related to their comp combat earplugs. Judge Sheldon K. Rennie ruled that the company did not meet the standard for appeal.
October 1, 2004: Over 20,000 cases were dismissed against 3M, leaving 224,418 pending cases.
October 7, 2024: The Combat Arms Earplug Settlement Program reached an agreement affecting 110,400 claimants who use TRICARE benefits to treat their injuries.
November 27, 2024: 3M asked Judge Rogers to allow the release of settlement details from the $6 billion settlement agreement to the London arbitration tribunal. The arbitration set a 10-day hearing for March 2025.
December 2, 2024: A recent 3M earplug lawsuit update stated that no new lawsuits had been filed since early September of the same year.
December 11, 2024: The 3M settlement program announced an upcoming distribution of additional funds to eligible claimants who received point-based awards.
January 3, 2025: 3M settled another 24,000 lawsuits through the month of December, leaving only 124,143 total cases pending. According to a recent 3M settlement update, claimants in the ongoing lawsuits have received nearly $6 billion so far.
3M Ear Plugs Lawsuit Settlement: What You Need to Know
If you think you qualify as a claimant in the 3M earplugs lawsuit settlement, here are a few things you should keep in mind.
- To participate in a 3M lawsuit, you must first demonstrate that you served in the military between 2003 and 2015 and used the 3M CAEv2 earplugs during your service. You should have diagnosed hearing loss with evidence from a qualified medical professional, attributing the condition to the use of defective earplugs.
- You must provide your DD214 military service record and any Veterans Administration records to support your claim.
- The potential for settlement might vary, depending on particular circumstances, but large class action settlements have thus far been reached in the 3M earplug lawsuits, meaning that many claims receive compensation without having to go to trial. 3M has not challenged many of the settlements, especially after a whistleblower provided internal email evidence that the company knew of problems with the device, and so we can expect that future litigation in 3M earplug lawsuits will likely never go to trial but instead will be settled out of court.
3M Earplug Settlement: What Comes Next?
If you decide to pursue any type of litigation against 3M concerning possible hearing loss, according to recent 3M earplug lawsuit updates, you must be prepared to do the following:
- Consult a lawyer with experience. Lawsuits of these natures are typically complex, and it is highly recommended that you consult with a lawyer specializing in product liability cases, who can assess your eligibility and guide you through the 3M ear plugs lawsuit settlement process.
- Statute of limitations. There are many deadlines to file your claim and limitations on when you can bring a lawsuit to court. This usually happens 2–4 years after the injury, and if you miss the deadline, your lawsuit may be dismissed. The deadline to register for the settlement was January 25, 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 3M Lawsuit
The following are some of the more common questions others have concerning this lawsuit.
The 3M earplug lawsuit centers around allegations that 3M knowingly sold defective combat earplugs to the US military, resulting in preventable hearing loss for too many Servicemembers in the military between 2003 and 2015. The 3M ear plugs lawsuit settlement process seeks compensation for pain and suffering, medical treatments, and emotional damage as a result of injury from the defective earplugs.
The 3M earplug lawsuit centers around allegations that 3M knowingly sold defective combat earplugs to the US military, resulting in preventable hearing loss for too many Servicemembers in the military between 2003 and 2015. The 3M ear plugs lawsuit settlement process seeks compensation for pain and suffering, medical treatments, and emotional damage as a result of injury from the defective earplugs.
To file a claim against 3M, the following must be true:
- You served in the US military between 2003 and 2015.
- You were issued and used the dual sided 3M Combat Arms Earplugs version 2.
- You were diagnosed with hearing related injury by a qualified medical professional.
- If you are a Veteran, you must have been honorably discharged.
The individual should first gather all evidence to file a lawsuit claim, which includes their DD214 or official service record, VA record, and medical records establishing that they have an injury due to the use of the earplugs, and then contact a qualified law firm that specializes in legal action of the sort.
So far around $6 billion in 3M ear plugs lawsuit settlements have been paid out, according to a recent 3M earplug lawsuit update. The amount the individual claimant might receive will vary depending on their particular circumstances and conditions but might range from anywhere between $7,000 and $700,000. The 3M settlement update states that the average payout is around $20,000.
This depends on several factors, including the type of claim, the stage of the lawsuit, and the claimant’s eligibility for settlement. The majority of claims have been successful, however.
So far over 250,000 claimants have filed lawsuits against 3M.
As mentioned above, to file for a 3M earplug settlement, the claimant should bring their military service record, VA records, and medical evidence from a qualified medical professional, stating that the claimant has hearing injury, likely caused by time spent in the military and exposure to loud sounds without proper protection.
The statute of limitations is rapidly approaching. It is likely that the lawsuits will not continue in 2025.
Despite the company’s willingness to settle claims, 3M has not admitted any wrongdoing in any 3M lawsuit update.
Regrettably, the final filing date occurred in January 2024. However, many lawsuits were filed at the time or are still ongoing, according to a recent 3M earplug lawsuit update.
