US-government contractor and mega-corporation 3M sold defective dual-ended military earplugs to the Defense Logistics Agency. These earplugs were standard-issue to American service members throughout 2002 and 2015 during the global War on Terror.
Unfortunately, this problem was severely widespread and affected all major branches of the U.S. military. The 3M earplugs had a design defect that makes it inadequate to actually protect hearing because much of the time it would not secure properly inside our soldiers’ ears as promised.
In layman’s terms, these 3M earplugs were far too small and short to actually form the proper seal around the ear canal, exposing thousands, if not millions, of our American service members to hazardous hearing scenarios without real-ear protection.
Now, many attorneys are filing claims on behalf of veterans alleging that 3M KNEW these earplugs were defective and purposefully deceived the American military to make an extra buck.
3M Earplug Design Issues
- Yellow end: This was the “open” side that was supposed to be used for only high-level noises but still allowed low-level sounds through. Many say they’d use it for sleeping since it was partially unblocked. It was meant to let in a certain amount of noise so soldiers could still be aware of their surroundings and any potential threats.
- Green end (olive end): The closed side was meant to be used during combat situations when loud noises were expected. This side was supposed to block most noise significantly so soldiers could focus on their missions and be protected from hearing loss damage.
Service Members and Veterans Most Likely Affected by Defective 3M Earplugs
If you are a United States military personnel who received government-issued earplugs, you might be affected by the damage these defective devices caused.
The Department of Defense distributed hundreds of millions of CAEv2 devices to service personnel and veterans in the United States and abroad. In addition, 3M Company sold these gadgets for civilian commercial uses, including those by the U.S. Border Patrol.
3M Corp knew of the risks and dangers these faulty designs posed to consumers. Despite this, they failed to warn military personnel and civilians of the potential hearing loss and damage they might experience.
As a result, many have suffered from tinnitus (a ringing in the ears), permanent hearing loss, and other significant injuries.
How to qualify for 3M defective earplugs lawsuit and hearing loss
If you served in the United States military at any time between 2003 and 2015 and were issued CAEv2 earplugs, you may be eligible to file a claim.
You may be able to receive compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Affected service members and veterans have several years to file a claim, but it is important to act quickly. If you wait too long, you may miss your chance to recover the compensation you deserve.
How do I file a 3M earplug lawsuit?
If you served in the United States military at any time between 2003 and 2015 and were issued CAEv2 earplugs and now have hearing loss and/or tinnitus complications, you may be eligible to file a claim.
Which earplugs are in the 3M lawsuit?
The earplugs in question are the 3M Combat Arms Earplugs, Version 2 (CAEv2). These earplugs were standard-issue to American soldiers from 2003 to 2015. They often featured a yellow and olive green dual-head design.
Is the 3M earplug lawsuit legitimate?
The 3M earplug lawsuit is a class-action lawsuit against the 3M Company. The lawsuit claims that the company knowingly sold defective earplugs to the U.S. military without disclosing the defects.
The lawsuit claims that the earplugs did not work as advertised and that 3M knew about the defects but covered them up. The lawsuit also claims that soldiers who used the earplugs are now suffering from hearing loss and tinnitus.
How much are veterans getting for 3M earplug lawsuit?
A Federal Court jury awarded around $7 million in compensation for a few veterans who suffered hearing loss related to the defective earplugs in May 2021.
How many veterans are suing 3M?
Dating back to March 2022, there were close to 300,000 EM earplugs lawsuits already filed! However, we believe this number should probably be a lot higher because over a million veterans have filed for VA service-connected disability compensation due to hearing loss and deafness issues that arose during service.
