4 Facts to Know About the Lawsuit Against 3M's Earplugs

While veterans sacrificed everything they had for their nation, not all of these honorable folks are experiencing the same quality of life that many of the rest of us are. Many veterans in Washington, D.C. are homeless in addition to living without their former hearing abilities.

The hearing loss issue occurred because some of the earplugs they used were defective, and this is affecting hundreds of veterans across the country. Unfortunately, the homeless issue may affect what they can do about it.

If veterans used Combat Arms dual-ended earplugs that were defective during their time in service, they are qualified to file a lawsuit because there was not a tight enough seal on the earplugs. The loose seal caused them to allow extremely loud noises to slip in without the soldier being aware.

1. It Affected Soldiers Who Served Abroad Between the Years 2002 and 2016

The devices were in use from 2002 to 2016 and affected a lot of soldiers. Hundreds have filed lawsuits already because the defective earplugs are believed to have caused tinnitus, loss of balance, and extreme hearing loss for thousands of veterans and have likely caused damaged hearing for millions more.

They were issued for use in the War in Afghanistan, the Iraq War, the American-led involvement in Libya, the War in Somalia, the Indian Ocean Operation Ocean Shield, American-led involvement in Iraq, the Yemeni Civil War, the American-led involvement in Syria, the War on Terror (War in North-West Pakistan), and the American involvement in Libya.

2. There Was a Failure to Warn and a Lack of Instructions

As a company, 3M was aware that their trademarked earplugs were faulty, but they did not issue a proper warning or use instructions to go along with them. This is why the U.S. Department of Justice filed the lawsuit against 3M in July 2018, which resulted in a $9.1 million settlement.

Though the case was concluded, the claims were only left as assertions, and there was no final liability determination. According to the False Claims Act, the American government permits private parties to sue if a false claim was made to obtain government capital. The lawsuit states that 3M knew about the defects in 2000, well before they began exclusively providing the earplugs to the military.

3. Veterans Could Qualify for Substantial Compensation

If you served, or know someone who served, between the years 2002 and 2016, used the 3M Combat Arms earplugs that were issued by the military, and experienced tinnitus, balance, or hearing loss following the use, then you might qualify. The model of the earplugs was CAEv2 (the Combat Arms Version 2.)

4. Veterans Frequently Struggle with Hearing Loss

Millions of former military soldiers have to deal with the significant and life-altering problem of hearing loss. It goes beyond just a struggle to hear and can result in other issues like depression, anxiety, and can play a big part in decreasing a veteran’s quality of life. Those who are homeless on top of experiencing hearing loss can still obtain legal help through city agencies.

In short, if you know someone who is suffering from 3M’s defective earplugs or are experiencing trauma from them yourself, don’t hesitate to move forward with the legal process. Those who have to live with serious tinnitus or hearing loss after using these devices should be rightfully compensated for their injuries.