To soldiers in the military, earplugs are just as fundamental of safety accessories as helmets and protective eyewear. Large explosions, automatic gunfire, aircraft, and other loud noises in the field can be up to twice the level that causes hearing loss. Unfortunately, many US veterans who served in Afghanistan and other warzones suffered extensive hearing damage due to the defective 3M earplugs they were issued.
3M earplug lawsuit
After the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, the US military required all soldiers to wear 3M Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs (CAEv2) during both their training and combat. These earplugs are now at the center of an investigation due to a mass tort lawsuit filed in April 2019.
The lawsuit states that not only are the 3M earplugs faulty but also that manufacturers had been aware of the defective design as early as 2000 and continued to produce them, regardless. The earplugs were constructed with dual ends, one to block ambient noise and the other to completely block out all sound. According to the case, the stem connecting these two ends of the earplugs was made too short and therefore did not provide a proper protective seal to combat hearing issues.
Sergeant First Class Jeremy Titus served with the US Army in Iraq from 2006-2007, and Afghanistan from 2008-2009, and was diagnosed with hearing loss when returning home from combat. He was equipped with his Army-issued 3M Dual-Ended earplugs to seemingly protect his ears.
Almost a year after the initial filing, hundreds of pages of newly unsealed documents were added as evidence in the 3M lawsuits during April 2020. These documents reveal that 3M employees disregarded even considering being truthful about potentially faulty product design. Evidence also showed employees joking about the large profit margins 3M would receive from selling the earplugs to the US Department of Defense.
How we can help you
If you or someone you loved served in the US Military and suffered hearing damage after using 3M Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs (CAEv2), you may qualify for compensation.
You may be eligible to enter the 3M earplug lawsuit if you:
- Served in the U.S. military any time from 2003 – 2015
- Used 3M’s Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs (CAEv2) during that time
- Suffer from hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
The defective 3M earplugs were issued to soldiers in training and serving in Afghanistan and other combat zones including:
- Iraq
- Libya
- Pakistan
- Somalia
- The Indian Ocean
Our experienced attorneys at Kwartler Manus, LLC have an extensive background handling mass tort lawsuits such as this and will help you through the complicated process. If you or a loved one have developed hearing damage after wearing 3M earplugs in the above situations, contact us today online or by phone at (267) 457-5570.