3M Military Earplugs Lawsuit

UPDATE: On July 24, 2020, a judge denied 3M’s attempt to hide behind a government contractor defense, allowing thousands of lawsuits on behalf of injured vets to proceed.

Do you currently serve, or have you completed service in the military while experiencing hearing loss or tinnitus, and remember using two-sided earplugs in training or combat situations? During your service, you probably talked with your battalion members about the “yellow and olive green” earplugs, which many now recognize as the cause of their injuries.

The Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2 (CAEv2) earplugs, currently under investigation, were produced by the international conglomerate 3M. The Minnesota-based company settled with the U.S. government for $9.1 million last year because it did not reveal design flaws in earplugs that led to their reduced performance and injured thousands of service members.

Searcy Denney attorneys provide free case evaluations to veterans diagnosed with hearing loss or tinnitus from using government-issued earplugs. Our firm offers a free private legal consultation to individuals affected by this dangerous product, so please reach out to us today. It is essential to get compensated for your injuries while we collectively work to prevent those who endanger our armed forces for financial gain.

3M Earplug Lawyer

Reach out to Searcy Denney’s legal team today by calling (800) 780-8607. Your initial case review will remain confidential and won’t be disclosed to the military or the U.S. government.

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3M & Aearo Technologies Fail to Deliver on Earplug Claims

Aearo Technologies (which was ultimately acquired by 3M) secured a U.S. government contract by claiming that they developed superior dual-ended earplugs called “selective attenuation earplugs.” The yellow side or “open end” permitted entry for low-level sounds such as voice commands, while the dark olive green side or “closed end” blocked both high and low-level noises.

The objective was to create ear protection that enabled team communication and low-frequency hearing through one side and provided enhanced protection against combat gunfire and training noises through the opposite side.

3M’s Defective Design and Unreliable Testing Process Lead to Numerous Injured Service Members

Unfortunately, the earplugs were defectively designed. The testing procedures revealed that the earplugs were too short to adequately fit inside the ear canal and create a complete seal against damaging noise. Because of this, the earplugs fit loosely. An external inspection could not reveal that the earplugs failed to seal the ear canal properly, which led to explosive noise exposure that injured U.S. soldiers.

Instead of fixing the design flaw, 3M and Aearo Technologies personnel modified the fitting procedure to ensure the earplugs fit deeply into the ear canal of the test subjects. Aero staff members made the earplugs seal the ear by folding back the yellow flanges, which increased the length of the open end. The military personnel using these earplugs during training and combat operations were not informed about this modification.

The U.S. government acquired earplugs from 3M and Aearo Technologies despite their knowledge about the product’s design flaws, which would later become standard protective gear for millions of military personnel.

Injuries From 3M’s Dual-Sided Earplugs

Many military personnel experienced serious hearing damage from 3M’s combat earplugs, including hearing loss and tinnitus. The defective earplugs produced by 3M appear to be responsible for these injuries.

Loss of Hearing

Members of the military face consistent encounters with high decibel levels during combat scenarios and training exercises. Noise levels above 85 dB can lead to hearing loss, and service members need proper ear protection to carry out their duties effectively.

Bomb explosions and gunfire create noise levels that damage cochlear nerve cells or inner ear hairs. Damage to these fragile structures disrupts electrical signal transmission to the brain and results in hearing impairment.

Tinnitus

A physician can test for hearing loss, but there is no examination that can detect tinnitus. A patient receives a tinnitus diagnosis after responding to a series of questions from their treating doctor.

The primary cause of tinnitus is damage to the inner ear’s delicate hair cells, which detect sound waves. Injury to these cells can cause them to transmit “noise signals” to the brain even when there are no actual sounds.

Tinnitus symptoms manifest as multiple noise types that patients hear within their ears.

• Ringing
• Roaring
• Buzzing
• Hissing
• Humming
• Clicking

Many individuals face severe consequences from tinnitus or hearing loss that extend to their mental and emotional health. Tinnitus has been linked to anxiety and depression while potentially increasing suicide rates among war veterans. Several veterans face barriers to civilian jobs because earplug-related hearing damage prevents them from obtaining pilot licenses.

The Veterans Association reports hearing loss and tinnitus as the two most common injuries sustained by veterans. Military veterans who served in the Iraq War following the September 11th attacks face a four times higher risk of hearing impairment, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The U.S. military engaged 3M as a defense contractor to supply defective earplugs to military personnel from 2003 to 2015.

Many service members across the United States have developed tinnitus and hearing loss because of defective earplugs manufactured by 3M.

Reach Out to Us if You’ve Received a Medical Diagnosis for Tinnitus or Hearing Loss

We know many honorable people who suffer because of 3M and Aearo Technologies’ negligence, and we want to support you. The legal team at Searcy Denney invites active duty personnel from 2003 to 2015 who used 3M’s earplugs and have doctor-diagnosed tinnitus or hearing loss to call them at (800) 780-8607 today. All legal consultations are strictly confidential, and your first case assessment will remain hidden from both military authorities and the U.S. government.

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FAQs

Who May Have Been Affected by the Defective Earplugs?

The affected population includes military personnel from different branches who completed service tours in the Middle East during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom from 2003 to 2015. During this period of deployment, each soldier received one pair of 3M earplugs, which resulted in up to 2.2 million pairs being distributed.

Approximately 1.5 million members of the U.S. military who used earplugs might receive compensation for their injuries.

A condensed list shows the military units likely affected by the issue. Please note: this list is not complete. Deployment with any of the listed military forces may have exposed you or your loved one to injuries from 3M’s defective earplugs.

• The First Marine Expeditionary Force, with 50,000 Marines, approximately.
• The Army’s V Corps, based in Heidelberg, Germany. V Corps commander Lt. Gen. William Wallace was placed in charge of all Army units taking part in the invasion. V Corps personnel numbered some 35,000 and included engineering, military police, air defense, and helicopter attack units.
• The 82nd Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. These units fought in central and northern Iraq.
• The Army’s 101st Airborne Division, with a total of 19,000 personnel and about 280 helicopters. This unit was deployed via aircraft in both northern and southern Iraq.
• The Army’s Third Infantry Division, a mechanized unit with 16,500 soldiers, dozens of Apache attack and Kiowa Warrior scout helicopters, and hundreds of M1A1 Abrams tanks and M2A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.

Are We Suing the Military or the United States Government?

Absolutely not. Troop-provided dual-ended earplugs contained dangerous defects that the military was unaware of. The lawsuit targets private manufacturers that deliberately sold defective earplugs to make substantial profits. This lawsuit focuses on Aearo Technologies and 3M as the primary defendants.

Why Take Legal Action Against 3M?

People reach out to us by saying they “are not the suing type” without regard to their professional background or gender. The advertisements you have encountered about this issue are everywhere, from Facebook to news broadcasts, before you found this page.

Pursuing legal action against the company will not provide medical solutions for your tinnitus or hearing loss. However, financial compensation provides multiple benefits that can assist both you and your family members. Legal assistance can provide significant benefits, including access to exclusive medical treatments and contributions to retirement funds.

Your case could result in compensation for your injuries and force the manufacturers to take responsibility for their negligent and careless behavior to prevent future incidents.

You are under no obligation to decide whether to file a lawsuit at this time since you are not required to make any immediate decision. Our attorneys can assist you in determining the optimal course of action for both you and your family members. People generally make their decision about pursuing a case once they have completed their legal consultation.

Searcy Denney’s 3M Earplug Lawsuit Attorneys Are Here for You

Your hearing loss following military service while using 3M dual-ended earplugs represents more than a noble sacrifice. 3M is accused of deliberately selling flawed earplugs to the U.S. government, specifically for combat military use.

Get in touch with Searcy Denney attorneys now at (800) 780-8607 to receive a complimentary, confidential assessment of your case. Your legal rights protect your losses, and we stand ready to seek full compensation for your sacrifice.