Veterans and active military personnel nationwide have filed lawsuits against 3M, claiming the company knowingly distributed defective earplugs to servicemen and servicewomen which led to the development of hearing loss and tinnitus.
Lawsuits Moved to Florida
On April 3rd, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation decided to move the 600+ cases to Florida. The plaintiffs’ lawyers and 3M had supported various other venues for the lawsuits, including California, Texas, and Minnesota (where 3M is based). However, the panel stated that the Northern District of Florida has the resources necessary to handle these claims.
The venue is near military bases, and a high number of service members live in the area. Also, U.S. District Judge M. Casey Rodgers, who will be hearing the cases, served for two years in the military.
“The transfer of these cases to the Northern District of Florida is a very positive development for the current and former military personnel we are representing in this litigation… the judge is experienced with these types of claims, and the residents in the area know the importance of protecting our servicemen and servicewomen. We look forward to holding 3M responsible for the harm it knowingly allowed to occur to the military personnel who were protecting our country.” -Attorney J.P. Sawyer
Defective Earplugs Allegations
The claims allege 3M’s Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2 (CAEv2) had a flawed design, which caused them to slip out of the person’s ears who was wearing them. Unaware that the earplug had loosened, the soldier was exposed to dangerous noise levels that led to hearing loss and tinnitus. The CAEv2 were standard issues between 2003 and 2015 and might have impacted the health of thousands of military personnel.
In 2018, 3M paid $9.1 million to settle a lawsuit filed on behalf of the U.S. government. The claim alleged the company knew its earplugs were defective but sold them to the Defense Logistics Agency regardless.
Call Sawyer Law Firm for a Free Case Evaluation
At Sawyer Law Firm, we are currently handling cases related to 3M’s defective earplugs. If you served in the military between 2003 and 2015 and used the CAEv2, you may be able to pursue legal action against the company. Our attorney has extensive experience going up against large corporations to recover compensation for losses suffered by injured individuals. We are prepared to help you obtain a favorable outcome, too.