Defective earplugs may have caused over 200,000 U.S. military servicemembers and contractors to permanently lose their hearing and/or suffer from tinnitus after actively serving to protect our country from 2003 to 2015. 

If you or a loved one were active in the military during this time, were issued 3M dual-ended Combat Arms earplugs, and believe that your current hearing loss and/or tinnitus could be the result of defective earplugs, we want to hear from you.

Our legal team will help determine if you may be entitled to receive financial compensation in the 3M earplug product liability MDL. Compensation may cover past and present medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages. Contact us today to learn more. 

How Were 3M Combat Arms Earplugs Used?

3M combat arms earplugs were issued to U.S. military servicemembers and contractors during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars from 2003 to 2015 as a means to prevent hearing damage from loud explosions and equipment noises. 

Per the provided instructions, one side of the dual-ended earplug got inserted into the ear canal to provide a tight seal that would protect the inner ear from damage. The outer side was designed to provide further protection by not completely blocking all sound and allowing users to hear low-level sounds, such as speech.

Alleged Design Defects of 3M Earplugs

The 3M combat arms earplug failure-to-warn Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) lawsuit case (MDL Case No. 3:19-md-2885-MCR-GRJ) for injured servicemembers and contractors alleges that the defendants knew about and failed to provide warnings regarding the alleged dangers inherent in the use of the earplugs.

More specifically, there were two specific alleged design defects. The first allegation claims that the combat arm earplug stem was too short for some users to obtain an airtight seal. Thus, the earplugs did not provide proper hearing protection. 

The second allegation claims that because of a design defect there was an imperceptible loosening of the seal caused by the non-inserted side folding up when the earplug pressed against a users’ ear canal opening after insertion. This loosening resulted in little to no hearing protection for the user.    

Who Designed 3M Combat Arms Earplugs?

Combat Arms earplugs were originally developed by Aearo Technologies. In 2003, Aearo Technologies became the exclusive supplier of these earplugs to the U.S. Military. 3M, a St. Paul-based company, later bought the rights to manufacture and sell these earplugs in 2008. As such, both companies currently face hundreds of thousands of lawsuits for their alleged misrepresentation in providing an unsafe product.  

What Is an MDL Product Liability Case?

When lawsuits involve defective products that affect a large number of people, the federal court system will sometimes consolidate and transfer individual lawsuits under one federal judge to better manage the cases. Taking this action conserves resources and fosters consistent court rulings across different lawsuits that involve similar legal issues by allowing the judge to handle all discovery matters that are common to all of the defendants.

For the purposes of 3M earplug product liability cases, the Judicial Panel of the case found that centralizing these cases into an MDL: 

“eliminates duplicative discovery; prevents inconsistent pretrial rulings on Daubert issues and other pretrial matters; and conserves the resources of the parties, their counsel, and the judiciary.”

As of May 17, 2021, there were 235,919 reported claimants registered in the 3M combat arms earplug products liability MDL.   

Do You Qualify for a 3M Earplug Lawsuit?

If you meet the following criteria, you may qualify for financial compensation by filing a 3M earplug case: 

How Much Does a 3M Earplug Lawsuit Case Cost?

At Patterson Legal Group, we support our troops and offer FREE case evaluations for retired and active U.S. military servicemembers and contractors who were diagnosed with tinnitus, hearing loss, or a combination of both. 

As we know your time is valuable, our legal team will carefully review your individual circumstances to determine whether or not you could be eligible to seek financial compensation by filing an individual 3M earplug case. 

From there, eligible individuals will be referred to a carefully vetted partner legal team that will then provide exceptional representation at no cost to you unless the outcome of your case is successful.  

Have 3M Combat Arms Earplugs Caused You Hearing Loss or Tinnitus? 

Did you or a loved one serve in the U.S. military from 2003 – 2015 and now suffer permanent hearing loss and/or tinnitus? Then you may be entitled to compensation. 

Please contact Patterson Legal Group at 888-687-2400 to receive prompt, professional legal assistance and a free 3M Combat Arms Earplug case evaluation. You can also connect with a representative through our LiveChat feature, or submit the details of your case using our contact form.  

If you do choose to trust us with your case, know that we will provide you with the highest level of respect, service, and dedication to ensuring that you fully understand your legal options. Time restrictions do apply, so don’t delay in contacting us today.