Defective 3M Dual Ended Combat Arms TM Ear Plugs are causing Veterans to suffer hearing loss and tinnitus
In May of 2016, a lawsuit was filed against the 3M company in which the Plaintiff alleged that the Defendant 3m sold defective earplugs to the United States government. The ear plugs were standard issued dual-ended Combat Arms™ brand that was issued to branches of the military service during times of combat. Plaintiffs alleged that the ear plugs were defective and that 3M knew of the defect. The earplugs were used by the United States government for the armed services.
The defect caused significant hearing loss to thousands of soldiers. The lawsuit sought reimbursement for medical costs the United States incurred or will incur in the future for treating soldiers’ tinnitus and hearing loss which occurred in service to our country. On July 25, 2018, 3M settled with the United States and agreed to pay over nine millions dollars.
Veterans and Service members must also be compensated for their injuries as a result of this allegedly deceitful and fraudulent conduct. The defective devices are the Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2 (CAEV2). Service members who used these earplugs now are suffering persistent ringing in their ears (tinnitus), which may be mild or so severe that it disrupts daily live. Others, including those who also experience tinnitus, may suffer hearing loss that also can range from mild to severe. In addition to the range of possible physical harm, hearing damage can take an emotional toll as well, particularly for those who experience severe hearing loss, which can disrupt everyday life.
The earplugs were designed by Aearo Technologies Inc. According to court documents, the CAEV2 earplugs were supplied to soldiers in multiple branches of the military from 2002 – 2015. Promotional materials claim they provide enough protection “to cover most of the weapons in the military inventory, including shoulder-fired rockets.” However, it is alleged that Aearo knew the earplugs were too short to be correctly placed in the ear canal, making them prone to loosening, which allowed sound waves to bypass them and leave the ears unprotected.
In addition to tinnitus, service members suffer frequent headaches, dizziness and have to sleep with background noise. Hearing aids can only treat hearing loss, not the constant ringing of tinnitus. 3M must be made to compensate our injured soldiers through both punitive and compensatory damages for product liability, gross negligence, negligence, pain, suffering, and lost wages.
The Law Office of Martin Glink is now taking claims for the 3m Hearing loss earplug lawsuits. Our claims will include actions based on negligence, strict liability, failure to warn, breach of warranties, fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and deceit. To find out if your hearing loss or tinnitus qualifies for the compensation as a result of the defective earplugs, contact our firm here for a no cost evaluation.