DO YOU HAVE MILITARY HEARING LOSS?
IT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE 3M EARPLUGS
Between 2003 and 2015, 3M/Aero manufactured and sold millions of dollars’ worth of Dual-Ended Combat Arms™ Earplugs to the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency. The military purchased these earplugs under the marketing assertion that service members would be able to hear “commands from friendly soldiers and approaching enemy combatants, unimpaired, in the same way as if they had nothing in their ear.”
3M/Aero stated that the earplugs effectively suppressed noise and that the earplugs were subjected to the required testing to ensure their proper performance. We believe that 3M/Aero fraudulently concealed the fact that the earplugs were not properly tested, and also that 3M knew that its earplugs did not adequately suppress noise.
The military distributed these combat earplugs as the gold-standard earplug to hundreds of thousands of military personnel both domestically and those deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Unknowingly, military men and women were put at risk for permanent hearing loss due to the alleged earplug design defects.
In 2016, a whistleblower lawsuit was filed on behalf of the United States alleging that 3m/Aero defrauded the government by selling these defective earplugs. The suit alleged that 3M was aware of the problem before selling the earplugs to the military and that testing procedures and fitting instructions were unlawfully manipulated and the company did not disclose the design defect for the plugs they sold between the years of 2003 – 2015. In July of 2018, 3M settled this lawsuit for $9.1 million. What is noteworthy about the settlement is that proceeds will not be distributed directly to military personnel. This settlement is also peanuts compared to the profits 3M made in selling these defective earplugs and the damage done to the hearing of tens of thousands of US Servicemen and Women.
If you served in the armed forces during 2003 – 2015 and are experiencing hearing loss or tinnitus, the legal team at Taylor Martino is actively pursuing civil lawsuits on behalf of the injured to obtain compensation for hearing loss damages.
Earplug Case Evaluation
If you or a loved one meet the following criteria, you may be entitled to recover compensation:
The experienced and aggressive Military Hearing Loss Lawyers of Taylor Martino, P.C. have successfully fought defective products liability cases in courtrooms across the nation. We can help you recover damages suffered due to your hearing loss. A company that sells a defective product to the military must be held accountable for the damages caused to our servicemen and women.
WHAT ARE THE FACTS?
Hundreds of veterans are now filing lawsuits against the government contractor 3M/Aero for manufacturing and selling defective earplugs to the military. These earplugs did not maintain a tight seal around the user’s ear which allowed dangerously loud sounds to permeate through into the ear without the wearer knowing. These (now) discontinued dual-ended combat earplugs were standard issue for military service members from 2003 to 2015. The use of these defective 3M earplugs likely caused significant hearing loss in many military veterans. Any current and former military service members who served in the armed forces when these earplugs were issued, may be entitled to compensation.
If you were issued 3M combat earplugs like the ones in this picture and suffered hearing loss, you may be entitled to compensation.
Design Flaw Was Initially Discovered in 2000
In May 2016 a whistle blower lawsuit brought up allegations claiming that 3M and its predecessor Aero Technologies, manipulated test results in order to comply with government standards. That both companies knew of a product design defect since 2000 and covered it up when they sold the earplugs to the military.
Whistle blower lawsuits are brought by and on behalf of the US government when companies such as 3M/Aero defraud the government. 3M/Aero settled this lawsuit in July of 2018 for $9.1 million dollars.
The Connection Between 3M Earplugs and Veterans
The earplugs were marketed as new technology that will allow troops to hear “commands from friendly soldiers and other noises from approaching enemy combatants, unimpaired, in the same way as if they had nothing in their ear.” When 3m/Aero sold the earplugs to the military, it hid the fact that they were defective.
These dual-end earplugs were designed to be used in two different settings – one acted as traditional earplugs, blocking all noise; the other was supposed to soften loud decimal sounds while still allowing quieter noises, such as communication from fellow combatants.
Military Hearing Loss Experienced by Veterans
3M Dual-Ended Combat Arms™ Earplugs were at one-point standard equipment issued to soldiers during 2003 – 2015. Unfortunately, the earplugs were too shallow to stay in many ear canals and would gradually loosen and fail to reduce loud noises properly. The earplugs were also defective in that they would not adequately suppress noise when inserted like standard earplugs.
Due to alleged product defects, the VA has reported that that there were over 1.6 million veterans seeking medical care for chronic tinnitus in just the last year!
CONTACT A MILITARY HEARING LOSS LAWYER TODAY
REQUEST A FREE CASE REVIEW FROM A MILITARY HEARING LOSS ATTORNEY AT TAYLOR MARTINO P.C.
If you served in the military between 2013-2015 and believe that you have hearing loss due to these defective 3M earplugs, you should contact a professional to discuss your options. An experienced military hearing loss attorney at Taylor Martino P.C., will assess your case and aid in protecting your rights. Having a lawyer is especially crucial to help assist in all of the proper paperwork and the first steps for filing a lawsuit. If you are experiencing military hearing loss from defective 3M earplugs, call a military hearing loss lawyer at Taylor Martino P.C, today and take legal action!