As of August 15, 2019, 3M Company and its subsidiary, Aearo Technologies, are facing numerous lawsuits for their dual-ended Combat Arms Earplugs. Soldiers and veterans accuse 3M of knowingly committing fraud against the U.S. military, failing to warn our service members of the earplugs’ defects, and falsifying earplug test results.
Aearo Technologies originally designed and obtained an exclusive military contract for the dual-ended Combat Arms Earplugs in 2003. In 2008, 3M bought the company and took over the contract.
When they sold the earplugs to the military, 3M and Aearo claimed the unique dual-ended design allowed one side of the earplugs to protect against all sound. With the other side inserted, the earplugs were supposed to protect against explosions but allowed soldiers to to hear commands or enemy approaches.
In 2016, Moldex-Metric, Inc., a company that makes hearing protection products, filed a lawsuit against 3M and Aearo claiming the company committed fraud against the government by knowingly selling defective earplugs to the military. That lawsuit asserted that the “protracted fraud perpetrated on the military by 3M, whose dual-ended Combat Arms earplugs-which were standard issue in certain branches of the military during foreign conflicts between 2003 and 2015-have likely caused thousands of soldiers to suffer significant hearing loss and tinnitus in addition to exposing millions to the risk caused by 3M’s defective earplugs.”
3M admitted no wrongdoing but agreed to pay $9.1 million dollars to settle the case.
Now, military men and women who used these earplugs are filing lawsuits against 3M and Aearo after they suffered hearing damage. These lawsuits accuse 3M of knowingly committing fraud against the U.S. military, failing to warn the military and service members of the earplugs’ defects, as well as falsifying test results.
If you have served in the military between 2003 and 2015, and used 3M dual-ended Combat Arms Earplugs, and suffered hearing damage (hearing loss, tinnitus), call or e-mail Jeff for a free consultation. There is no fee unless you win your case.