3M Earplugs Lawsuit

Representation in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont

Military service men and women have a right to expect reliable, effective safety equipment during training and while on active duty. Unfortunately, the military recently discovered that the 3M combat earplugs they had been using for many years were defective, leading to countless permanent hearing injuries. If you served in the military between 2003 and 2015 and suffer from hearing loss or tinnitus, you may be eligible to receive compensation from 3M.

Defective 3M Combat Earplugs

The 3M earplugs were designed to block out the harmful sounds from loud blasts while still allowing soldiers in close range to communicate. Yet, it has been recently revealed that the design of the 3M earplugs prevented them from staying secure and performing their intended purpose. As a result, 3M’s combat earplugs were significantly less effective against loud sounds, such as gunfire and explosives, resulting in preventable hearing loss for veterans.

A whistleblower recently came forward alleging that, for more than a decade, 3M had been selling its combat earplugs to the U.S. military with the knowledge that they were defective. The U.S. Department of Justice intervened in the whistleblower lawsuit. In its answer, 3M admitted that the earplugs had been tested in 2000 and that the test came back with a noise reduction rating of 0, meaning 3M’s combat ear plugs had no noise reduction benefits. 3M agreed to pay the United States $9.1 million to settle the lawsuit. Now, in an effort to seek compensation and justice for the harm they suffered, we are representing military members across the country and filing individual lawsuits against 3M company for their negligence.

Veterans in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont

At Shaheen & Gordon, P.A., we are passionate about fighting for the rights of the injured. Since 1981, we have worked tirelessly to ensure our clients receive the legal representation they need and deserve.