Combat Arms Earplugs
Helping Those Injured by Combat Arms Earplugs Recover Compensation.
If you experienced loss of hearing or any other ear-related injury after using 3M dual-ended combat arms earplugs, as a member of the armed forces or in any other capacity, between 2003 to 2017, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Contact the experienced and knowledgeable personal injury and products liability attorneys at Allan Berger & Associates if you have experienced any of the symptoms and conditions below.
Call Us if You Have Any of the Following Symptoms:
- Ringing or buzzing in your ears;
- Partial or total hearing loss;
- Tinnitus caused by loud noises;
- Temporary threshold shifts;
- Hyperacusis;
- Distorted or abnormal pitch perception; or
- Menier’s Disease.
Our firm is currently reviewing these ear injury cases based on earplug manufacturer 3M’s sale of dual-ended Combat Arms Earplugs, Version 2, to the U.S. government—specifically the Defense Logistics Agency—for use by military personnel, containing defects known to the manufacturer.
The Version 2, 3M earplugs were designed as two inverted cones connected by a stem. They could be inserted one way for greater noise protection or the other way for hearing protection that still allowed the user to hear speech.
These earplugs were intended to protect military personnel from damaged hearing, but due to insufficient length of the earplugs, they could gradually loosen and fail to effectively provide noise cancellation. These known design defects were not disclosed to the government at the time of sale. The company’s failure to disclose the known defect that decreased the product’s effectiveness resulted in users of the earplugs experiencing partial or total hearing loss and other complications.
U.S. Government Lawsuit
In a recent lawsuit, the U.S. government alleged that the manufacturer, 3M, as well as its predecessor, Aearo Technologies—which it acquired in 2008—were aware of the product’s design defect of being too short for proper insertion for adequate ear protection as early as 2000, but never disclosed the defect when executing a contract to become the U.S. military’s exclusive provider of selective attenuation earplugs.
The lawsuit resulted in a $9.1 million settlement, but the manufacturer accepted no liability and admitted no wrongdoing in the agreement. One of 3M’s competitors, Moldex-Metric, will receive $1.9 million from the $9.1 million settlement for initiating a whistleblower claim under the False Claims Act against 3M.
Contact Our Defective Products Lawyers
At Allan Berger & Associates, our lawyers have years of experience handling claims of injuries caused by defective products. These cases involve a complex analysis of medical records and evidence to establish a claim for compensation against the product’s manufacturer.
Our military service members, who bravely risk their lives to protect and defend our freedoms, do not deserve to suffer life-long consequences from a defective product that was intended to protect them. If you or a loved one have suffered hearing loss or other ear-related injuries following use of 3M dual-ended combat arms earplugs, contact us today for a consultation of your case. We would be happy to review your potential claim and discuss your opinions. You may reach us by phone at (504) 526-2222 or by email for a free and confidential review of your case.
Injured?
Get a Case Evaluation Now.
What People Say
“Allan Berger & Associates was there for me from Day 1 and can’t thank Andrew and Miss Melanie for all of their help. I wish I had them around the house!”
– Dolores A.
“Allan and Andrew fought for every dollar for me and I will be forever grateful. They aren’t just my attorneys, they are family.”
– Charles P.
I am so grateful to you for all you did to resolve my case. You were wonderful and made me feel so comfortable and calm. I could not have asked for a better attorney. God Bless.”
– Darlene C.
“Calling Allan Berger & Associates after my car accident was a blessing. I don’t know where I’d be without their help, and I’d recommend the firm to anyone else!”
– Tarra R.
“Thank you for your sensitivity and professionalism in your awesome handling of my case. First class representation and you treated me like I was a family member. Even though my case settled I’d like to stop by the office just to say hi.”
– Donna C.
