Long Island 3M Earplug Lawsuit Lawyer

Are you one of the many veterans who served in combat zones in Afghanistan or Iraq and have since been diagnosed with hearing loss because of defective earplugs? If so, you should speak with a Combat Arms earplug lawsuit attorney about your legal options. You may be entitled to seek compensation for your hearing loss through a 3M lawsuit payout.

The attorneys at Cohen & Jaffe, LLP are committed to holding military contractors fully accountable when their defective products cause harm to members of the armed services. Our knowledgeable attorneys offer a free case review to discuss your situation. We will offer an honest assessment of your legal options. If we believe you have a valid claim, our experienced lawyers will help you submit a 3M earplug lawsuit claim form and vigorously pursue every dollar of compensation that you deserve. We have recovered millions of dollars for clients.

Which earplugs are covered by the lawsuit?

The earplugs that are the focus of hundreds of lawsuits filed by veterans are the dual-ended Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2 (CAEV2). The dual-ended design was supposed to offer two levels of protection. If worn with the yellow end of the earplug inserted in the ear canal, the earplugs were supposed to block or significantly reduce intense noise such as explosions while permitting users to hear quieter sounds such as conversation.

The earplugs were developed and manufactured by Aearo Technologies, Inc. The 3M Company purchased Aearo Technologies in 2008 and supplied the earplugs to the Defense Logistics Agency through 2015.

The defective earplugs were issued to service members in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines from 2003 through 2015.

The CAEV2 earplugs were never recalled and some may still be in use in the field.

How are these earplugs defective?

 The CAEV2 earplugs are defective because they have a design defect that causes them to loosen in some wearers’ ears. The earplug is too short for proper insertion into some users’ ears and allows damaging noise to enter the ear canal.

3M allegedly was aware of the earplugs’ defects as early as the year 2000 but falsified certification documents approving them for military use.

In 2018, 3M agreed to pay $9.1 million to settle allegations that it knowingly sold its earplugs to the Defense Logistics Agency, the U.S. military’s global supplier, without disclosing the defects that diminished the earplugs effectiveness as hearing protection.

Unfortunately, the legal settlement between 3M and the U.S. Department of Justice does not provide any money for veterans who have suffered hearing damage from using Combat Arms earplugs. Veterans who have sustained hearing loss must file an individual Combat Arms earplug lawsuit.

Hundreds of veterans have already taken the important step of taking legal action, and you may be eligible to do so as well.

How can I file a lawsuit?

If you served in the military between 2003 and 2015 and have been diagnosed with hearing damage or tinnitus, which involves ringing or buzzing in the ears, you may be eligible for compensation. You should schedule a consultation to have an earplug lawsuit attorney at Cohen & Jaffe review your medical records and evaluate your legal options. Our knowledgeable attorneys can help you gather documents showing your military service and deployments to substantiate that your hearing loss is service-related due to use of the defective earplugs, which were standard issue to service members in certain areas.

If you have diagnosed hearing damage, you may be eligible to file a defective earplug lawsuit against Minnesota-based 3M Company. Manufacturers have a legal obligation to make and market products that are safe and effective when used properly and to warn of any known risks of using the product.

The federal government, in the lawsuit United States ex rel. Moldex-Metric v. 3M Company, Case No. 3:16-cv-1533-MBS (D.S.C.), alleged that 3M and its predecessor, Aearo Technologies, Inc., had knowledge that the CAEV2 earplug was too short for proper insertion and could loosen and fail to provide hearing protection. The government alleged that 3M’s product testing methods did not meet accepted standards and the company did not disclose the earplugs’ design defect to the military.

Hundreds of veterans have filed lawsuits to recover compensation. Many more Combat Arms earplug lawsuits are expected.

How much can I expect from a payout?

A 3M earplugs lawsuit could seek compensation for medical bills, hearing aids, and lost earning potential related to hearing loss. It could also cover the pain and suffering for the inability to communicate with loved ones or hear their voices due to service-related hearing loss. The amount of a payout would depend on the severity of your hearing loss and the specific facts of your case.

With hundreds of 3M earplugs lawsuits pending, the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation established the 3M Combat Arms earplug multidistrict litigation.

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida has been designated to handle the pre-trial matters related to the defective earplug cases. Each case would be tried separately if the cases are not settled.

Contact a Combat Arms Earplug Lawsuit Attorney

At the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP, our attorneys have more than a century of combined legal experience. We have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for people harmed by the negligence of others—people just like you. When you are represented by Cohen & Jaffe, you will work directly with Richard Jaffe and Stephen Cohen.

When you have an experienced defective earplug attorney handling your claim, your chances of recovering compensation are improved. We handle defective earplug cases on a contingency fee basis. A contingency fee means that you do not have any upfront costs to have legal representation. We receive a legal fee only if we obtain compensation for you.

If you have hearing loss and served in the armed forces between 2003 and 2015, we urge you to contact us at (516) 358-6900 to explore your legal options. The consultation is free.

For a free legal consultation with a lawyer serving Long Island, call 516-358-6900