A record-breaking $110 million verdict was awarded by a federal jury in Pensacola, Fla., to two veterans in the historical case against The 3M Company. The plaintiffs in the case alleged defective earplugs caused irreparable hearing damage to military veterans.
Two U.S. Army veterans were each awarded $55 million – $15 million in compensatory damages plus an additional $40 million each in punitive damages. The previous-largest individual verdict in the litigation was $22.5 million. In a statement, 3M said they would appeal the decision.
Nearly 300,000 service members have sued 3M in the largest mass tort litigation in history. Claims against the company’s Combat Arms Earplugs include a design defect that can result in permanent hearing damage due to failure to protect the user against loud sounds such as gunshots. The earplugs were manufactured by Aearo Technologies, who were bought by 3M in 2008.
Plaintiffs allege the company hid the design flaws, manipulated test results, and failed to provide proper instructions for earplug use to military veterans who used them. In previous cases, the earplugs were discovered to be too short for proper insertion, causing them to gradually loosen in users' ears until they were effectively rendered useless.
Nationwide, 11 total 3M earplug trials have reached a verdict. Of those, six plaintiffs won a combined $160 million. In May 2021, a Pensacola jury awarded three former service members a total of $7.1 million in damages in the first bellwether trial of the litigation.
Thousands of military service members who suffered significant hearing loss and tinnitus – a condition which causes a constant ringing sound in the ear – chose Cory Watson to handle their defective earplug case against 3M. Our experienced defective product lawyers are fighting for clients’ rights for compensation and justice. Learn more about Cory Watson’s efforts to get justice for affected military service members - "3M Earplug Hearing Loss Lawsuit Featured On CBS This Morning".
How to Join the 3M Earplug Lawsuit
If you or a loved one served in the military any time between 2003 and 2015 and were diagnosed with hearing loss or tinnitus, you may qualify for financial compensation. This lawsuit is not against the government or armed services and does not affect disability benefits. Contact Cory Watson Attorneys today by calling (877) 562-0000 or fill out the FREE online consultation form on this page to learn more about your legal options. Don’t wait to reach out – Contact us today!
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Cory Watson Attorneys is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm with offices in Birmingham, Alabama; Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee. The firm has recovered more than $4 Billion for clients across the country. Cory Watson Attorneys are frequently at the forefront of major class actions and multidistrict litigations involving dangerous pharmaceuticals and product liability, and are often appointed to leadership positions in national cases. Firm practice areas include Personal Injury, Product Liability, Class Action, Asbestos, Business & Commercial Litigation, Dangerous Pharmaceuticals, Defective Medical Devices, and Environmental/Toxic Torts.