Attention Soldiers: Defective 3M Military Earplugs Injury Lawsuit

Rocky McElhaney Law Firm is representing soldiers against manufacturer 3M for providing allegedly defective earplugs for over a decade to men and women who served in the US military. The ear plugs, distributed between 2002 and 2015, were too short for proper insertion into users’ ears, putting users at risk for permanent hearing loss, hearing impairment, and tinnitus.

In July 2018, the Department of Justice announced that 3M Company had agreed to pay $9.1 million to resolve allegations that it knowingly sold the dual-ended Combat Arms Earplugs, Version 2 (CAEv2) to the United States military without disclosing defects that hampered the effectiveness of the hearing protection devices. The now-discontinued dual-ended Combat Arms Earplugs were standard-issued equipment for Afghanistan and Iraq soldiers serving between 2002 and 2015.

Specifically, the United States alleged that 3M, and its predecessor, Aearo Technologies, Inc., knew the CAEv2 earplugs were too short for proper insertion into users’ ears, and that the plugs could loosen imperceptibly and therefore did not perform well for certain individuals. The United States further alleged that 3M did not disclose this design defect to the military.

If you are an active or retired soldier who experienced hearing loss, hearing impairment and/or tinnitus after serving in Iraq or Afghanistan between 2002 and 2015, we encourage you to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at Rocky McElhaney Law Firm today. You can reach our Nashville, Tennessee office toll-free at 1-800-425-2055 for a free, no-obligation, confidential review of your case by Rocky McElhaney, firm founder and CEO, or Justin Hight, managing attorney.

What Should I Do Next?

If you are an active or retired soldier or know of any active or retired members of the US military who have experienced hearing loss, hearing impairment and/or tinnitus after serving in Iraq or Afghanistan between 2002 and 2015, we encourage you to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at Rocky McElhaney Law Firm today. You can reach our Nashville, Tennessee office toll-free at 615-425-2500 or click here to fill our our website contact form for a free, no-obligation, confidential review of your case by Rocky McElhaney, firm founder and CEO, or Justin Hight, managing attorney.