Langston & Lott, PLLC
Military Earplugs Lawsuit
Langston & Lott, PLLC Military Earplugs Lawsuit
3M Combat Arms Earplugs
Lawsuit Information and
Case Evaluation
3M Combat Arms Earplugs Lawsuit Information and Case Evaluation
3M Combat Arms Military
Earplugs FAQ
In 2003, the US military ordered The Dual-Ended Combat Arms™ Earplugs, Version 2 (CAEv2) from Aearo Technologies. In 2008, 3M acquired Aearo Technologies and all its liabilities for $1.2 Billion.
The earplugs were supposed to allow improved hearing protection in outdoor exposures and greater situational awareness to combat personnel compared to foam earplugs.
The makers of 3M Combat Arms Earplugs, Aero Technologies {now 3M), told the military that their earplugs tested with a noise reduction level of NPR 22. In reality the earplugs only provided a noise reduction of NPR 10.9.
The earplugs were also defective by design because they were too short to insert properly into the ear canal which made them loose and not function correctly.
The products failures, and the product's manufacturer hiding those failures, led to countless service members suffering damage to their hearing.
From 2003 to 2015, 3M supplied a maximum of 2.2 million earplugs to the US military to use in war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, as an exclusive supplier for the US military for earplugs. Aero Technologies and subsequently 3M only sold the earplugs exclusively to the military.
The earplugs were issued to service members from 2002 through 2016 during these foreign campaigns:
- The Iraq War
- War in Afghanistan
- War in North-West Pakistan (part of War on Terror)
- War in Somalia
- Operation Ocean Shield in the Indian Ocean
- American-led intervention in Libya
- American-led intervention in Iraq
- American-led Intervention in Syria
- Yemeni Civil War
- American Intervention in Libya
Anyone who served in the armed forces between 2002 and 2016 who wore 3M Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2 (CAEv2) and was diagnosed with hearing loss or tinnitus after wearing them.
If you believe you have a case against 3M after having used 3M Combat Arms Earplugs and suffering hearing loss, you can take our free online case evaluation. This simple tool only takes minutes to complete and will tell you instantly if you fit our criteria for accepting clients in this case.
If you do qualify, you will have the option to follow a link to the documents needed for us to file a claim on your behalf. You can review and sign the documents electronically from your computer or smart phone, allowing you to get your claim started in a matter of minutes without ever leaving home.
Click the link below to find out if you qualify and get started today!
In 2003, the US military ordered The Dual-Ended Combat Arms™ Earplugs, Version 2 (CAEv2) from Aearo Technologies. In 2008, 3M acquired Aearo Technologies and all its liabilities for $1.2 Billion.
From 2003 to 2015, 3M supplied a maximum of 2.2 million earplugs to the US military to use in war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, as an exclusive supplier for the US military for earplugs. Aero Technologies and subsequently 3M only sold the earplugs exclusively to the military. The earplugs were said to provide two levels of protection. One end of the earplugs was supposed to block all noise; the other side was intended to protect the eardrums from gunfire and loud explosions while allowing the user to communicate freely. The failure of dual-ended Combat Arms Ear Plugs (version 2) to protect soldiers’ ears has resulted in tinnitus (ringing or buzzing of the ears) as well as partial or full hearing loss.
In 2016, a Whistleblower lawsuit was filed under the “False Claims Act” by a competing Ear Plug manufacturer, Moldex Metric Inc. The lawsuit alleged that 3M and Aearo Technologies both knew the earplugs where defective, and they even faked bogus tests to meet the US military’s standards. In 2018, 3M settled the lawsuit with the US Department of Justice for $9.1 Million.
If you are a veteran who used 3M Combat Arms Earplugs, call Langston and Lott, PLLC today to speak with a experienced attorney or complete our online case evaluation by following the link above and let our law firm get to work for you.