A group of five veterans who formerly served in the U.S. Army have filed military hearing loss claims against 3M Company over allegedly defective earplugs.

According to the men’s military hearing loss claims, they were issued dangerously defective earplugs manufactured by 3M Company during training and/or on active military duty. The specific earplugs named in the lawsuit are Dual-ended Combat Arms earplugs, which have been sold by 3M Company to the U.S. military for more than a decade.

The lawsuit notes that the military (as well as its service members) were unaware of the defect, and were not warned by the manufacturer of the risks.

However, the lawsuit claims, there were indeed risks. According to the veterans’ lawsuit, these earplugs were defective, and are associated with hearing problems including partial and total hearing loss, as well as tinnitus.

3M Earplug Lawsuit

The hearing loss lawsuit alleges that the design of the earplug itself prevents the wearer from being able to fit it snugly into the ear canal. This is an inherent defect, the plaintiffs claim, but there was  inadequate warning about the issue.

The five plaintiffs are now citizens and residents of Oklahoma, and have been diagnosed with issues like hearing loss in one or both ears, as well as tinnitus (a severe and persistent ringing in the ears that can also cause headaches). At least one plaintiff’s hearing loss has also resulted in vertigo.

The plaintiffs filed their military hearing loss claims on a number of counts, including design defect, strict liability, failure to warn, breach of express and implied warranties, fraudulent misrepresentation and concealment, and fraud and deceit, among others. The lawsuit was filed on June 27, 2019, in U.S. District Court in Oklahoma.

This is not the first lawsuit to be filed over military hearing loss issues associated with the Dual-ended Combat Arms earplugs from 3M Company. Indeed, it was only about a year ago that 3M Company agreed to a $9.1 million settlement to bring an end to a slew of similar allegations.

Filing Military Hearing Loss Claims

According to this recent lawsuit, the defective earplugs may have caused thousands or even millions of U.S. soldiers to suffer hearing loss issues.

More and more veterans are coming forward, alleging that they were issued these defective earplugs during their service and have since suffered from hearing issues like partial or total hearing loss and tinnitus.

If you or a loved one have suffered from hearing problems after using 3M Combat Arms Earplugs between 2002 and 2015, you may be eligible to receive compensation, which can help with medical bills and more.

Filing a lawsuit can be overwhelming, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

This Military Hearing Loss Lawsuit is Case No. 5:19-cv-00586-D, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma.