The individual service members and veterans who have experienced hearing loss or other damage as a result of the defective ear plugs are left to pursue their own claims against 3M. 3M did not admit to any liability as part of the settlement and continues to fight the lawsuits brought against it by service members and veterans. The government’s settlement does not, however, resolve the damage that has been done to thousands of service members over the years. The lawsuit claimed 3M continued selling Combat Arms earplugs to the military until 2015, while knowing of the defects and making false representations to the government.Īs a result of this lawsuit, the Department of Justice reached a $9.1 million settlement with 3M to resolve the False Claims Act allegations. The plaintiff also alleged Aearo and 3M manipulated testing procedures and fitting instructions to misrepresent the hearing protection provided by the earplugs. The lawsuit alleged that Aearo Technologies, and later 3M, knowingly certified to the government that the earplugs met certain standards when they submitted responses to the military’s requests for proposals over the years. 3M later acquired Aearo Technologies and, according to the lawsuit, the employees involved in the development and testing of the earplugs. The lawsuit also claimed that Aearo Technologies, the company that originally designed the earplugs, knew of the defects in 2000 but still submitted a bid to sell the earplugs to the military in 2003 and after. This lawsuit alleged the earplug’s stem was too short, preventing it from maintaining a seal in some users’ ears.
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In May 2016, Moldex-Metric, Inc., a competitor of 3M, filed a qui tam false claims lawsuit against 3M Company alleging 3M made false statements to the government about the Combat Arms earplugs. Smith and all of the attorneys at Mass Injury Group can assist you if you have suffered hearing loss after using Combat Arms earplugs. Smith is experienced in handling product liability cases. Boston Product Liability Attorney Michael O. Unfortunately, those 3M earplugs may not properly seal in some users, leaving them vulnerable to hearing loss and other damage. military supplied troops with 3M Combat Arms double-ended earplugs to protect their hearing.