3M Earplugs

2023: 3M will pay $5.5 billion to those who have lost their hearing due to defective earrings to the US military

On August 27, 2023, information appeared that the American multidisciplinary holding 3M reached a preliminary agreement on the payment of compensation in the amount of $5.5 billion to settle more than 300 thousand claims filed in connection with the supply of low-quality products.

We are talking about defective earplugs for the US military. It is argued that these products do not properly protect against loud sounds during shots, explosions, rocket launches, etc. Because of this, many soldiers have seriously deteriorated hearing. So, in 2012 alone, the US Department of Defense received more than 970 thousand complaints about tinnitus and other negative symptoms. Moreover, some servicemen were completely deaf. For example, a jury in Florida in 2022 ordered the 3M to pay $77.5 million to US Army veteran James Beal as compensation for hearing loss due to earplugs.

Earplugs 3M for the US military

The amount that 3M will pay under the settlement agreement is almost half as much as predicted by third-party experts. In particular, analysts at Bloomberg Intelligence expected 3M to have to pay $9.5 billion, and Barclays to pay $8 billion. The company itself does not comment on the situation in any way.

It seems that 3M has made a rather profitable deal for itself, given that these numerous proceedings have put pressure on the company for almost a decade, "said Carl Tobias, professor of law at the University of Richmond.

As of the end of August 2023, 3M had lost 10 of its 16 separate lawsuits over substandard birches. At the same time, several servicemen were awarded compensation for causing harm to health in the total amount of over $250 million. The initiators of the proceedings claim that 3M knew that its earplugs could not provide effective work, but continued to supply them to the US Army.^[1]

2022

Refusal to declare bankrupt Aearo Technologies

At the end of August 2022, 3M lost the fight to block jury trials of more than 230 thousand lawsuits accusing it of harming American soldiers. Read more here.

Defective 3M earplugs caused hearing loss in 200,000 people

On August 16, 2022, it became known that 3M faces billions in fines for selling supposedly defective earplugs to the US military. About 200 thousand former military officers filed a lawsuit against the company, stating that they had hearing damage due to the use of military earplugs.

3M, which denies her earplugs were defective, may well appeal Rodgers' ruling. A spokesman told Reuters via email that the company was reviewing the order and would take appropriate further steps. If 3M, according to the ruling, tries to challenge the judge's rulings in a bankruptcy case brought by its Aearo subsidiary or provides Aearo with funding, the company faces a contempt hearing, U.S. District Judge M. Casey Rogers of Pensacola.

3M Earplugs' defective earplugs caused hearing loss

After using earplugs, former U.S. service members developed a tinnitus known as tinnitus, according to the lead lawyer for the plaintiffs appointed by the court, Brian Aylstock. During the trial, the parties will try to find out whether the plaintiffs' hearing problems are caused by defective 3M earplugs or by people wearing them inappropriately or by any other reason. From the beginning of 2000 to 2015, the US Armed Forces purchased earplugs of this company in the amount of $32 million. At that time, the US government purchased this ammunition at a price of about $7.63 per pair.

As of August 2022, plaintiffs won 10 lawsuits, 3M won 6, and 8 more were dismissed. As for the amount of compensation for the loss, in some cases the jury appointed an amount from $1.7 million to $77.5 million. Lawyers for 3M have already filed an appeal on the decision of some cases and said they are ready to appeal on other decisions. More than 107 thousand open cases are still in production, and another 127 thousand cases can go into the category of open, after payment of the application fee. In addition, ordinary consumers of 3M goods and police officers appear as plaintiffs in lawsuits.

In its defense, the 3M leadership argues that earplugs protect hearing when military personnel are properly trained and use them for their intended purpose. In addition, lawyers for the company insist that they 3M under US legal protection as a contractor under a government contract. This means that the company cannot be held liable for manufacturing products commissioned by the US government.^[2]

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