Defective 3M Earplugs

You may be surprised to learn that between 25 and 30 percent of service-connected disability claims to the U.S. Veterans Administration are related to hearing loss. According to a whistleblower lawsuit, many of these claims are related to defective earplugs manufactured by Aearo Technologies and 3M for the U.S. military.

If you believe your hearing loss or tinnitus was due to defective earplugs issued to you in the service, contact Seidman Margulis & Fairman, LLP. Our experienced Chicago product liability attorneys are prepared to help you seek compensation from 3M for the hearing damage you suffered while serving your country.

Starting in 2003, Aearo had the exclusive contract to provide earplugs to the military. After purchasing Aearo, 3M took over the contract to provide the earplugs, which were used until 2015. Aearo and 3M claimed their special double-sided “Combat Arms” earplugs blocked intense noises from aircraft, vehicles, and machinery.

In fact, a flaw in the design made the earplugs ineffective, leaving service members at risk to develop severe hearing problems. But instead of trying to fix this flaw, 3M/Aearo allegedly manipulated testing of the Combat Arms earplugs so they would get approval for military use.

As a result, thousands of service members who answered the call after the Sep. 11 terrorist attacks have been left fully or partially deaf, or with horrible tinnitus. 3M/Aearo’s alleged cover-up did not come to light until the whistleblower lawsuit against the company in 2016.

Our lawyers are representing a group of victims of defective Combat Arms earpieces to sue 3M in federal court. We will fight to secure you rightful compensation for the damage to your ears, which has likely affected your ability to communicate and quality of life.

For more information about the pending litigation, call (312) 781-1977 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.