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On April 30, 2021, a United States jury ruled against earplug manufacturer 3M Company concerning a lawsuit brought forth by three military veterans who claimed that design defects in the company’s Combat Arms earplugs caused them hearing damage, as reported by Reuters.
The verdict against 3M amounts to $2.1 million in punitive damages for each of the three plaintiffs, as well as a total of $830,500 in compensatory damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost earnings. This amounts to $7.1 million in damages.
Three different Florida lawsuits were consolidated in this bellwether trial. To date, there are more than 200,000 personal injury complaints against 3M that echo the allegations of this trial’s three plaintiffs. Simply put, veterans and active service members accuse 3M of covering up earplug design flaws, fudging test results, and failing to instruct the Army in how to use the earplugs properly. Unfortunately, the Army used 3M earplugs from 2003 to 2015, meaning hundreds of thousands of service members have been affected.
Still, per Reuters, 3M plans to appeal the April 30th verdict against it. The next trial will begin May 17, 2021.
Hold 3M Accountable for Your Injuries
At Wilson Law, P.A., we are committed to advocating for injured veterans and military servicemembers against 3M. Chosen over 200 applicants, our very own Attorney Kimberly Wilson White was appointed by federal judges to serve as the only North Carolina member of the multidistrict litigation (MDL) leadership team for 3M Combat Arms earplugs. If you are among those injured, let our experienced legal team in Raleigh, North Carolina fight for you.
Contact Wilson Law, P.A. online or by phone at (919) 800-0919 to learn more about your legal rights. All consultations are provided free of charge!