Dual-ended Combat Arms Earplugs may have been manufactured with known defects.
This action is against the manufacturer on behalf of injured military personnel who may be entitled to financial compensation.
Military Earplugs Lawsuit
If you served in the military and suffered ear injury, you may be entitled to compensation.
3M™ Company Agrees to Pay $9.1 Million to Resolve Allegations
That it Supplied the United States With Defective Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs.
The Department of Justice announced that 3M™ Company (3M) has agreed to pay $9.1 million to resolve allegations that it knowingly sold the dual-ended Combat Arms™ Earplugs, Version 2 (CAEv2) to the United States military without disclosing defects that hampered the effectiveness of the hearing protection device.
The settlement resolves allegations that 3M™ violated the False Claims Act by selling or causing to be sold defective earplugs to the Defense Logistics Agency. Specifically, the United States alleged that 3M™, and its predecessor, Aearo Technologies, Inc., knew the CAEv2 was too short for proper insertion into users’ ears and that the earplugs could loosen imperceptibly and therefore did not perform well for certain individuals. The United States further alleged that 3M™ did not disclose this design defect to the military.
Potentially Damaging Noises
Were you exposed to these potentially damaging noises while wearing Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs in service?
- Aircraft/Helicopter Engine Noise
- Amplified Electronic Sound
- Artillery Fire
- Explosions
- Heavy Machinery/Equipment Noise
- Loud Training Experiences
- Non-Lethal Noise Weapons (i.e. crowd control)
- Shockwaves and Sonic Booms
- Vehicle Noise
- Weapons Fire
Pay Nothing Unless We Win
If you or someone you know served in the military and have been diagnosed with partial or total hearing loss, contact us now and find out if you have a case.
Whistleblower
Combat Arms Ear Plug Design Flaw Known Since 2000
The product in question, dual-ended Combat Arms Ear Plugs (version 2), contained a design flaw that resulted in the ear plugs being too short for proper insertion into users’ ears, causing the earplugs to gradually loosen and not perform well for certain individuals. In July 2018, after a whistle blower stepped forward, Minnesota-based 3M agreed to pay a $9 million penalty to the federal government for failing to disclose the design flaw.
The whistleblower alleged the company knew about the design flaw as early as 2000 but continued to market and manufacture the ear plugs without disclosing it. The Combat Arms Ear Plugs were initially designed and manufactured by Aearo Technologies. The company was acquired by 3M in 2008.