3M Earplugs
The 3M lawsuit is a class action lawsuit in which over 300,000 veterans sued 3M for defective combat earplugs that damaged their hearing. 3M eventually settled for over $6 billion. If you are a veteran who served between 2003 and 2015 and suffered hearing loss due to defective 3M combat earplugs, it may not be too late to seek compensation–but time is running short.
Our Fort Worth product liability lawyers at Stephens Law Firm, PLLC have been doing this for decades and can help you file a legal claim against 3M. We don’t mean estate planning or criminal defense—we have been exclusively devoted to representing personal injury and wrongful death victims.
We harness a wealth of experience, state-of-the-art technology, and a vast array of resources to ensure we can represent our clients effectively. Contact our law offices in Fort Worth, or call (817) 420 7000 today to set up a free consultation.
How Stephens Law Firm, PLLC Can Help You Win Your 3M Defective Combat Earplugs Lawsuit
At Stephens Law Firm, PLLC, we stand up for justice, and we are deeply committed to serving those who have courageously served our nation. Our Fort Worth personal injury lawyers have decades of combined experience and have recovered over $100 million for our clients to date.
By choosing Stephens Law Firm, PLLC, you’re not just getting a lawyer; you’re gaining an ally who genuinely cares about your future. Following are a few of the ways we can help you win your 3M combat earplugs claim:
- Gathering medical evidence: We can help compile your medical records and generate expert testimony to demonstrate the earplugs’ impact on your hearing.
- Identifying legal precedents: We can find and use previous similar cases to bolster your lawsuit’s arguments and strategies.
- Navigating complex legal processes: We can handle the intricate legal procedures and paperwork that this type of case presents.
- Advising you on your legal rights and options: We can educate you about your legal rights and the different options available to you throughout the lawsuit.
- Managing media and public relations: If your case gains public or media attention, we can manage communications to protect your interests and privacy.
- Ensuring compliance with legal deadlines and requirements: We will complete all filings and procedural steps correctly and on time.
- Accessing specialized databases and resources: We have access to legal databases and resources that are not available to the public.
- Leveraging professional networks: We have connections within the legal community, including relationships with other attorneys, judges, and legal experts.
The foregoing is little more than the tip of the iceberg when it comes to ways that we can help you win your claim. Get in touch with us today in Fort Worth, Texas, to discuss your case and best course of action.
What is 3M?
3M is a large multinational company that manufactures a variety of products. It contracted with the US military to supply soldiers with combat earplugs to use during live fire drills.
The US military also used these earplugs during combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. These earplugs were defective, and 3M used them even after it knew that they were defective.
Problem #1 (Solved): You Can’t Sue the US Military for Service Injuries
Generally speaking, the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) allows you to sue the federal government for a product liability claim, such as the 3M defective earplugs claim. Since the US military is part of the federal government, you might think it is permissible to sue the US military, too.
Unfortunately, the Feres Doctrine is an exception to the Tort Claims Act that prevents you from suing the US military for service-related injuries. This makes sense when you consider that the US military is, as a matter of necessity, in the business of putting service members at risk. This kind of liability could bankrupt the military.
The solution to this problem is to sue 3M, the company that manufactured the earplugs, instead of the US military. 3M isn’t normally in the business of putting people at risk of injury. And as a large multinational, 3M has plenty of money to pay claims against it.
Problem #2 (Solved) The Government Contractor Defense
3M has a loophole that it tried to use in 2020–the government contractor defense. It argued that it was a “government contractor” who manufactured the earplugs in accordance with government specifications.
3M lost that defense in July 2020. The results were disastrous for 3M but good for veterans. Eventually, 3M became the defendant in over 300,000 lawsuits.
Multidistrict Litigation (MDL): The Winning Move
Multidistrict litigation (MDL) is a way of consolidating a multitude of lawsuits with similar fact patterns. Over 99% of all 3M combat ear plug lawsuits were consolidated into an MDL consolidated in the US District Court for the Northern District of Florida. Because it is a federal court, it can handle cases arising nationwide, including in Texas.
3M Settlement
On August 29, 2023, 3M reached a historic settlement in its combat earplug MDL. It will contribute $6 billion to a settlement fund between 2023 and 2029. Individual payouts vary, however. You will have to prove your entitlement to compensation by filing your own local lawsuit.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Texas Product Liability Lawyers
Contact Stephens Law Firm, PLLC online or by giving us a call if you used 3M combat earplugs and sustained hearing loss as a result. You might have a lucrative product liability claim to assert.
Under our contingency fee incentive structure, you only pay legal fees if we win compensation for your case – otherwise, you pay nothing. Your initial consultation is free of charge as well.
