Hearing loss caused by 3M earplugs leads to a $6 billion lawsuit settlement for the company.

 Hearing loss caused by 3M earplugs leads to a $6 billion lawsuit settlement for the company.

3M has committed to paying over $6 billion to individuals, including military personnel, who claimed that the company's faulty earplugs caused hearing issues and related injuries, marking a significant settlement in a class-action lawsuit. Lawyers representing the plaintiffs, including Bryan F. Aylstock of A. Seeger of Seeger Weiss LLP, and Clayton Clark of Clark, Love & Hutson, PLLC, referred to this resolution as a historic victory, ensuring rightful compensation and justice for those affected by hearing damage.

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"Between 2023 and 2029, 3M plans to allocate funds totaling $6 billion, comprising $5 billion in monetary funds and $1 billion in the form of 3M common stock. This information was disclosed in an official statement on the company's website.

Additionally, 3M emphasized that this arrangement does not imply any acknowledgment of fault. The company further stated that the earmuffs in question are considered secure and efficient when utilized as intended."

"The earplugs, instances of harm, and inaccurate testing"

The plaintiffs stated in their complaint that the Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs, CAEv.2, produced by Aearo LLC between 2003 and 2015, had a tendency to loosen, thereby subjecting the plaintiffs to potentially harmful and loud noises. It's worth noting that Aearo LLC was acquired by 3M in 2007.

Individuals who utilized these earplugs encompassed those engaged in civilian industrial occupations, as well as individuals who employed them during activities like hunting or practicing marksmanship at shooting ranges. Additionally, some individuals relied on these earplugs during their military service, using them for purposes such as firearms training, vehicle upkeep, and working in environments with high levels of noise, whether within their home country or overseas.

3M had encountered prior issues following a whistleblower's report before this incident.

Back in July 2018, the Department of Justice made public that 3M Company had agreed to pay $9.1 million "to settle allegations that it knowingly supplied" the same type of earplugs involved in the ongoing settlement to the U.S. military, all while withholding information about the defects.

Chad A. Readler, the acting assistant attorney of the department’s civil division, stated, "Government contractors who prioritize their own profits over the well-being of our military will be held accountable."

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