3M Earplug Lawsuit Attorney
Defective 3M earplugs have caused hearing loss and tinnitus for veterans and current members of the military. As a result, you may be entitled to receive financial compensation for your injuries. Our product liability lawyers have a 3M earplug lawsuit update for you. Call Paul Mankin for a free initial consultation of your case at 800-219-3577.
3M Earplug Lawsuit Update 2022
July 2022 The settlement process in the 3M earplug lawsuit takes place on July 15, 2022. Settlement discussions will last about three days. Both sides of the lawsuit must “engage in serious and good-faith efforts to resolve as many cases as possible.” The judge in this case indicated that if settlements are not reached, the federal court system will likely be flooded with 3M earplug trials. There are currently 233,883 plaintiffs with 3M earplug cases in the United States. If a settlement cannot be reached, then the cases will be tried in district courts. It is important to contact a 3M lawsuit attorney now so that you can get the compensation you deserve if there is a settlement. Attorney Paul Mankin has been asked when the 3M earplug lawsuit will settle. Although no specific date can be identified, the July 2022 negotiations are a good indicator that it will happen soon. Call us at 800-219-3577 to discus your case. June 2022 In June 2022, the main Plaintiffs in the 3M earplug case (Luke Estes, Lewis Keefer, Stephen Hacker, and Lloyd Baker), filed a response to the company’s appeal in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. The company 3M is claiming protection under the Feres Doctrine as a government contractor. However, they are not technically a government contractor because they never had a real contract with the military to provide earplugs to service members. A hearing will be held to determine the outcome of 3M’s appeal. There is very little chance that 3M will win the appeal, and it is likely that a settlement will be reached soon. May 2022 After a two-week trial, a federal jury in Pensacola, Florida awarded Army veteran James Beal $77.5 million in damages for his injuries associated with 3M defective earplugs that caused hearing loss and tinnitus. This makes a total of $300 million awarded to plaintiffs against 3M so far. Also in May 2022, a Colorado judge cut a verdict from $55 million to $21.7 million. This was solely because of legal or statutory limits on punitive damages that may be awarded under Colorado laws. In mid-May, 3M’s defense lawyers were hit with sanctions for “willful abuse of the trial process” in a lawsuit involving plaintiff Army veteran James Beal. The judge indicated that 3M lawyers have caused frustration for more than two years and they are trying to defy long-standing procedural rules regarding depositions. The judge in the Beal case also granted a Summary Judgment Motion that blocks 3M from presenting nearly all available affirmative defenses, including contributory negligence. May also brought about the dismissal of more than 20,000 3M earplug lawsuits in the class action. The cause was failure to file paperwork related to the plaintiffs’ military service. This essential misstep is why it’s so important to work with an attorney who is familiar with class action cases. Attorney L. Paul Mankin diligently works with clients to ensure all legal documents are properly drafted and proper paperwork is filed on time. You can call us today at 800-219-3577.
Who Is Eligible to File a 3M Earplug Lawsuit?
Anyone who served in the military from 2003 to 2015 and suffered permanent hearing damage may file a product liability lawsuit against 3M, the earplug manufacturer. If you meet the following criteria, you may be able to file a 3M earplug lawsuit:
- You were a service member between 2003 and 2015
- You were issued earplugs during your time in the armed services
- You were exposed to loud sounds while in the military
- You have been diagnosed with hearing loss or tinnitus
So far, nearly 300,000 soldiers have filed lawsuits against the company, and there may be thousands more who can make claims. Combat Arms earplugs left our service members unprotected from high-level sounds that resulted in permanent damage to their ears, and for some, complete hearing loss. If you have questions about whether you qualify for a 3M lawsuit, you should immediately contact L. Paul Mankin. You must act soon to if you want to take part in settlement negotiations. Call us at 800-219-3577.
3M Earplug Lawsuit Compensation
Jury verdicts in the 3M earplug lawsuits have been significant. In fact, the average successfully jury payout has been around $20 million for injured plaintiffs. Awards have ranged from less than $1 million to more than $70 million. Many of the jury verdicts have been limited by laws restricting the amount of punitive damages. You are eligible to recover 100% of the money you have paid for the following:
- Past and future medical costs
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Physical limitations and disability
- Disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Loss of consortium (familial relationships)
Punitive Damages in 3M Lawsuits
In most cases, you can also get punitive damages. Punitive damages do not compensate you for your losses, but instead punish the defendant for particularly wrongful actions. This type of award is available in earplug lawsuits because 3M knew that their earplugs were defective and still allowed members of the military to use them, resulting in hearing loss and tinnitus.
3M Earplug Lawsuit Settlement
Although jury verdicts tend to be large in the 3M earplug cases, a settlement will probably result in less financial compensation per person. This will be balanced by the fact that you can get an immediate payout and you won’t have to spend most of your money on legal fees, discovery costs, and other typical court expenses. You can still expect to get tens of thousands of dollars, perhaps even hundreds of thousands, by reaching a settlement with 3M. To find out how much money you can get in a 3M lawsuit, call our 3M lawsuit attorney at 800-219-3577.
What Are The 3M Lawsuits About?
The 3M lawsuit cases involve nearly 300,000 soldiers bringing claims against 3M, the maker of defective earplugs. These dangerous products have caused hearing loss and tinnitus for hundreds of thousands of veterans and active military members.
Who is 3M?
3M is a company based in St. Paul, Minnesota. They manufacture and sell Combat Arms earplugs, which are dark green and yellow. These earplugs were originally developed by Aearo Technologies, which 3M bought out in 2008. This makes 3M liable for injuries caused by the Combat Arms earplugs both before and after 2008. The dual-ended Combat Arms Earplug Version 2 (CAEv2) were considered standard issue equipment for military service members. They were supposed to prevent hearing loss due to exposure to loud noises like aircraft engines, guns, and explosives. However, 3M has admitted that the earplugs were defective and did not actually protect soldiers from hearing loss and other ear injuries such as tinnitus.
Why Are 3M Earplugs Defective?
3M earplugs were designed defectively to begin with. The original earplugs were too small for the Army’s carrying case. They also made wearing a helmet challenging for soldiers. In response to these problems, the manufacturer shortened the earplugs so they fit. However, they failed to go deeply enough into the ear to provide actual protection from peak-level noises. As a result, the earplugs were too short for soldiers with large, or even normal, ear canals.
Did 3M Know the Earplugs Were Defective?
Yes. 3M was aware that the Combat Arms earplugs were defective, but they did not disclose that information to the military. The company was able to produce the earplugs for 85 cents each set, but they were sold for $7.63 per pair. 3M made millions and risked the health and wellbeing of America’s service members.
3M Lawsuit FAQs
Why Do 3M Trials Often Have Multiple Plaintiffs?
3M lawsuits have been filed in courts throughout the United States. Thus, they are considered “Multidistrict litigation” or “MDL” for short. In fact, this is the largest MDL in history. A single earplug lawsuit could take years to progress through the court system. Each trial could last up to two weeks. Instead, the cases are being consolidated into groups for efficiency in the court system. Additionally, combining cases can reduce legal costs for the plaintiffs. It allows plaintiffs to share resources through the discovery process. Pre-trial matters, such as motions and other practical issues, can also be handled jointly by multiple plaintiffs’ attorneys and their staff.
How Much Does an Attorney Cost for a 3M Earplugs Case?
Most product liability law firms, including L. Paul Mankin, handle 3M cases on a contingency fee basis. You will pay nothing up front and there are no legal fees until you win a jury verdict or obtain a settlement payout.
How Long Will a 3M Lawsuit Take?
Mass tort product liability cases like the 3M litigation can take years to resolve. However, since settlement is scheduled for July 2022, there is a good chance that you will get financial compensation quickly. It can still take months for the company to organize their information and send out checks, but most of the lengthy legal process has already taken place.
Call a 3M Earplug Lawsuit Attorney for Help
It’s important to act fast if you qualify to file a 3M lawsuit settlement. However, we know that it can be hard to know what steps to take. When you call us, we will inform you of your options and help you make the best choices to move forward with a 3M earplug lawsuit. Call The Law Office of Paul Mankin today at 800-219-3577. Free initial consultation.