Weekly Mass Torts Bulletin 2021-Dec-27

Latest Combat Earplug Lawsuit In 3M's Favor

A federal jury in Florida has awarded a combat earplugs lawsuit verdict in the favor of 3M and its Aearo Technologies LLC subsidiary against a U.S. Army veteran over hearing loss claims.

The email from 3M stated that the company is pleased with the verdict, and it will also help to deal with the future earplugs litigations.

The lead counsel for the service members explained that even though the verdict has been awarded in the favor of 3M, the majority of the juries have sided with the service members by concluding that the earplugs are defective, which causes irreparable hearing damage to the users.

CAEv2 has a reversible design that blocks all the sound when used from one end and provides selective hearing when used from the other side. As per the lawsuits filed by the service members, the product failed to meet the design standard requirements as it fell off from the ears resulting in hearing loss to the users.

3M has won two verdicts in the earlier trials where the service members alleged the company of providing faulty products.

Even the plaintiffs have won some trials, including a suit where a U.S. Army sergeant has been awarded $13 million by a Florida jury and a service member who is set to receive $22.5 million.

Judge M. Casey Rodgers in the Northern District of Florida is overlooking the MDLNo. 2885; In Re: 3M Combat Arms Earplug Litigation where more than 640 injury lawsuits are centralized.