The compensation ranges between $50,000 and $400,000. It is worthy of note that veterans who were injured by the 3M Combat Arms earplugs can also file a claim with the VA, as they also offer money in the form of disability compensation.
These defective earplugs (also known as the 3M CAEv2) were used by all branches of the armed forces, including the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, National Guard, and Coast Guard.
The 3M ear plug lawsuit is a prime example of how corporations can put profits before the well-being of the people they are supposed to serve. 3M, a company that is supposed to be dedicated to creating products that protect people, knowingly sold defective ear plugs to the U.S. military for over a decade. The result? Thousands of veterans suffering from hearing loss and tinnitus as a result of using these faulty ear plugs.
The lawsuit alleges that 3M sold its ear plugs to the military without disclosing that they were defective and did not provide adequate protection against loud noises. As a result, many veterans who used these ear plugs during combat or training missions have suffered permanent hearing damage. This is not just a betrayal of our veterans, but a clear violation of the trust that the military and the public placed in 3M.
What makes this situation even more outrageous is that 3M reportedly knew about the defects in its ear plugs as early as 2000, yet continued to sell them to the military until 2015. In fact, 3M paid $9.1 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit in 2018, which alleged that the company knew about the defects but failed to disclose them to the military.
The harm caused by 3M’s actions cannot be undone. Many veterans now suffer from permanent hearing loss and tinnitus, which can have a profound impact on their daily lives. The lawsuit seeks to hold 3M accountable for its actions and provide justice for those who have been harmed.
It is a sad reality that corporations sometimes put profits before people. But in this case, the harm caused by 3M’s actions is particularly egregious. Our veterans deserve better than this, and we must hold companies accountable for their actions.
