The earplugs at issue here are 3M’s dual-ended Combat Arms Earplugs, Version 2 (CAEv2) and, according to the whistleblower lawsuit, Aearo Technologies, Inc., acquired by 3M in 2008, was aware of the issue with the combat earplugs as early as 2000. In the Closed/Constant Protection mode, CAE protects against high-level steady noises like those in tracked vehicles and air transport.” Despite these claims, it has been found that 3M’s combat earplugs may contain a design defect that could put users at risk for hearing loss, tinnitus and other serious, debilitating problems. In the Open/Weapons Fire mode, CAE allows greater situational awareness than a common foam earplug yet helps attenuate dangerous peak levels with a filter element that reacts quickly to provide increased protection. According to the 3M website, “Combat Arms Earplugs (CAE) meet the demanding hearing protection needs of the armed forces. According to Special Agent in Charge Robert Craig, Jr., from the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, “DCIS protects the integrity of Defense Department programs by rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse that negatively affect the wellbeing of our troops.” Call to Speak With a Representative 86Ĭombat earplugs are specially designed earplugs used by the military to protect members of the armed forces from high-level noises like weapons fire and explosions, and constant noise such as that from aircraft and armored vehicles, that could damage their hearing. As a result of this combat earplugs settlement agreement, for instance, the whistleblower will receive $1,911,000. The combat earplug allegations against 3M were brought in a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which allows private parties to sue on behalf of the government if they believe defendants submitted false claims for government funds and to share in any recovery. In July 2018, Minnesota-based 3M Company agreed to a settlement of $9.1 million to resolve allegations that the company knowingly supplied defective dual-ended Combat Arms Earplugs to the United States military without warnings that defects may render the earplugs’ hearing protection less effective. Contact an experienced product liability lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your legal options. If you were active in any branch of the military (including Reserves and National Guard) between 20, and suffered hearing loss possibly caused by defective combat earplugs, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit against the earplug manufacturer.
The Combat Arms Earplugs manufactured by 3M were designed for military use and were used by thousands of servicemen and women deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan from 2003 to 2015.
COMBAT ARMS EARPLUGS FULL
3M has already been ordered to pay $9.1 million in a False Claims Act lawsuit for failing to disclose this design defect to the military, but that won’t bring back the hearing of those who have already suffered full or partial hearing loss from the allegedly defective earplugs. Military servicemen and women who have used dual-ended Combat Arms Earplugs manufactured by 3M Company may have suffered noise-induced deafness, hearing loss, tinnitus and other problems due to a design defect that allows the earplugs to gradually, and subtly, loosen until they fail to properly provide the desired noise cancellation for certain users.
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