The whistleblower (“qui tam”) lawsuit alleged that 3M (and Aearo Technologies, which was acquired by 3M in 2008) knowingly sold CAEv2 earplugs that contained a critical design defect. The CAEv2 earplugs were marketed as being dual-purpose: wearing them one way would allow sounds such as speech to be heard while blocking out dangerously loud combat noise, and wearing them the other way would completely block out all sound, providing protection from damaging sounds like gunfire. The earplugs became standard issue and were supplied to thousands of servicemembers deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan from 2003 to 2015. In 2018, manufacturer 3M agreed to a $9.1 million settlement to resolve claims that the company knowingly sold defective dual-ended Combat Arms Earplugs, Version 2 (CAEv2) to the Department of Defense. But while dangerous levels of sound are an unavoidable aspect of combat zones, many military personnel may have been needlessly exposed to hearing loss by using defective combat earplugs distributed by 3M. Hearing loss is one of the most common and widespread issues affecting the men and women of the United States military.
Wallace Miller represents individuals who suffer from hearing loss and tinnitus as a result of using 3M and Aearo Technologies defective combat earplugs, which were sold to U.S. Case: In Re: 3M Combat Arms Earplug Products Liability Litigation, Case Number 3:19-md-02885-MCR-GRJ Court: United States District Court, Northern District of Florida
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