Today the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation entered an order creating a multidistrict litigation docket for claims relating to 3M’s defective Dual-Ended Combat Earplugs. All litigation against 3M for their defective earplugs will be sent to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida before the Honorable M. Casey Rodgers.
What Is Multidistrict Litigation?
When multiple lawsuits share common questions of fact, federal law grants authority to its courts to consolidate those lawsuits into a single action for the purpose of avoiding strain on the federal court system by promoting judicial efficiency. Consolidation helps save time and money for the parties by eliminating what would otherwise be redundant procedures if each claim were litigated separately.
Ineffective Defects of 3M’s Combat Earplugs
Between 2003 and 2015, 3M allegedly manufactured defective combat earplugs which were issued to thousands of service members, including those deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. The earplug’s design allegedly made it ineffective at protecting the user’s ear from damage and subsequent hearing loss caused by the extreme loudness of munitions discharge and explosives detonations.
Recently, 3M agreed to pay the U.S. Government $9.1M to settle allegations that it knowingly sold defective combat earplugs to the U.S. military without disclosing information about its defects. Not long after news of the settlement reached the public, lawsuits from service members and veterans soon followed.
You Don’t Have to Sacrifice Your Chance for Justice
Current and former military service members who served at any point between 2003 to 2015 might be entitled to compensation from 3M if they have suffered hearing loss or tinnitus. Contact us immediately for a no-cost review of your potential claims. Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. regularly represents members of the armed forces and is thoroughly investigating these claims against 3M.
Contact Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. to schedule a free consultation regarding your case.
