3M Military Earplug Cases Consolidated into MDL in Florida

FLORIDA – According to an online report posted at citizentruth.org, several hundred cases against the company 3M involving military earplugs have been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in Florida. The cases allege that 3M knowingly sold earplugs to the United States military that were defective and caused service members to sustain hearing loss and tinnitus. Montlick & Associates, named “Most Patriotic Business of 2011” by the Association of the U.S. Army is investigating potential legal claims involving 3M’s dual-ended Combat Arms earplugs (dual-ended combat arms earplugs, version 2, caev2) causing hearing loss, tinnitus, ringing in the ear, and permanent deafness.*

At the beginning of April, the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) ordered that all pending cases against 3M involving its Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2 (CAEv2) be transferred to one court in Florida. The JPML effectively opened a multidistrict litigation for the cases in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida. Judge M. Casey Rodgers will preside over the MDL. 

A multidistrict litigation is a grouping of cases into one court. The cases are all individual but involve the same defendants and the same types of allegations. MDLs allow discovery matters to be conducted at once and applied to all cases, rather than having to work up hundreds or thousands of cases separately. 

As of the time of the transfer order, more than 600 known cases were pending against 3M brought by injured veterans and families. The suits allege that 3M concealed information about the defects in its CAEv2 earplugs and sold dangerous products to the military to the detriment of service members. 

In 2018, 3M agreed to pay more than $9 million to reimburse the federal government for the earplugs. The settlement ended a whistleblower lawsuit brought under the False Claims Act, but 3M did not admit liability as part of the settlement.

Put Our Law Firm's Over 39 Years Of Legal Experience To Work For Your Case!

If you or a loved one have suffered hearing loss or tinnitus due to a defective military combat earplug, call Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law for your free consultation today. Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law has been representing those who suffer serious injuries for over 39 years.

No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour live chat.

Source:https://citizentruth.org/3m-veteran-lawsuits-earplugs/