3M Earplug Litigation in Houston, TX
Hold 3M Accountable with Webster Vicknair MacLeod
In 2006, the U.S. government entered into a contract with 3M. The Minnesota-based company provided the military with approximately 15,000 Dual-Ended Combat Arms™ Earplugs per year at a guaranteed price of $9 million annually. According to 3M, the earplugs would allow users to hear commands while blocking out harmful noise.
Unfortunately, the dual-ended earplugs were defective, and U.S. veterans who used 3M’s products between 2003 and 2015 were left with tinnitus, hearing, loss, and loss of balance.
Because 3M knew about the defects and put profits over U.S. service members, many veterans are coming forward with lawsuits against the company. So far, 3M has gone to court for 8 lawsuits and lost 5 of them. In the most recent trial, jurors in Tallahassee, Florida awarded the plaintiff $7.5 million in compensatory damages and $15 million in punitive damages.
3M is currently facing more than 272,000 lawsuits, and more service members and Veterans come forward every day.
If you have lost your hearing or developed tinnitus or balance problems as a result of using defective 3M earplugs, Webster Vicknair MacLeod can help you join the 3M earplug litigation in Houston, Texas.
Call us at (713) 396-5197 for a free consultation.
Hearing Loss in U.S. Veterans
Hearing problems, including tinnitus and hearing loss, are the most prevalent service-connected disability among American veterans. These problems can interfere with veterans’ jobs and mental health. Tinnitus, which is a perceived ringing in the ear, has been linked to anxiety and depression, as it reminds veterans of the traumatic sounds they faced on the battlefield.
3M Dual-Ended Combat Arms™ Earplugs were designed to block out these harmful sounds, but they failed. Instead of pulling the earplugs from the market when it became aware of these issues, 3M continued to knowingly sell defective earplugs.
Our 3M earplug litigation attorneys in Houstoncan help you hold the company accountable for its wrongdoing.
How Were the Earplugs Defective?
3M earplugs easily and undetectably loosened in service members’ ears, leaving them exposed to loud sounds as if they were wearing no earplugs at all. The earplugs also failed to fulfill their promise of letting soldiers hear commands while blocking out harmful noises.
The U.S. government sued 3M under the False Claims Act and recovered $9.1 million, and many service members and veterans have filed personal injury lawsuitsunder products liability laws.
How Can Webster Vicknair MacLeodHelp?
Webster Vicknair MacLeodhas recovered millions of dollars for injured clients, and we can help you, too. We know the impact that hearing problems can have on your life, and we can help you offset your losses by recovering compensation from 3M.
If you served in the military between 2003 and 2015, used 3M earplugs, and suffered tinnitus, hearing loss, or loss of balance, we can help you recover damages for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Hearing aids
- Surgery and medication
- Audiologists
- Speech therapists
- And more
