Bernstein Liebhard LLP Offering 3M Combat Arms Earplugs Lawsuit Reviews to U.S. Military Veterans Who Suffered Permanent Hearing Loss After Using Allegedly Defective Military Earplugs

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Feb 05, 2019, 14:50 ET

NEW YORK, Feb. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationwide law firm representing the victims of defective drugs, medical devices, and consumer products, is investigating potential legal claims on behalf of United States military veterans who suffered permanent hearing loss, tinnitus, eardrum ruptures, and other hearing-related disorders allegedly caused by 3M Combat Arms Earplugs, Version 2.

"3M Combat Arm Earplugs, Version 2, were distributed to all United States military personal serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other combat zones from 2003 through 2015," said Sandy A. Liebhard, a partner at Bernstein Liebhard LLP. "Unfortunately, evidence suggests that the 3M Company's military earplugs were defective and may have exposed users to an unacceptable risk of permanent hearing loss and other hearing-related disorders."

The firm is now offering free legal evaluations to military veterans who developed hearing problems, including permanent hearing loss, tinnitus, or ruptured eardrums, after being issued 3M Combat Arms Earplugs while serving in a combat zone from 2003 through 2015.

3M Combat Arms Earplugs and Permanent Hearing Loss

Combat Arms Earplugs, Version 2 (CAEv2) were developed by Aearo Technologies, Inc., which won an exclusive contract to supply military earplugs to the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency in 2003. The 3M Company inherited the contract when it acquired Aearo Technologies in 2008.

From 2003 through 2015, thousands of United States military personnel were issued CAEv2 while serving in the following combat theaters:

Afghanistan
Iraq
North-West Pakistan
Somalia
Operation Ocean Shield in the Indian Ocean
Syria
Yemen
Libya

These 3M military earplugs featured a dual-ended design, with each end providing a different level of protection. The olive-green end performed like a traditional earplug, and blocked all sound. The yellow end allowed users to hear normal speech and other low levels sounds, but blocked gunfire, explosions, and other damaging concussive sounds commonly encountered in combat situations.

3M Combat Arms Lawsuits Allegations

In July 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a $9.1 million settlement to resolve allegations that the 3M Company knowingly provided American soldiers with defective military earplugs. The case was originally filed under the Whistleblower Provisions of the Federal False Claims Act, and charged that the 3M Company and is predecessor, Aearo Technologies, were aware that Combat Arms Earplugs, Version 2, were defective and did not meet government standards as early as 2000. The complaint further charged that the 3M Company and Aearo Technologies intentionally concealed these defects from the military, thus exposing thousands of soldiers to an unacceptable risk of permanent hearing loss and other hearing impairments.

Since then, at least a dozen 3M Combat Arms Earplugs lawsuits have been filed in courts throughout the country on behalf of American veterans who suffered permanent hearing loss, tinnitus, and eardrum ruptures, while serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other combat zones from 2003 through 2015. These plaintiffs claim that the CAEv2 design was too short to fit properly, causing the earplugs to loosen in certain individuals. Because the alleged loosening went unnoticed, plaintiffs claim they were exposed to dangerous, concussive sounds that damaged their hearing.

On January 25^th, a motion was filed with the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation that seeks to centralize all pending 3M Combat Arms Earplugs lawsuits, as well as any filed in the future, in a single federal court for coordinated discovery and other pretrial proceedings. Among other things, the motion predicted that thousands of similar lawsuits would likely be filed in the future, and asserted that coordinated pretrial proceedings would promote judicial efficiency, avoid duplicative discovery and inconsistent rulings, and preserve the resources of the courts, parties, and witnesses involved in the growing litigation. (In Re: 3M Combat Arms Earplug Litigation, MDL Case Pending No. 5)

Learn More About Filing a 3M Combat Arms Earplugs Lawsuit

Bernstein Liebhard LLP is now offering free, no-obligation legal reviews to United States military veterans who may be eligible to file a 3M Combat Arms Earplugs Lawsuit.

If you suffered permanent hearing loss or other hearing problems, and were issued 3M military earplugs while serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, or another combat zone from 2003 through 2015, please visit Bernstein Liebhard LLP's website, or contact the firm directly at 800-511-5092.

About Bernstein Liebhard LLP
Bernstein Liebhard LLP is a New York-based law firm exclusively representing injured persons in complex individual and class action lawsuits nationwide since 1993. As a national law firm, Bernstein Liebhard LLP possesses all the legal and financial resources required to successfully challenge billion dollar pharmaceutical and medical device companies. As a result, our attorneys and legal staff have been able to recover more than $3.5 billion on behalf of our clients. Bernstein Liebhard LLP has been named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List" 13 times and listed in The Legal 500 for 10 consecutive years.

Bernstein Liebhard LLP
10 East 40th Street
New York, New York 10016
800-511-5092

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2019 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, 800-511-5092. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

Contact Information:
Sandy A. Liebhard, Esq.
Bernstein Liebhard LLP
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