Those of you who served in the US military between 2003 and 2015 and were issued the 3M Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2, you may be eligible for legal action and financial compensation. If you were issued the 3M Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2 and suffer from service-connected hearing loss and/or tinnitus, you need to contact the law offices of Phipps, Deacon, Purnell, PLLC to see if you have a case that is eligible for financial compensation from 3M Company. “Government contractors who seek to profit at the expense of our military will face appropriate consequences,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad Readler of the Justice Department’s Civil Division in a Thursday press release.
3M Combat Arms Earplug Lawsuit
According to Military Times, the 3M Company knowingly manufactured and then sold defective earplugs, the 3M Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2, to the US Military. The earplugs were too short and would gradually loosen from the ears making them not perform as they should. Due to the defects, many individuals have suffered from noise-induced hearing loss and/or tinnitus. The 3M Company has settled with the US Government for 9.1 million dollars. However, this has now opened the opportunity for individual allegations to step forth and pursue a 3M combat arms earplug lawsuit.
If you were a service member who served between 2003 and 2015 and was issued the 3M Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2 and also suffer from noise-induced hearing loss and/or tinnitus you could be eligible for financial compensation from 3M. Pursuing a 3M combat arms earplug lawsuit will NOT affect any VA benefits that veterans are entitled to. Since the US Department of Defense is not liable for the damages, you are not pursuing damages against them potentially affecting your benefits. The 3M Company who manufactured and sold the defective earplugs are the ones liable and will be responsible for paying damages to the service members and veterans who have been affected. Your VA benefits are safe if you engage in the 3M combat arms earplug lawsuit.
Those who were stationed at the following bases could easily benefit from hiring the law offices of Phipps, Deacon, Purnell, PLLC:
- Fort Bliss
- Camp Bullis
- Fort Hood
- Randolph Air Force Base
- Fort Sam Houston
- Brooks City Base
- Lackland Air Force Base
- Naval Air Station Corpus Christi
The law offices of Phipps, Deacon, Purnell, PLLC are located in San Antonio, Texas but will evaluate individual cases from all service members and veterans across the United States. “This settlement demonstrates the commitment of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and our law enforcement partners to hold companies accountable for supplying substandard products, in particular products that could directly impact our service members’ health and welfare,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Craig, Jr., from the DCIS Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “DCIS protects the integrity of Defense Department programs by rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse that negatively affect the well-being of our troops.” Do not let yourself suffer from someone else’s wrongdoings. You now have lifelong damage done to your ears and are rightfully due compensation. Let the law offices of Phipps, Deacon, Purnell, PLLC take care of your 3M combat arms earplug lawsuit.
About Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
When you are exposed to excessively loud sounds you can suffer noise-induced hearing loss. Your hearing can gradually deteriorate from repeated loud noise exposure. However, tour hearing can also suddenly deteriorate from exposure to impulse noise, such as gunshots. The overstimulation of your hearing cells become permanently damaged and cannot be restored. One or both ears can be affected. Some symptoms you may have that would signal you suffer from noise-induced hearing loss are:
- Difficulty hearing conversations
- Overall decrease in volume
- Speech clarity (Not being able to hear certain frequencies. Consonants such as “s” and “t” become difficult to hear.)
- Ringing, clicking or roaring sound when no external sound is present
If you were issued the 3M Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2 and suffer from any of these symptoms you may be eligible for a 3M combat arms earplug lawsuit. Be sure to contact the law offices of Phipps, Deacon, Purnell, PLLC to discuss your potential case. These earplugs were knowingly manufactured and then sold with defects. When your ears are not properly protected, you are put at risk for obtaining noise-induced hearing loss. You can help prevent such hearing loss by limiting your exposure to excessive noise or by wearing appropriate physical protection such as earplugs.
About Tinnitus
Tinnitus is not a disease itself but is a symptom of noise-induced hearing loss. It is often described as ringing, clicking or roaring sounds in the ears or head when no external sound is present. It can be present in one or both ears, depending on your hearing loss. Tinnitus can come and go, or be constant which can cause psychological distress such as anxiety or depression. If you don’t properly protect your ears against loud and harmful sounds, it can lead to noise-induced hearing loss and then potentially lead to tinnitus. One way of not protecting your ears is by using defective earplugs, such as the 3M Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2 have been proven to be. If you served in the US military between 2003 and 2015 and were issued the 3M Dual-Ended Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2 earplugs, don’t hesitate to call the law offices of Phipps, Deacon, Purnell, PLLC to discuss your potential 3M combat arms earplug lawsuit.
