Updated on January 25, 2024
Stay informed with the latest details on the 3M Earplug Lawsuit: February Payment Dates and Eligibility Criteria in 2024 by reading this post.
3m Earplug Lawsuit Update 2024
The 3M earplug case holds the potential for financial compensation for numerous military personnel, encompassing both veterans and recently enlisted individuals. It revolves around issues concerning hearing problems attributed to the use of the company’s defective earplugs, leading to conditions such as tinnitus and hearing loss.
Following an extensive legal dispute, one of the largest mass tort cases in American history concluded with 3M agreeing to a settlement. In August 2023, 3M reached a $6 billion settlement to address approximately 260,000 earplug-related complaints.
Certainly, feel free to continue reading to get detailed information about the 3M Earplug Lawsuit Update in 2024.
What is 3m Earplug Lawsuit?
3M faced a significant lawsuit related to earplugs, as military personnel, including veterans and active-duty members, filed complaints claiming that the use of 3M’s earplugs led to hearing-related issues such as tinnitus and hearing loss. This has resulted in a substantial legal battle, and many individuals have sought compensation for the alleged damages caused by the faulty earplugs. If you’re interested in the latest updates on the 3M Earplug Lawsuit in 2024, please continue reading.
On August 29, 2023, 3M agreed to a settlement of $6.01 billion to address the claims made by military personnel, putting an end to a legal battle that spanned over five years. This settlement was reached in response to the complaints from veterans who alleged suffering from tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and hearing loss due to the use of 3M’s earplugs.
The contentious Combat Arms earplugs took center stage in the dispute, as they were employed by the US military from 2003 to 2015 for training and combat, including deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq. Plaintiffs argued that the company concealed design flaws in the earplugs, manipulated test results, and failed to provide adequate instructions for proper use, leading to hearing impairments.
3m Earplug Lawsuit Overview
| Article Title | 3m Earplug Lawsuit Update 2024 |
| Country | USA |
| Claimants | Army Personnel of America |
| Settlement Amount | $6.01 billion |
| Eligible Period | 2003-2015 |
3m Earplug Lawsuit Payment
Under the terms of the settlement, claimants are slated to receive $1 billion in 3M common stock and $5 billion in cash from 3M over the period from 2023 to 2029. As part of this arrangement, the company disbursed $250 million to nearly 30,000 claimants in December of the previous year.
Typically, individual settlement awards in cases related to tinnitus or hearing loss from the use of 3M earplugs have fallen within the range of $50,000 to $300,000. This range is based on reported settlement amounts and jury verdicts from previous cases.
February Earplug Lawsuit Payment Dates
As of now, specific dates for the distribution of the 3M earplug lawsuit settlement payments have not been provided by the company authorities. However, it is expected to commence in the near future.
3m Earplug Lawsuit Eligibility
Under the terms of the settlement, individuals with Combat Arms Earplug (CAE) claims are eligible, including but not limited to those who were discharged without prejudice in the Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) or the coordinated Minnesota state court (MN Court) action, or those who filed a complaint.
If a party filed a case complaint but had it dismissed before the settlement deadline, without prejudice, they are not eligible to file another one. To be eligible, you should have been in the armed forces from 2003-2015 and subjected to loud noise during your service. Additionally, you must have been diagnosed with hearing loss or tinnitus.
The anticipated more than $6 billion settlement is expected to be available to about 240,000 individuals. However, if less than 98% of qualified claimants choose to participate, 3M has the option to terminate the agreement.
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