3M Settles Combat Earplug Litigation for $6 Billion

3M is shelling out $6 billion to settle a lawsuit over earplugs that were supposed to protect our troops' ears. This isn't just any lawsuit—it's ballooned into the biggest mass tort litigation the U.S. has ever seen. Picture this: around 240,000 veterans might be in line to claim a piece of this pie. Chris Seeger, one of the lead lawyers for these vets, wasn't shy about calling it a "tremendous victory" for those who served and came back with their hearing forever changed.

If you're one of the 240,000 people purported to have suffered hearing loss as a result of the 3M earplugs, this is news you'll want to listen to—closely.

The gear at the center of the storm

Rewinding to the start, the whole ruckus is about the 3M Combat Arms earplugs. These were made by Aearo Technologies, snapped up by 3M in 2008, and they were standard issue for troops in places like Afghanistan and Iraq from 2003 to 2015.

But here's the deal: plaintiffs argue that 3M played hide-and-seek with design flaws, tinkered with test results, and skimped on the how-to-use instructions on the military grade earplugs. The result? Veterans came home with their hearing turned down, or off.

The legal wrangle

All these accusations and complaints got bundled up and landed in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge M. Casey Rodgers in sunny Pensacola, Florida, back in 2019. At one point, this pile of paperwork made up about 30% of all federal court cases across the country. 

According to Reuters, 3M wasn't too happy, claiming the whole process was tipped against them. They said Judge Rodgers left out evidence that could've helped their case and let a flood of unchecked claims clog up the court. They even tried to hit the bankruptcy button for Aearo, but a judge called their bluff, saying Aearo wasn't broke enough to go bust.

3M's legal hurdles extend beyond earplugs hearing loss

As the dust settles on the combat earplug controversy, 3M isn't out of the legal woods yet. The company is staring down the barrel of another mass tort liability, this time for its use of PFAS—those notorious forever chemicals known for sticking around in the environment and posing potential health risks.

These PFAS-related concerns have propelled 3M into another legal fray, potentially racking up an estimated $12.5 billion in liabilities. State attorneys general and individual plaintiffs have put the company squarely in their sights, arguing that these chemicals present a significant health hazard.

In an attempt to address these issues and perhaps mitigate the legal heat, 3M has made moves to phase out PFAS from their products. Meanwhile, a tentative mega-deal looms on the horizon—a $10.3 billion settlement proposal to address PFAS contamination concerns. It's a proposal that's seen some progress, with several states recently withdrawing objections, hinting at the possibility of a resolution. However, the final word on this agreement is still pending

So, what do we make of this $6 billion combat earplugs settlement? Is it a solid win for the vets, or is it just the cost of doing business for a big player like 3M? And with the PFAS issue still on the table, it seems like 3M's legal battles are far from over. One thing's for sure, when it comes to protecting our troops and our water, the real victory is making sure history doesn't repeat itself. What's your take?

The 3M combat earplugs MDL is In re Combat Arms Earplug Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3:19-md-02885, in the U.S.District Court for the Northern District of Florida.