Army veteran awarded $8.2 million in fourth trial over 3M earplugs

[Lennie]

Army veteran awarded $8.2 million in fourth trial over 3M earplugs

It is the fourth trial against Minnesota-based company 3M related to earplugs that it sold to the military. Those earplugs were used during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 250,000 cases have been filed against the company.

www.stripes.com

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[Flopsweat]

So what happens to his $8M if this turns into a class action suit or similar? Just guessing but I don't think 3M will be able to pay everyone that much.

 

[P7M13]

So what happens to his $8M if this turns into a class action suit or similar? Just guessing but I don't think 3M will be able to pay everyone that much.

Not a lawyer, but I once did stay at a Holiday Inn that caught fire.
250,000 cases filed indicate class-action level litigation. Bankruptcy is also an option.
The lawyers win.

 

[ThePostMan]

Ahh the Lawyers need money too, at least they exist otherwise 3M wouldn't pay bubblegum. 3M has been running real dirty, bubbleguming over people in the military and the whole Covid mask ordeal.... Dirt bags

 

[ThePostMan]

hmm guess it censors you lol

 

[Xaevian]

hmm guess it censors you lol

Yessir, family friendly, Mr. ThePostMan. We prefer our profanity delivered in discreet packaging with no signature required.

 

[Flopsweat]

hmm guess it censors you lol

You bet your bubbleguming bubblegum it does.

 

[po18guy]

What?

 

[tac]

I served thirty-three years without getting issued with JS by way of hearing protection. I'm not grousing, just saying.

And yes, I'm pretty much deaf. Just like most vets of my age. Two rolled-up pieces of 4x2 cleaning patch was it - if you were on a range. That was it.

 

[billdeserthills]

A friend once suggested shoving cartridges into the ears--9mm works ok for me, better than cigarette butts anyway

 

[Hueco]

The lawsuit is frivolous and dumb. Did 3M intentionally distribute faulty and ineffective gear or were their efforts in good faith and they just had a crap product?

That being said - Uncle Sam should be taking care of vets whose hearing is irreparably damaged...hearing aids, surgeries, sign language classes, vocational training...

 

[oremike]

For some reason as I approached age 65 I requested my discharge physical and saw it said that I had hearing loss and Tinnitus so I requested a disability based on that. It took some time and I had to go to their doctor for a hearing test but they awarded me a 10% disability.

 

[po18guy]

@Flopsweat I knew that someone would finally get it! Congrats.

 

[Flopsweat]

@Flopsweat I knew that someone would finally get it! Congrats.

I wonder if he'll miss his hearing?

 

[PORSCHE928S4]

Thank you all for your service !!!

 

[Xaevian]

I tried calling the tinnitus hotline, but no one answered. It just kept ringing and ringing.

 

[po18guy]

I wonder if he'll miss his hearing?

 

[ThePostMan]

The lawsuit is frivolous and dumb. Did 3M intentionally distribute faulty and ineffective gear or were their efforts in good faith and they just had a crap product?

That being said - Uncle Sam should be taking care of vets whose hearing is irreparably damaged...hearing aids, surgeries, sign language classes, vocational training...

You think a bunch of Vets getting boned by 3M and the Government is not lawsuit worthy? interesting take. It was shown that 3M knew, and still distributed them. They test their products before they go out to meet standards osha etc... 3M had to know, they have made non faulty plugs before, after, and during that, saved some money on the government contract and probably charged double the regular cost. And who is Uncle Sam do you mean the Tax Payer, the Tax payer should fix the problem that 3M got paid for and made.

 

[Ura-Ki]

We never got issued hearing protection, you did what you could with what you could find! Cig butts worked some, 9mm rounds worked a little better, and when flying, we had pretty good head sets, but that was only as long as you remained in the aircraft! I'm almost totally deaf in my right ear, and down about 40% in my left, despite those head sets! Wasn't anything I could do about it, and I just deal with it! The V.A refuses hearing aids, but the state backed me up and covered me, so I got one really good aid that seems to work well enough! I don't see how 3M should be liable here, it's not like ear plugs are that effective for military type use, they just barely work for industrial work as it is! Loud explosions, gun fire, loud aircraft or other machines, it all adds up!

 

[ThePostMan]

We never got issued hearing protection, you did what you could with what you could find! Cig butts worked some, 9mm rounds worked a little better, and when flying, we had pretty good head sets, but that was only as long as you remained in the aircraft! I'm almost totally deaf in my right ear, and down about 40% in my left, despite those head sets! Wasn't anything I could do about it, and I just deal with it! The V.A refuses hearing aids, but the state backed me up and covered me, so I got one really good aid that seems to work well enough! I don't see how 3M should be liable here, it's not like ear plugs are that effective for military type use, they just barely work for industrial work as it is! Loud explosions, gun fire, loud aircraft or other machines, it all adds up!

they sold a product they said provided a level of protection it didn't and then lied about it. Earplugs are very effective against the things you listed... the vibration of these events is what also kills your hearing its not just the loud noise.