A federal jury awarded $7.1 million in damages to 3 Army veterans, stating that 3M Co. failed to warn about flaws in earplugs sold to the U.S. military that causes hearing loss.
Litigation regarding those allegations first began in 2018, after 3M agreed to pay U.S. military branches $9.1 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit.
During the trial, attorneys for the plaintiffs said they found evidence that Aearo Technologies (and the earplug technology 3M acquired from them) knew years ago that one of the flaps in the earplug was too short and could create a fitting problem, which in turn does not allow the earplug to properly keep harmful sounds out.
3M has commented to say, it did not agree with the jury verdict and indicated it may appeal, stating there is room for further litigation in the future.
