HGD Partner, Taylor Bartlett, will be a guest presenter at HarrisMartin’s Webinar Series: 3M Combat Arms Earplugs – Litigating with the Government as a Witness on Friday, March 12. Among the topics Taylor will be discussing are: Preparing a Tinnitus-Only Case; and Experts – Did You Know What an Otolaryngologist Is?
3M’s Combat Arms Earplugs™ issued to millions of service members allegedly have a dangerous design defect that allows the user to be exposed to dangerous levels of sound that can cause hearing damage. What’s worse is that the defense contractor who sold the earplugs to the US Department of Defense knew about the design defect and knowingly put millions of service members at risk for hearing loss.
The Department of Defense brought allegations against 3M for selling dangerous and defective Combat Arms Ears™ and 3M paid $9.1 million to resolve the claim (CAEv2). However, no help or compensation has yet been provided to the actual service members who suffered the damaging effects of the defective earplugs and have experienced hearing loss and damage.
Several different lawsuits were filed against 3M by individual veterans. In March 2019, they were all combined into one case called an MDL. It is similar to a class-action lawsuit. The MDL is being heard in Florida under one judge.
Taylor Bartlett and Lew Garrison were both appointed to serve on the Plaintiff Leadership team for the 3M Combat Arms Earplug Products liability litigation in the United States District Court. Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division.
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