The 3M earplugs lawsuit has been settled by the manufacturing company after agreeing to pay the $6 billion settlement. 

The Minnesota-based chemical and consumer product manufacturer has been accused of selling faulty earplugs to U.S. service members. 

However, despite paying billions of dollars, 3M still denied that its earplugs have faulty designs. 

3M Agrees to Pay $6 Billion to Settle Earplugs Lawsuit

(Photo: Scott Barbour/Getty Images) Bronze medalist Sam Gowin of England competes during the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men's Finals during the Shooting on day nine of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at Belmont Shooting Centre on April 13, 2018, in Brisbane, Australia.

Lawsuits were filed by U.S. service members and veterans against 3M and Aearo Technologies, the company that 3M acquired. 

They claim that 3M's Combat Arms Earplugs have a defective design, which caused hearing loss and other serious ear injuries, as reported by the Associated Press. 

The plaintiffs explained that the Combat Arms Earplugs were supposed to protect them from close-range firearm sounds and other loud noises that can lead to hearing damage. 

But, due to the flaws of 3M's earplugs, they tend to loosen slightly, which leads to serious ear injuries. 

According to CNN Business, the lawsuits against 3M argued that the company supplied around 300,000 faulty combat earplugs to the U.S. military from 2003 to 2015. 

These allegedly faulty earplugs were used during training and combat scenarios of servicemen and veterans. 

To resolve the lawsuits, 3M decided to pay the $6 billion settlement.

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3M Says Settlement is Not an Admission of Liability 

(Photo: ERIC LALMAND/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images) The illustration picture shows the 3M logo at the site of the 3M plant in Zwijndrecht, Thursday 10 June 2021. The Antwerp Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into possible criminal offenses allegedly committed in connection with contamination with the chemical substance PFOS.

Although 3M agreed to pay $6 billion, the consumer product manufacturer clarified that the billion-dollar settlement is not an admission of liability. 

This means that the company still rejects the idea that the ear injuries of U.S. military servicemen were caused by its earplugs. 

"The products at issue in this litigation are safe and effective when used properly," said the American firm. 

"3M is prepared to continue to defend itself in the litigation if certain agreed terms of the settlement agreement are not fulfilled," it added. 

The $6 billion settlement will not be provided in one go. 3M explained that the payout will be released over several years; encompassing $5 billion in cash and $1 billion in stock. 

The earplugs lawsuit is the second legal action faced by 3M this summer. Previously, the manufacturer was accused of contamination the U.S. water supplies with its forever chemicals. 

In June, 3M said that it would pay over $10 billion to settle the water contamination lawsuit. You can click this link to learn more about it.  

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