How long will the 3M Earplug lawsuit take?

Are You an active U.S. military service member or a veteran with a history of using 3M Dual-Ended Combat Arms earplugs?

Are You experiencing hearing problems that could be linked to this issued training/combat gear?

You might be considering filing a lawsuit!

Whether you’ve been diagnosed with hearing loss, tinnitus, or some other condition, the first thing to know is that like any other kind of personal injury case, a typical 3M combat earplugs claim proceeds through a number of distinct stages.

Read more: Hearing Loss and Tinnitus due to Military Service >

The 3M Combat Earplugs Lawsuit Process

Here’s an example of a typical lawsuit [1] over a potentially-defective product like 3M Dual-Ended Combat Arms earplugs:

• The consumer files a civil complaint in court. The complaint is the document that starts the personal injury lawsuit. It describes the case and claims against the “defendant”- in this case, 3M, the earplug manufacturer (a lawsuit against a supplier may be appropriate in some cases, and you may even have a claim against the federal government).
• The defendant files an answer to the complaint.
• The plaintiff and defendant exchange information, medical records, and other evidence through written questions (interrogatories), sworn testimony (depositions), and document requests.
• Pre-trial motions are filed and hearings are held: Both sides of the lawsuit try to persuade the judge to allow or disallow certain evidence (testimony from a proposed expert witness, for example) or to dismiss all or part of the other side’s argument.
• The trial takes place: The plaintiff and defendant carefully set out their arguments in front of the judge or jury, and the judge or jury decides whether the defendant should be held financially responsible for the plaintiff’s hearing problems and other losses (damages) tied to use of 3M Dual-Ended Combat Arms earplugs.

Those are the basics of the process, but the two sides could discuss a settlement at any point.

Read more: What is the average payout for the 3M Earplug Lawsuit? >

The Timeline Is up to You

One of the biggest variables in determining how long your 3M combat earplugs lawsuit will take is you.

If the defendant offers you a settlement early on, you’ll certainly end up with some fast cash, but you might not be getting full and fair compensation for your losses.

Early settlement in the 3M Earplug lawsuit

Early settlement usually isn’t a good idea if there are still big unknowns, including:

• a complete diagnosis of your hearing problems caused by the use of 3M earplugs
• a full understanding of the medical treatment that will be necessary for your hearing issues

The first move for a potential plaintiff is consulting an experienced attorney. A knowledgeable lawyer will be able to explain the rules in your jurisdiction and your strategic options.

An attorney can present the pros and cons of settlement, including the fact that once you settle, you can’t go back and ask for more money, even if it turns out your injuries are worse than you first thought.

Read more: What You Need to Know About Defective 3M Combat Earplugs? >

Your Combat Earplugs Lawsuit Could Settle at Any Time

Any 3M combat earplugs lawsuit [2] is bound to follow roughly the same path from the filing of the complaint through a trial, but it’s important to note that settlement of the lawsuit can take place at any time.

“For example, soon after the complaint is filed the plaintiff’s attorney could send a demand letter to the other side, detailing the plaintiff’s harm and asking for a certain dollar amount as compensation.”

This letter could spur serious settlement talks, and if a settlement agreement is reached before trial, the lawsuit will be dismissed.

As the trial date gets closer and the parties get a better sense of the case landscape, there’s a good chance they’ll at least test the settlement.

And even if the two sides don’t come together on their own to try to resolve the faulty earplugs case out of court, depending on the jurisdiction in which the lawsuit is filed, the court is almost certain to require that the plaintiff and defendant attend at least one mandatory settlement conference before a trial takes place.

Read more: Military Hearing Loss Claims – 3M Earplug Lawsuit >

Sources

1. https://www.alllaw.com/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/