Katherine L. Cornell of Pulaski Law Firm, PLLC has been appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the 3M Combat Arms multidistrict litigation in which thousands of federally filed lawsuits have been consolidated in the Northern District of Florida.

Katherine was appointed to this leadership position to help build and manage the nationwide product liability litigation on behalf of thousands of servicemembers who served between 2003 and 2015 and who allegedly suffered hearing damage as a result of defective Combat Arms Earplugs.

The two-sided Combat Arms earplugs were designed to be used in both combat and training environments. When inserted into the ear one way, the earplugs dulled all noise, and when inserted the other way, the earplugs were to protect the inner ear from the concussive impulses of weaponry and explosions while still allowing the wearer to hear softer noises such as voices, sniper fire, and their radios.

However, the earplugs were allegedly defective and failed to protect the inner ears of the service members who wore them, which has resulted in a high rate of service members suffering hearing damage and the ringing and buzzing of tinnitus.

Unfortunately, the 3M Combat Arms Earplugs (version 2) were standard issue for the military and many service members may be affected including those who have been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq and other combat zones to protect the freedoms and beliefs the citizens of the United States hold close.