An ex-Royal Marines commando from Somerset says hearing damage suffered while serving in the military continues to knock his confidence.
Adam Stone, 44, from Yeovil, who served in the Royal Marines from 2003 to 2012 with units including 40 Commando, taking part in a tour to Iraq in 2004, said he feels “let down” after being issued with combat earplugs which didn’t work properly.
Ongoing tinnitus and hearing loss every day
The father-of-two, who now requires a hearing aid and suffers from tinnitus, is among the first UK armed forces personnel to join a legal claim launching today against 3M, the American PPE giant which supplied the MoD with the defective earplugs.
“When I left the Corps in 2012 I saw a doctor who, after extensive hearing tests, immediately prescribed me with a hearing aid for my left ear,” said Adam, who now works off-shore on deep-sea drilling platforms.
“I have got tinnitus in both ears. At first it used to keep me awake at night but I’ve grown used to it now. I struggle in social settings, anywhere where there’s more than one conversation happening at once.
“Your confidence starts to take a knock after a few years when you simply can’t hear people and keep having to say to them, ‘Can you repeat that?’ Sometimes now I will just pretend to hear even when I haven’t and walk away oblivious.”
Every two years as a prerequisite to working offshore, Adam’s employer gives him a medical and every time the severe loss of hearing in his left ear is remarked upon.
‘I feel really let down’ by 3M
He added: “To learn that 3M not only supplied faulty earplugs but continue to supply them even after they know they were defective – that’s a kick in the guts. I feel really let down.”
3M supplied around 400,000 sets of Combat Arms Earplugs* to the UK’s Military of Defence (MoD) between 2003 and 2023.
KP Law, a leading UK specialist in group action claims, today launched a call for affected UK veterans and armed forces personnel to join its ‘no win, no fee’ group action lawsuit against 3M seeking justice and compensation. To join the claim visit: www.3mclaims.co.uk
The first court against against 3M in the the UK
This will be the first action against 3M in the UK courts. It comes after 3M agreed in 2023 to pay more than $6bn to settle lawsuits from US military personnel.
It is estimated that tens of thousands of people who served in Britain’s Army, Navy and Air Force used the earplugs in the belief they were protecting their hearing during active service and training.
Many of these men and women, some still serving, suffered life-changing hearing loss and hearing damage including tinnitus, and related issues including stress, anxiety and depression.
Tom Longstaff, partner and head of product liability at KP Law, said: “One of the British military’s core values is integrity. By supplying earplugs that were defective, and which 3M knew were defective, 3M showed no integrity. This is another example of a large corporate taking advantage of the British public, this time at the expense of members of the Armed Forces. It is only right that the men and women whose lives have been impacted receive justice and compensation.”
Individuals who meet the following criteria are eligible to join KP Law’s class action lawsuit:
- Served in the armed forces
- Suffer from or suspect they suffer from hearing loss
- Used 3M Combat Arms Earplugs V2.
Some UK military personnel have already received compensation from the MoD after having suffered hearing loss or hearing damage while serving. Having previously received compensation from the MoD does not preclude someone from joining KP Law’s group action to seek justice from 3M. The two claims are entirely separate.
