NEW YORK (Reuters) -A 3M subsidiary appealed the dismissal of its bankruptcy case late Monday, challenging a judge's ruling that it was not in immediate jeopardy from 260,000 lawsuits alleging that 3M military earplugs caused hearing loss for veterans and U.S. service members. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Jeffrey Graham in Indianapolis had dismissed Aearo Technologies' bankruptcy on Friday, finding that it was "fatally premature." Despite the "staggering" number of earplug lawsuits, Aearo has significant financial support from 3M and enjoys a "greater degree of financial security than warrants bankruptcy protection," Graham ruled.