An Indiana bankruptcy court refused to temporarily shield 3M from hundreds of thousands of veterans' claims that its earplugs caused them hearing loss, ruling Friday that the company couldn't benefit from its subsidiary's bankruptcy protections.
Indianapolis-based Aearo Technologies LLC’s recent bankruptcy filing won’t shield its corporate parent 3M Co. from the massive flood of product-liability lawsuits over Aeros’ military earplugs, a judge has ruled.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Jeffrey Graham is set to consider a temporary halt to the lawsuits so that 3M and its bankrupt subsidiary, Aearo Technologies, can try to settle the claims, most of which have been filed by veterans who say the combat arms earplugs left them with hearing damage.