On April 5, 2021, the first bellwether trial in the 3M Combat Arms Earplug Liability Litigation will commence. Congress created the Multidistrict Litigation or MDL system in 1968. The goals of the process are efficiency and economy. Used for years to navigate large, complex cases, the system seeks to resolve common issues of fact. In recent history, several high-profile cases, have benefitted from the MDL process, including the once largest MDL, Asbestos Products Liability litigation with just over 192,000 plaintiffs.
Sadly, the asbestos case has recently been surpassed for the number of plaintiffs by the 3M earplug litigation MDL. According to the MDL Statistics Report, in October 2020, this case had amassed 203,722 total actions, taking the title largest MDL ever. Plaintiffs claim the earplugs were standard military issue for more than a decade, so the current number of plaintiffs may be only the beginning as this case moves forward.
We at Advocate Capital support the plaintiff firms that work so diligently on behalf of thousands every year from 1968 until today. Thank you for what you do!
Photo Credit: Audtakorn Sutarmjam, 123rf.com