Do you have permanent hearing loss, tinnitus or other hearing injuries? You may be entitled to seek damages against 3M and legal representation.

OAKLAND, Calif. 3M agreed to pay the U.S. government a $9.1 million settlement in a whistleblower action for selling hundreds of thousands of defective earplugs for more than a decade that were standard issue, Combat Arms Earplugs (CAEv2) to the military. It was only disclosed to the public after 3M agreed to pay this settlement. Gibbs Law Group, Stueve Siegel Hanson and Isaac Wiles have filed lawsuits against 3M on behalf of service members who suffered hearing injuries.

The government alleged that 3M knew these earplugs were defective when they were selling them to the government and that they were “too short for proper insertion in users’ ears.” This defect caused these earplugs to dislodge from the users’ ears and many needlessly suffered permanent hearing injuries.

Debbie Gregory, CEO of VAMBOA, the Veterans and Military Business Owners Association and a well-known advocate for those who serve, is trying to get out the word to those who have sustained damages as a result of the use of these earplugs: “It is egregious that this corporation placed profits above the well-being of those who serve our nation and protect us. 3M must be held accountable for the harm it caused our military and veterans that will permanently and negatively impact their lives. I am heartened that these three national law firms are pursuing compensation for our nation’s service members who were injured from the use of 3M’s earplugs. I encourage everyone to spread the word to their own network within the military and veteran communities.”

The law firms of Gibbs Law Group, Stueve Siegel Hanson and Isaac Wiles have joined forces against 3M on behalf of U.S. military service members and veterans who sustained hearing injuries as a result of wearing these defective ear plugs. The lawsuits are against 3M and not against the United States government. Legal fees and costs will only be charged when servicemembers prevail in their lawsuits against 3M. Ms. Gregory added:

“This lawsuit provides our servicemembers and veterans a fighting chance without risk to recover monetary damages for their losses, and to send a clear message to those involved to never again put our military at risk. This team of law firms has a long history of advocating for service members, and I am confident they will do everything in their power to fight for the rights of the men and women who were affected.”

U.S. servicemembers and veterans who used 3M Combat Arms Earplugs and suffered hearing loss, tinnitus and/or other injuries should contact the attorneys at: 1-866-211-4118 or go to www.classlawgroup.com/3M.

About the Legal Team

This is a team of three prominent law firms across the nation that includes: Gibbs Law Group, Stueve Siegel Hanson and Isaac Wiles. They have expertise and a track record of successfully litigating class actions, product liability claims and other actions. Their attorneys have extensive experience assisting clients including servicemembers and veterans in recovering monies for personal injuries and other damages caused by defective products.

They have a winning track record that has earned them numerous awards for their work, including Best Lawyers in America, Best of the Bar, Leading Plaintiff Lawyers in America, Top Plaintiff Lawyers in California and Consumer Protection MVP.

About Debbie Gregory

Ms. Gregory is a lifelong advocate for those who serve and is committed to outreach to those who have been harmed by use of these earplugs. She is currently the CEO and founder of VAMBOA, the Veterans and Military Business Owners Association with over 7,000 members nationwide. Ms. Gregory is a producer of the nationally televised concert: “America Salutes You” that raises awareness for military and veterans and funds for some extraordinary non-profits that support them. Ms. Gregory also serves in the Defense Department volunteer role of Director of Employer Engagement for California ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve). Ms. Gregory is the daughter of a veteran who served with seven of his brothers and died as a result of injuries from his service to our country. Ms. Gregory’s father has motivated and empowered her to champion service members and veterans.

Contacts

Debbie Gregory
(877)850-9800

The Veterans and Military Business Owners Association, VAMBOA, has continued its proud sponsorship role of the America Salutes You, a nationally televised concert series, “Guitar Legends II”, benefiting those who currently serve in our military, veterans and first responders.

“We, as a nation, must recognize the sacrifices made by all those who serve, past and present, first responders and their loved ones,” said Debbie Gregory, VAMBOA CEO. “These men and women write a blank check up to and including their lives so that we can be safe. America Salutes You is a positive way to raise awareness for these heroes and support some extraordinary non-profits that provide mental and brain health services to them. I am proud to continue to be part of the America Salutes You team.”

The benefit concert played to a full house on Sunday, December 2, 2018 at The Novo, an intimate theater known for its acoustics. The Novo is part of the L.A. Live event space, and was an ideal venue for the show.

Performances featured a great and eclectic collection of guitarists covering many different genres with guitar legends including Billy Gibbons, Dave Narvarro, Don Felder, Stephen Stills, Sammy Hagar, Robby Kreiger, just to name a few.

“We had some of the great guitar legends playing,” said executive producer, Bob Okun, of the third America Salutes You benefit concert line-up. “They all donate their time.”

“This is the third annual America Salutes You benefit concert honoring our veterans and first responders, ” said Okun. “We sincerely hope it will become an annual holiday tradition.”

Funds raised through donations benefit the great non-profits that support mental wellness and brain health for veterans and first responders.

The concert was taped for broadcast. If you would like to find out when and where to tune in to watch in your area, go to https://americasalutesyou.org/view-listen/

You can show your support by making a donation in any amount on on the America Salutes You website. You may also text a $10 donation, text the word “FREEDOM” to 80077.

For more information on the benefit concert, please go to these links:

• KTLA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L64Vkg5cuz8&feature=youtu.be)
• Bionic Buzz (http://www.bionicbuzz.com/red-carpets/america-salutes-you-presents-guitar-legends-ii/)
• The Los Angeles Beat (https://thelosangelesbeat.com/2018/12/guitar-legends-at-the-novo-salute-veterans-and-first-responders/)

About America Salutes You
America Salutes You is a 501c3 organization created to express our national gratitude to our service members, veterans and their families through an annual nationally broadcasted benefit concert that raises funds for a range of highly rated charities. One hundred percent of all money raised are granted to nonprofit organizations with programs that provide services to our troops, veterans and their families.

About VAMBOA
With over 7,200 members and more than a quarter-million fans and followers on social media, the Veterans and Military Business Owners Association (VAMBOA) a 501(c) 6 non-profit trade association, has been serving veteran military entrepreneurs (VMEs) since 2011. Connecting member VMEs with large corporations and government agencies looking to diversify their supply chain is an integral part of VAMBOA’s mission. Additionally, providing members with knowledge of government provisions assists service-disabled veteran business owners, Veteran business owners and military business owners, and drives the success of these VMEs. Membership in VAMBOA is free. VAMBOA is becoming the “Go To” Association for VMEs.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross today announced that 40 organizations — including nonprofits, institutions of higher education, and entrepreneurship-focused organizations — from 28 states and two territories will receive $21 million to create and expand cluster-focused entrepreneurship and technology transfer programs, and early-stage seed fund support under EDA’s 2018 Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) program competition.

The full list of 2018 i6 grantees can be found on the EDA RIS 2018 i6 Challenge webpage. 2018 Seed Fund Support Program grantees are highlighted on the 2018 Seed Fund program page.

The 2018 group of RIS awardees expands the RIS portfolio to five new states and territories. Selected from a pool of more than 230 applicants, the awardees include a defense commercialization project led by the Maryland Department of Commerce, a global food systems technology accelerator led by Kansas State University, a healthcare innovation initiative led by the Northern Kentucky Tri-Country Economic Development Corporation, a community-oriented, rural-focused proof-of-concept center led by the North Idaho College Venture Center and new efforts led by StartUpNV to expand and increase angel investment activity across the state of Nevada.

You can learn more about how our 2018 RIS cohort plans to engage to boost innovation and support entrepreneurship in their regions by reading these new i6 Challenge and Seed Fund program blog posts.

The Secretary also announced that EDA will open the 2019 RIS competition on February 1^st, 2019, when the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is scheduled to be published on grants.gov.

We encourage you to start thinking NOW about how you can plug into the RIS program to help support your innovation and entrepreneurship growth activities. Prospective applicants can find more information, including information on eligibility and how they will be able to apply, on EDA’s RIS webpage.