Updates

On April 29, a Gainesville jury ruled in favor of the plaintiff in the fifteenth bellwether trial in the Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2 (CAEv2) litigation. The plaintiff was awarded $668,010 in compensatory damages, plus prejudgment interest.

3M is disappointed by the latest verdict and will appeal. We were prevented from presenting relevant evidence to the jury, and we will address that issue, among others, in our appeal of today’s verdict. We already have raised several key issues on appeal that could significantly alter the progression and outcome of this litigation. The same issues raised in our earlier appeals relating to legal defenses and evidentiary rulings apply in this trial, as well.

We remain confident that the full evidentiary record shows that the product was safe and effective, as evidenced by the six defense verdicts, the eight cases plaintiffs’ lawyers dismissed before reaching trial, and the issues that will be decided on appeal. We look forward to the next and final trial in the bellwether process, where we will continue to defend our record.

The next and final bellwether trial is scheduled to begin in Pensacola, Florida, on May 9.