3M to pay $6 billion in military earplugs case after hearing-loss complaints

3M and attorneys representing plaintiffs agreed to a $6 billion settlement to resolve hundreds of thousands of complaints by military veterans that the company’s earplugs did not protect them from hearing loss.

Under the deal, 3M will pay $5 billion in cash and another $1 billion in company stock, the industrial conglomerate disclosed on Tuesday. The company said that “the agreement is not an admission of liability. The products at issue in this litigation are safe and effective when used proper