3M $6 Billion Earplug Accord Risks Failure If Veterans Balk (1)

3M Co.’s $6 billion settlement of lawsuits accusing the company of selling defective combat earplugs to the US military could fall apart if enough veterans reject the deal as inadequate for their injuries.

Given 250,000 or so active claims of hearing loss 3M has identified, the accord works out to about $24,000 a head, and would be even less after court costs and legal fees. That may not be enough to make up for the life-altering injuries service members say they suffered after the earplugs failed to protect them from the roar of heavy artillery and tanks.

3M itself ...