3M Injury Judge Defers to Bankruptcy Court on Lawsuits’ Halt

A bankruptcy court in Indiana is in the best position to determine whether to pause all proceedings in veterans’ hearing-loss litigation against 3M Co., the federal court in Florida that oversees the multi-district product liability suits said Tuesday.

But 3M is prohibited from asking the federal bankruptcy court to revisit rulings in the personal injury suits over combat earplugs, Judge M. Casey Rodgers said for the US District Court for the Northern District of Florida. It will be subject to contempt proceedings if it does, she said.

3M’s subsidiary Aearo Technologies LLC is before the bankruptcy court this week ...