Welcome to the Official Combat Arms Earplugs (CAE) Settlement Program

On August 29, 2023, the 3M Defendants and Plaintiffs’ Leadership Counsel for the MDL and Minnesota coordinated proceeding entered into a Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA I”) to resolve claims against Defendants concerning Combat Arms Version 2 earplugs manufactured from 1999 to 2015. Those parties also agreed to a Settlement Agreement on the same date to resolve the Wave Cases (the “Wave Settlement” or “MSA III”). This is the official website for the Settlement Program established by those Agreements.

Participating Claimants and Primary Counsel for Participating Claimants use a secure settlement Portal set up by BrownGreer as the Settlement Administrator to exchange information with the Settlement Program.  To use a Portal, click on the applicable Log In choice at the top of this website. If you are a Participating Claimant, click “Claimant Login.” If you are Primary Counsel, click “Primary Counsel Login.”

Summary of Funding and Payment
Total Payments Issued in all MSAs:1
$2,374,876,370
MSA I MSA III Wave Cases
1. Total Funded $2,232,885,000 $253,100,000
2. Liens Withholdings $2,492,325 $528,079
3. Common Benefit Fees (9%) Withheld $201,192,786 $22,491,640
4. Total Paid1 $2,025,087,299 $231,708,001
5. EPP Claims DPP Claims2 EIF Claims3 Waves Claims EIF Claims
6. Claimants Paid 191,954 17,374 0 1,595 387
7. Total Paid $2,009,849,152 $15,238,147 $0 $222,050,925 $9,802,564
1. All 13 MSA II Verdict Cases have been paid totaling $135,009,775
2. The Settlement Administrator is making DPP Registration Payments. DPP Claimants allocated Points under the terms of the Allocation Methodology will receive payments beginning after October 1, 2025, after all EPP Claimants have been paid.
3. EIF Awards to MSA I Claimants cannot be paid until after October 1, 2025.
Last updated on March 28, 2025
MSA I EPP CLAIMANTS
Amount Paid
$2,009,849,152
EPP Claimants
233,083
Initial EPP Notices Issued
252,422
Initial EPP Notices Accepted
246,516
Post-Reconsideration Notices Issued
11,387
MSA III Wave Cases
Amount Paid
$222,050,925
Wave Cases Claimants
1,595
Initial Notices Issued
1,595
Final Non-Points Notices Issued
421
Post-Reconsideration Notices Issued
1,174
MSA I DPP Registration Payments
Amount Paid
$15,238,147
DPP Claimants Eligible For a Registration Payment
17,972
DPP Registration Payments Issued
$15,101,731
Denial of DPP Registration Payment Notices Issued
267
MSA I DPP Initial Notices Of Deferred Payment Program Point-Based Award Determinations
Amount Paid*
$0
DPP Claimants Eligible for Point-Based Award
17,972
Initial DPP Registration Notices Issued
14,671
Initial DPP Registration Notices Accepted
9,848
Post-Reconsideration Notices Issued
0
* DPP Claimants allocated Points under the terms of the Allocation Methodology will receive payments beginning after October 1, 2025, after all EPP Claimants have been paid.
Last updated on March 28, 2025
EIF Applications for MSA I Claimants
Total Injuries Asserted
26,394
Hidden Hearing Loss
1,166
Low Frequency or Non-DD From Hearing Loss
7,089
Recorded Tinnitus
13,038
Other Otologic Injury and Intervention for Acoustic Trauma
3,842
Economic Loss through Impact on Work Productivity
830
New Onset Hearing Impairment Related to Noise Exposure
429
EIF Applications for MSA III Wave Cases Claimants
Total Injuries Asserted
817
Hidden Hearing Loss
15
Low Frequency or Non-DD From Hearing Loss
106
Recorded Tinnitus
555
Other Otologic Injury and Intervention for Acoustic Trauma
99
Economic Loss through Impact on Work Productivity
36
New Onset Hearing Impairment Related to Noise Exposure
6
Claimants Paid
387
Gross Awards to Claimants Paid
$11,252,298
EIF Application Fees for Claimants Paid
$480,250
CBF Assesssment
$969,484
Net Amount Paid
$9,802,564
Last updated on March 28, 2025
Important Dates and Deadlines

Sep. 23, 2024

Deadline to withdraw Extraordinary Injury Fund claims for MSA I Claimants

Jul. 26, 2024

MSA I Extraordinary Injury Applications Due and DPP Supplementation Period Ends

Jul. 23, 2024

Bulk EIF Applications and DPP Supplementation for MSA I Claimants Due

Important Alerts and Announcements

March. 07, 2025

Directives in CMO No. 98 on Medicaid, Notices, and Payments to Clients

February. 19, 2025

Processing and Payment of DPP and MSA I EIF Awards

January. 10, 2025

Payment of EPP Awards In FIFO Group V

Settlement Program Timeline

Settlement Agreements Announced

(August 29, 2023)

Report to Court – Pursuant to Case Management Order 60, Identification Order

(August 29, 2023)

$10M Funded

(September 8, 2023)

Reference Date

(September 12, 2023)

$146.9M Funded for MSA II (Verdicts)

(September 18, 2023)

Identification Order Report Deadline

(September 27, 2023)

Fairness Hearing

(December 11, 2023)

MSA III Initial Registration Date

(December 20, 2023)

$250M Funded

(December 26, 2023)

MSA I Initial Registration Date

(January 25, 2024)

Extraordinary Injury Application Opened and DPP Supplementation Period Began

(January 26, 2024)

MSA III Final Registration Date

(February 20, 2024)

Participation Level Report for MSA I Submitted by Settlement Administrator

(April 9, 2024)

$350M Funded

(April 15, 2024)

MSA III Extraordinary Injury Applications Deadline

(April 25, 2024)

Defendants’ Walkaway Right Expired

(April 29, 2024)

$750M Funded

(July 15, 2024)

MSA I Extraordinary Injury Applications Deadline and End of DPP Supplementation Period

(July 26, 2024)

$25M Funded

(October 15, 2024)

$875M Funded

(January 1, 2025)

All EPP Awards Funded; $600M Funded

(April 15, 2025)

Point Dollar Value Calculation 1

(October 1, 2025)

$75M Funded

(January 15, 2026)

$325M Funded

(April 15, 2026)

$800M Funded

(September 15, 2026)

Point Dollar Value Calculation 2

(October 1, 2026)

$150M Funded

(December 1, 2026)

$750M Funded

(July 15, 2027)

$50M Funded

(September 15, 2027)

Point Dollar Value Calculation 3

(October 1, 2027)

$300M Funded

(July 15, 2028)

Point Dollar Value Calculation 4

(October 1, 2028)

$300M Funded

(July 15, 2029)

Point Dollar Value Calculation 5

(October 1, 2029)