Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M)

During the last century, 3M made use of asbestos in large amounts, as the mineral has numerous convenient properties, such as excellent resistance to fire, electricity, and a wide range of chemicals. Furthermore, it was also very cheap at the time. It is worthy of note that veterans may also have been exposed to asbestos by using the products of this company while they were serving in the military. While the company is renowned for introducing numerous innovative products such as waterproof sandpaper and videotape to the world, 3M has also greatly endangered the health of their workers for the better part of the last century. The occupations at the highest risk of developing a serious disease as a result of exposure to the asbestos products of this company are:

• factory workers
• construction workers
• maintenance workers
• engineers
• HVAC workers
• mechanics
• shipyard workers
• boilermakers

By employing asbestos, company executives completely disregarded the lives of the people who took part in the manufacturing process. As a consequence, plenty of former 3M workers have subsequently come to suffer from harrowing diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer. It was not until 1986 that the company was forced to stop using asbestos. However, a sliver of hope is that people whose health was affected by asbestos exposure can now recover financial compensation from 3M with the help of a specialized attorney. Former employees of 3M whose job involved handling asbestos and came to struggle with the following diseases are eligible for compensation:

• mesothelioma
• lung cancer
• asbestosis
• pulmonary fibrosis
• diffuse pleural thickening
• gastrointestinal cancer
• colorectal cancer
• bronchial cancer
• emphysema
• bladder cancer
• throat cancer
• esophageal cancer
• pleural plaques
• chronic bronchitis
• pleurisy
• lung nodules
• asthma
• lung spots
• tuberculosis
• pneumonitis
• COPD
• histoplasmosis
• rounded atelectasis
• lung scarring

It is noteworthy that people who suffer from asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, gastrointestinal cancer, colorectal cancer, bronchial cancer, throat cancer, and esophageal cancer are not required to come in person to our offices in Birmingham, Alabama to file a toxic exposure claim, as these diseases have a definitive causal relationship with asbestos exposure and we will handle your case through the phone and via e-mail. However, if you struggle with any of the other diagnoses, you will have to travel to our offices in order to be examined by our medical specialists for asbestos fibers in your lungs, since the rest of the diseases are not always the result of asbestos exposure. If asbestos fibers are present in your lungs, you become eligible for compensation, which our skillful attorneys will help you recover from 3M.

Similarly, if you are the family member of a former 3M worker and developed one of these diseases, you may be eligible for compensation, as secondary asbestos exposure was a very common occurrence during the last century. The term 'secondary exposure' refers to asbestos exposure that occurs indirectly, such as inhaling or ingesting the toxic fibers that were brought home by a 3M worker on their clothes, skin, and hair. Lastly, if one of your family members who worked for 3M passed away from a disease related to occupational asbestos exposure and had not filed a claim for compensation, our attorneys can help you file a wrongful death claim so that you can recover money on their behalf.

A very important aspect you need to keep in mind if you intend to file a claim for asbestos exposure is the statute of limitations. It refers to the timeframe within which you can file your claim and most states have a statute of limitations of 2 or 3 years from the moment of diagnosis. Therefore, it is crucial to contact our law firm as soon as you or your family member receives their diagnosis, as preparing your claim for submission takes a considerable amount of time. If the statute of limitations is exceeded, you are no longer eligible for compensation from the liable company.

During the 1960s, the company, together with the U.S. Navy, came up with the recipe for aqueous film-forming foam, commonly known as AFFF, a very effective fire suppressant used to extinguish class B fires. However, this product contains PFAS, a group of carcinogenic fluorinated chemicals, exposure to which can result in numerous terrible diseases. AFFF has since been employed by both civilian and military firefighters to put out fires stemming from flammable liquids and gases. In the military, AFFF was mostly used to extinguish jet fuel and petroleum fires by firefighters and trainees. The following are the diseases for which you can recover financial compensation if you were exposed to the AFFF manufactured by 3M, either as a civilian or military firefighter:

• kidney cancer
• bladder cancer
• lymphoma
• testicular cancer
• prostate cancer
• neuroendocrine tumors
• pancreatic cancer
• leukemia

PFAS are known as forever chemicals, which means that, once they are released into the environment, they persist. Similarly, once they reach the inside of the human body, they cannot be eliminated, which, over the years, may lead to the development of a serious disease. In the regrettable case that you received one of the diagnoses above and worked as a civilian or military firefighter, we strongly encourage you to contact our law firm, which will help you recover the financial compensation you are entitled to from 3M. With over 25 years of experience in pursuing compensation for the victims of toxic exposure, our legal team has the necessary resources and knowledge to provide you with quality assistance in filing a claim with 3M if you were exposed to their AFFF.

At the moment, there are over 700 military sites on which PFAS, a group of dangerous fluorinated chemicals, are lurking. Many of these sites are military bases where people are stationed, either alone or with their family members. Exposure to PFAS is a very serious issue, as it can lead to the development of numerous awful diseases over the years. Since PFAS are forever chemicals, once they enter the human body, they cannot be eliminated. PFAS exposure occurs through inhalation and ingestion. The primary source of PFAS on these military bases is the use of aqueous film-forming foam, commonly known as AFFF, by military firefighters and trainees. This is a fire suppressant used to extinguish jet fuel and petroleum fires. However, in addition to PFAS, there are other toxic agents on these military bases, which only increases the extent of exposure. The following military bases are currently some of the most heavily contaminated throughout the country:

• Alameda Naval Base
• Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base
• Chanute Air Force Base
• China Lake Naval Base
• Dallas Naval Base
• Dover Air Force Base
• Eielson Air Force Base
• Ellsworth Air Force Base
• England Air Force Base
• Jacksonville Naval Base
• Joint Base Langley-Eustis
• Joint Base San Antonio
• Moody Air Force Base
• NAS Oceana Naval Base
• Patrick Air Force Base
• Pease Air Force Base
• Peterson Air Force Base
• Plattsburgh Air Force Base
• Port Hueneme Naval Base
• Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base
• Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
• Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
• Wurtsmith Air Force Base

If you were stationed at one of these military bases and came to struggle with a disease, please contact our law firm, as we specialize in toxic exposure and will be able to help you recover fair compensation for your suffering. Similarly, if one of the family members who was stationed with you developed a disease, they are also eligible for compensation. The following diseases qualify you for filing a toxic exposure claim both with the military base and with the VA if you are a veteran:

• kidney cancer
• non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• cardiac defects
• bladder cancer
• liver cancer
• leukemia
• multiple myeloma
• end-stage renal disease
• Parkinson's disease
• scleroderma
• choanal atresia
• eye defects
• low birth weight
• fetal death
• major malformations
• miscarriage
• neural tube defects
• oral cleft defects
• small for gestational age
• breast cancer
• cervical cancer
• esophageal cancer
• lung cancer
• Hodgkin's disease
• ovarian cancer
• brain cancer
• lung cancer
• soft tissue cancer
• liver cirrhosis
• prostate cancer
• rectal cancer
• impaired immune system function
• neurological effects
• neurobehavioral performance deficits
• generalized hypersensitivity skin disorder

Since 1990, we have been pursuing compensation on behalf of victims of toxic exposure and are willing to go to great lengths to help you recover the maximum compensation available for your diagnosis if you are a member of the military or the family member of one who developed a disease as a result of PFAS exposure. While the legal process is complex and tedious, it will require minimal involvement on your part, as the majority of the documents will be efficiently taken care of by our skillful team. The only documents we will need from you are proof of your stay at the military base in question and evidence of the diagnosis. To ensure the most favorable outcome for your case, our legal experts will conduct extensive research to discover additional evidence for your toxic exposure claim. Eventually, you will receive the largest sum of money you are entitled to if you decide to work with our law firm.

Between 2003 and 2015, 3M manufactured the defective Combat Arms earplugs, which were given to millions of members of the military to protect them from the loud noises they were exposed to on a regular basis. The product was defective because the part that should have been fitted in the ear canal was too short and thereby could not hold tight within the ear. Furthermore, they had a design that made them loosen in the ear of the wearer. These earplugs were dual-ended, with green or yellow plugs, manufactured to provide two levels of protection. Wearing one side would block out loud noises, whereas the exterior side would filter our loud noises such as gunfire while members of the military were still able to hear what other people were saying. If you wore the defective 3M Combat Arms earplugs and came to struggle with the following hearing problems, you are eligible for compensation:

• auditory processing disorder
• acoustic neuroma
• neurofibromatosis
• conductive hearing loss
• sensorineural hearing loss
• auditory neuropathy
• mixed hearing loss
• partial or complete hearing loss
• tinnitus

Our law firm also specializes in product liability and thereby has the necessary knowledge and resources to help you recover the financial compensation you deserve if you are a member of the military or a veteran who used the defective 3M earplugs and developed a hearing problem. We will file a claim both with the company and with the VA so that you can receive the largest sum of money you are entitled to for your suffering. The only documents we will need from you are your military and medical records, which will be used as proof to support your claim. Eventually, your claim will result in the maximum compensation available for your hearing problem, money that will also help you afford superior healthcare and treatment.