NEW YORK (Reuters) -A U.S. judge on Friday dismissed the bankruptcy of 3M subsidiary Aearo Technologies, rejecting an effort to resolve nearly 260,000 lawsuits alleging that 3M military earplugs caused hearing loss for veterans and U.S. service members. 3M and Aearo had argued that the earplug litigation had spiraled out of control and could be resolved only in bankruptcy. Graham acknowledged that the earplug litigation was “staggering,” representing 30% of all cases currently pending in the federal district courts. Those appeals could “fundamentally change the trajectory” of the earplug lawsuits, 3M said. 3M’s bankruptcy strategy mirrors a similar effort by Johnson & Johnson, which has attempted to resolve lawsuits through the bankruptcy of a newly created subsidiary, LTL Management.

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Persons: Brendan McDermid, Jeffrey Graham, Aearo, Graham, Bryan Aylstock, Chris Seeger, ” “, ” Aylstock, Seeger, Johnson, J, LTL Organizations: YORK, Aearo Technologies, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, 3M, Aearo, U.S, Circuit, Johnson, LTL Management Locations: U.S, New York City, Indianapolis, Pensacola , Florida, Florida