Houston’s Top Personal Injury Law Firm
In July of 2018, the United States Department of Justice announced that 3M had agreed to pay $9.1 million to resolve allegations that they knowingly sold the Dual-Ended Combat Arms™ Earplugs, Version 2 to the U.S. military without disclosing defects that hampered the effectiveness of the hearing protection device. The earplugs were originally manufactured by Aearo Technologies, which was acquired by 3M in 2008.
If you wore dual-sided Combat Arms Earplugs™(CAEv2) between 2003 and 2015 and were diagnosed with or suffer from tinnitus or hearing loss, you may be entitled to significant compensation.
Aearo was likely aware of the ear plug’s defects as early as 2000, many years before it and 3M became the exclusive provider of selective attenuation earplugs to the military. The United States alleged that 3M, and its predecessor, Aearo Technologies, Inc., knew the Combat Arms™ Earplugs Version 2 were too short for proper insertion into soldiers’ ears and could loosen imperceptibly, potentially resulting in serious and permanent hearing damage for the user.
This design defect was known to 3M but was not disclosed to the Department of Defense. 3M may have manipulated test results to make it appear the earplugs met government standards.
The Dual-Ended Combat Arms™ Earplugs, Version 2 (CAEv2) were designed for military use and used extensively by millions of servicemen and servicewomen. Unfortunately, many may have been exposed to damaging sound levels after receiving defective and dangerous earplugs while serving in the U.S. and abroad.
Due to the design flaw, thousands of soldiers could have been subjected to dangerous sound levels during training and in combat. Dangerous sound levels can have serious and permanent effects including partial or total hearing loss or tinnitus (a ringing or buzzing in the ears).
Admitted
Florida (1993)
Education
Undergrad University of West Florida, B.A. Political Science (1990)
Law School Nova Southeastern University College of Law (1992)
Professional Activities and Memberships
Florida Bar
Northern District of Florida US District Court
Mike Burns joined the Mostyn Law team in 2014 and began serving as Of Counsel in 2020. Mike was hand-selected to serve as Co-Liaison Counsel in the 3M Military Earplug MDL and has extensive experience in the mass tort arena.
Prior to joining Mostyn Law, he handled numerous criminal and civil cases and has extensive trial experience as a state prosecutor, criminal and civil defense attorney. Additionally, Mike served as special assistant, attorney and Deputy Attorney General under former Florida Governor, Charlie Crist. He has also served as General Counsel and District Representative for former U. S. Congressman Joe Scarborough.
In the past, Mike has served as an adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern University College of Law instructing in the Criminal Clinic.
When he’s not lawyering, you can find him surfing in his hometown of Pensacola Beach, Florida.
Admitted
Texas (2013)
United States District Courts – Eastern District of Texas (2014)
United States District Courts – Southern District of Texas (2014)
United States District Courts – Northern District of Texas (2014)
Licensed in Western District of Texas, 2018
Education
J.D., University of Texas School of Law (2013)
B.A., Franciscan University of Steubenville (2009)
Professional Activities and Memberships
State Bar of Texas
Cabrini Center for Immigrant Legal Assistance
2017, 2018- The National Trial Lawyers “Top 40 under 40″
2019- National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys “Top 10 under 40”
Michael Downey joined Mostyn Law in 2013. Michael works primarily on Personal Injury and Insurance litigation. He also has experience handling probate and estate cases, professional license defense cases, and complex commercial matters.
Michael enjoys being a part of Mostyn Law’s trial team. His excellent advocacy skills and trial work have earned him recognition by the National Academy of Personal Injury “Top 10 Under 40” as well as the The National Trial Lawyers “Top 40 under 40” list.
Admitted
Texas (2011)
Education
J.D., South Texas College of Law (2011), cum laude
B.B.A., Texas A&M University, College Station (2008), cum laude
Professional Activities and Memberships
State Bar of Texas
Houston Bar Association
American Bar Association
Houston Young Lawyers Association
Caroline Maida has been employed with Mostyn Law since 2009. She started as a clerk for the firm during law school and continued to clerk for the firm through graduation, before returning as an associate after her admittance to the Texas State Bar in November 2011.
Caroline has extensive experience in First Party Litigation, and she is currently leading the Mass Tort team at Mostyn Law. Prior to her employment at Mostyn Law, she interned for the Honorable Jeff Bohm, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of Texas.
Caroline is a Beaumont, Texas native and currently resides in Houston, Texas with her husband and four children.
Amber Mostyn leads a team of of battle-hardened, smart, tenacious lawyers who fight for people’s rights. Mostyn Law is a truly unique law firm, sharply focused on obtaining justice for victims of corporate greed and wrongdoing. Every single person at Mostyn Law, from the attorneys to the support staff, is committed to working harder and being smarter than our opponents.
Before becoming the people’s rights advocate she is today, Amber Anderson Mostyn was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas where she attended and graduated from Trinity Valley School. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee with degrees in Anthropology and Spanish. After taking a year off to work in Washington D.C. and travel to El Salvador, Amber attended the University of Texas at Austin School of Law. There she excelled in trial advocacy, received multiple awards and honors, including induction into the nationally recognized Order of the Barristers and graduated in 1997.
Her talents have taken her around the world, and her legal victories in hurricane, injury, and medical device cases have placed Amber in high demand as Liaison Counsel. In the last five years, Amber and Mostyn Law have held a leadership role in 19 multi-district litigation and consolidated courts. She has helped thousands of people across the United States and in Puerto Rico recover from natural disasters and sought justice for thousands more who have been injured by defective products. In the past, Amber has also served on the adjunct faculty of several Texas law schools.
Amber’s burning desire to help those not able to defend themselves is reflected in her work and philanthropy. She and her late husband founded the Glenda Jean Mostyn and Joe E. Moreno Educational Foundation whose primary mission is to move mountains for special needs children and their families. In addition, Amber supports numerous charitable causes, including the Hughen Center, Galveston Historical Foundation, No More Voices, National Multiple Sclerosis Society MS 150, Special Olympics Texas, The River and the Houston Children's Charity.
In additional to her philanthropic work, Amber dedicates vast resources and time to political candidates and progressive causes to make sure that every Texan has a voice in Austin and Washington, DC. Amber has held leadership positions in numerous organizations, including the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Texas Democratic Party, Battleground Texas and most recently as the Chair of Annie's List, an organization dedicated to changing the face of power in Texas politics by recruiting, training and supporting women candidates.
Our military hearing loss lawyer can help you navigate your legal options.
713-714-0000
3810 W. Alabama St. Houston, TX