A Secret Storage Unit Unleashes New Accusations in 3M’s Black Lung Lawsuit
Pikeville, KY, August 4, 2025 — A startling revelation has intensified the ongoing legal battle between 3M Company and three plaintiffs’ attorneys accused of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme involving defective dust masks. In a recent emergency motion filed in federal court, 3M alleges that Pikeville attorney Glenn Martin Hammond moved critical case files to a secret storage unit on Bypass Road in Pikeville, raising concerns about potential evidence tampering in a high-stakes racketeering lawsuit.
The lawsuit, initiated by 3M in June 2025, targets Hammond, Texas attorney Michael B. Martin, and Mississippi lawyer Johnny Givens. The Minnesota-based conglomerate accuses the trio of filing over 20 fraudulent complaints on behalf of more than 850 coal miners, claiming 3M’s respirators failed to protect them from black lung disease, a debilitating condition caused by prolonged exposure to coal dust. According to 3M’s 110-page complaint, the attorneys knowingly filed claims for clients who either did not have black lung, had not used 3M respirators, or were outside the statute of limitations, in an effort to pressure the company into a mass settlement.
The discovery of the storage unit has added a new layer of intrigue to the case. 3M’s motion, filed on July 21, 2025, claims that Hammond ordered an employee to relocate dozens of bankers boxes containing case files to the off-site facility. The company argues that this move suggests an intent to “hide or destroy” evidence, stating, “The mere fact that Hammond hid them in the first instance is proof positive of the lengths he will go to hide evidence and avoid accountability for his wrongdoing.” 3M has requested a court order to preserve the records and transfer them to a third-party custodian to prevent potential destruction.
Hammond has denied the allegations, calling 3M’s motion a “transparent and desperate attempt to intimidate our firm” and sway public opinion. He noted that the timing of the motion coincided suspiciously with the setting of trial dates for hundreds of product liability cases against 3M, suggesting it was a strategic move to undermine his clients’ claims.
The underlying lawsuits stem from allegations that 3M’s dust masks, marketed as protective equipment for coal miners, were defective and failed to shield workers from harmful coal dust particles. These particles, when inhaled over time, can lead to black lung disease (coal workers’ pneumoconiosis), a progressive and irreversible condition causing lung damage, shortness of breath, and, in severe cases, respiratory failure. A 2018 Kentucky jury awarded $67.5 million to two coal miners who developed black lung after using 3M’s respirators, finding the company aware of design flaws but negligent in addressing them. Recent settlements in similar cases have ranged from $75,000 to $1.2 million, depending on the severity of the plaintiffs’ conditions.
3M’s legal troubles extend beyond the black lung lawsuits. The company has faced significant litigation over its products, including a $6 billion settlement in 2023 to resolve claims from over 260,000 veterans alleging defective combat earplugs caused hearing loss, and a $10.5 billion to $12.5 billion settlement for PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination in public drinking water systems. These cases highlight a pattern of accusations against 3M for failing to disclose known product defects.
The court has responded to 3M’s motion by allowing the company to deliver subpoenas for the storage unit records to Hammond and the storage facility. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday in London, Kentucky, to further address the matter. Legal experts suggest that the outcome of this motion could significantly impact the racketeering case, as the preserved documents may reveal the extent of the alleged fraudulent scheme or bolster the attorneys’ defense.
As the case unfolds, it underscores the broader challenges faced by coal miners seeking justice for workplace-related illnesses and the complex legal strategies employed by both plaintiffs and corporate defendants. For now, the contents of the secret storage unit remain a focal point, potentially holding the key to new revelations in this contentious legal saga.