3M faces $100 billion in losses from veterans' earplug suits, expert says

3M Co. faces more than $100 billion in losses and bankruptcy because of lawsuits brought by veterans who blame their hearing problems on faulty earplugs, according to a litigation consultant hired by lawyers suing the industrial conglomerate.

Initial results from a handful of test cases shows 3M would be swamped by losses should the more than 230,000…