The federal judge overseeing the mass tort litigation over 3M Corp.’s military earplugs has ordered the company to enter into mediation talks through the end of the month with plaintiffs who say they suffered hearing loss due to earplug defects.

Judge M. Casey Rodgers of the Northern District of Florida issued the order Aug. 30 in the wake of a bankruptcy judge denying defendants’ motion for a preliminary injunction against the multidistrict litigation involving 3M and other defendants.

Rodgers also called on the defendants to engage in settlement talks a month ago, but 3M sought a bankruptcy strategy once those talks ended, according to the law firm Miller & Zois. The company continues to stand behind that strategy.