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Main Page U.S. Government Sues Maker of Defective Police Body Armor
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Posted by: USMCMP5811

U.S. Government Sues Maker of Defective Police Body Armor

MARK SHERMAN
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. government on Friday sued the top American supplier of bullet-resistant police vests and the Japanese manufacturer of the vests' protective synthetic fiber, contending they conspired to hide evidence that the body armor could be defective.

Second Chance Body Armor Inc. of Michigan and Toyobo Co. knew that the vests' ability to stop bullets was overstated, but Second Chance sold them anyway to local, state and federal police, according to the lawsuit in U.S. District Court.

The government also alleged that the companies kept silent for nearly three years in the face of mounting evidence that the Zylon fabric degraded faster than they acknowledged when it was exposed to light, heat and humidity.

Only after a California, police officer was killed and a Pennsylvania officer was seriously wounded while wearing Second Chance vests made of Zylon in June 2003 did the company stop selling certain models and disclose safety problems, the lawsuit said.

Second Chance executives also ordered the destruction of internal memos, including one that urged the company to take corrective action and not wait until an officer was killed, the lawsuit said.

Second Chance and Toyobo blamed each other Friday for problems with the vests. ''Second Chance was the bad actor, not Toyobo,'' said Kent Jarrell, a spokesman for Toyobo.

Mary Ann Sabo, a Second Chance spokeswoman, said Second Chance has been working closely with the Justice Department and expects to be vindicated. Sabo said Toyobo ''is ultimately responsible for the problems with Zylon.''

Questions about the vests, initially praised for their strength and light weight, were first raised by a whistle-blower, Second Chance's former director of research and development.

Second Chance is facing more than a dozen suits by states, police agencies and individuals. Last week, the company acknowledged that the Zylon vests may not be safe and urged its customers to replace nearly 100,000 vests that had not previously been recalled.

A company lawyer has said Second Chance did not recall its remaining Zylon vests because the company did not have the money to replace them. The lawyer said it was possible the company could tap a federal body-armor fund to replace the vests.

The company, now going through reorganization in federal bankruptcy court, earlier recalled more than 130,000 vests.

Second Chance also is suing Toyobo, which is a defendant in some of the other suits.

Toyobo has acknowledged that the fiber loses up to 20 percent of its durability within two years of manufacture. But the company has said Zylon works well in body armor that is properly constructed, and it contends it is not to blame for any problems with Second Chance vests.

Posted by: LenS

I'm amazed that it took this long! The info was available to DOJ 3 years ago!

Of course this means a few things of importance:

- The company will fold (or be buried under the cost of the suit and fines to the Feds)!

- No money back to PDs (or individuals who paid out of pocket) to replace vests as damages from any legal action. The Feds will suck down anything left of the company. For most PD purchased vests in MA, most likely the Feds and State grants paid for them.

Posted by: mpd61

Yeah great!!!!!

First I get a new vest in 02'
Then I'm told it sucks in 03'
I get "performance packs" to make it safe (and heavier/hotter)again in 04'
Now I'm told, "sorry it still sucks" and we'll get you another vest by 06'

Only in America!!!!!!!!!

P.S. anybody got a spare vest I can borrow?

Posted by: USMCMP5811

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpd61";p=&quot

Yeah great!!!!!

First I get a new vest in 02'
Then I'm told it sucks in 03'
I get "performance packs" to make it safe (and heavier/hotter)again in 04'
Now I'm told, "sorry it still sucks" and we'll get you another vest by 06'

Only in America!!!!!!!!!

P.S. anybody got a spare vest I can borrow?

Damb MPD, She's HOT!!!!

Posted by: kttref

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMCMP5811";p=&quot

Damb MPD, She's HOT!!!!

Maybe in that "creepy" eye kind of way....maybe!

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