Judge Richard Roberts of the District Court for the District of Columbia ruled last week that that United States can proceed with its case against bulletproof vest manufacturer First Choice Armor & Equipment.  First Choice allegedly sold bulletproof vests to state and local governments knowingly concealing the fact that the material it used, Zylon, degraded under light, heat and humidity, compromising the integrity of the vests.  First Choice was allegedly warned of the problems by both the manufacturer of Zylon and the manufacturer who wove Zylon into the vest material, yet continued to use the product in its vests.  The complaint alleges that First Choice continued to advertise their vests as “suitable for ballistic protection,” despite the integrity issues caused by Zylon.

The federal government reimburses state and local governments for half the cost of bulletproof vests.  Judge Roberts found that there was sufficient evidence that First Choice understood payment for the vests to be conditioned on compliance with industry standards that they remain fit for use as body armor for five years, a guarantee First Choice could not make given the degradation of the materials within the vest.

Read the entire article, “U.S. May Sue Over Defective Body Armor”