Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has sued Second Chance Body Armor Inc. for failing to inform buyers of defects in bullet proof vests it sold to members of many Connecticut municipal police departments.

The lawsuit, brought on behalf of the Department of Consumer Protection, seeks full refunds for police officers and departments who purchased the vests and a civil penalty against Second Chance.

The company, based in Central Lakes, Michigan, failed to honor promises in its warranty to replace or repair defective vests, even after a letter from Blumenthal on November 12 demanding that it do so.

The vests in question are made of Zylon, a material whose bullet-stopping properties degrade when exposed to light, heat and humidity.

"We gave a second chance to Second Chance to honor its promises to Connecticut's police, but the company rejected our demand for full refunds or free replacements," Blumenthal said. "Police officers who put their lives on the line for us should never have to wonder whether the body armor under their uniforms will stop a bullet. The company failed to tell officers about defects that made its vests bullet prone instead of bullet proof. Second Chance volunteered police officers for real life Russian Roulette and unconscionably put the lives of Connecticut's police at risk. Second Chance must provide full refunds or replacements and cease selling these defective vests."

"It's shameful when any consumer is wronged by a company that won't stand behind its products," Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Edwin R. Rodriguez said. "However, it's totally unacceptable for the men and women who patrol our streets every day to be deceived by this company while they risk their lives to protect us. We can't let this continue." "If Second Chance won't stand behind their product, why should police?" said West Hartford Chief of Police James J. Strillacci, co-president of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association. "They should refund or replace the defective vests, period."

Connecticut police departments with at least one officer who owns Second Chance body armor made of Zylon include: Bristol, Canton, Cheshire, Coventry, Cromwell, East Granby, Enfield, Farmington, Glastonbury, City of Groton, Manchester, Middletown, New Britain, New London, Norwalk, Plymouth, Suffield Rocky Hill, Watertown, West Hartford, Wethersfield and Winchester. The Attorney General's Office is still canvassing law enforcement officials and may identify additional departments.

Second Chance knew as early as the summer of the 2001 about problems with the Zylon material used in the company's body armor. The company, however, didn't inform Connecticut police officers that their vests could lose their protective qualities, even when used normally, until September, 2003.

Second Chance's five-year warranty states that the company will repair or replace any defective part free of charge. Second Chance, however, has so far only offered officers additional protective pads to insert into their vests or partial discounts or credits toward purchase of another of the company's products.

Blumenthal said his investigation is ongoing and could expand to include other companies.

View the complaint (PDF-48KB)