The Justice Department has settled lawsuits with 10 manufacturers of defective Zylon bulletproof vests for more than $61 million. The latest settlement is a $1 million deal with now-bankrupt companies called Point Blank. The U.S. alleged that the Pompano Beach, Fl.,and Jacksboro, Tn., companies manufactured and sold Zylon bulletproof vests knowing that the Zylon materials degraded quickly over time and were not suitable for ballistic use.
The Point Blank vests were purchased by the federal government, and by various state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies that were partially reimbursed by the United States under the Justice Department's Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program. The U.S. has pending lawsuits against Toyobo Co., the manufacturer of the Zylon fiber, and Honeywell Inc., Second Chance Body Armor Inc. and First Choice Armor Inc., which were involved in the production or sale of Zylon body armor.