Spotlight: Bradley Birkenfeld

San Diego, September 7, 2006.  A jury returned a verdict of over 2.5 million dollars against two companies,  including Toyobo Co. Ltd., a major Japanese manufacturing corporation, based on their sale and marketing of defective “zylon” bullet proof vests to police officers throughout the United States.  Police officer Tony Zeppetella was killed after a bullet passed through his Zylon vest and inflicted a fatal chest wound.  For a number of years, Toyobo, along with it’s American partner, the now bankrupt Second Chance Body Armor, hid the defects in the vest from their police customers.  A jury found the companies liable for failing to warn policemen about the defects in the vests, and awarded Officer Zeppetella’s widow 2.5. Million dollars in damages.

Washington, D.C. September 26, 2005. In sworn deposition testimony, Second Chance Body Armor whistleblower Dr. Aaron Westrick testified that the President of the United States, the First Lady and members of the US Army Central Command all wore defective bullet proof vests sold by Second Chance. According to a story released by the Associated Press, Second Chance officials who profited from these sales are now under criminal investigation.

Washington, D.C. July 14, 2005. The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the world's largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, has strongly endorsed the whistleblower lawsuit filed by Dr. Aaron Westrick, the former Director of Research and Composite Development for Second Chance Body Armor.

By John Solomon, Associated Press, September 26, 2005

Signonsandiego News Services; August 10, 2006

By James Doran, Wall Street Correspondent, The Times of London
September 27, 2005

By Mary P. Gallagher, New Jersey Law Journal
September 26, 2005

By Michael J. Sniffen
Associated Press, September 1, 2005

By Lisa Myers & the NBC investigative unit
November 17, 2004