A Superior Court jury awarded the wife and son of a police officer who died after being shot at while on duty, $3.6 million in damages. Of this $ 2.5 million is to be paid by two companies who manufactured the bullet-resistant vest that the officer, Tony Zeppetella was wearing. The felon who shot Zeppetella is liable for the remaining part of the damages, the jury ruled.
Officer Zeppetella was shot by Adrian Camacho, a prison parolee who had drugs in his car and wanted to avoid returning to prison.
A wrongful death suit was filed by Zeppetella's wife and son against Second Chance Body Armor, Inc. and Toyobo Co. Ltd, manufacturers of the protective vest that allowed one of the 13 bullets fired at him to penetrate his chest. The suit claimed that the companies were aware that the vest's ability to stop bullets deteriorated with exposure to heat, humidity and light, and the companies did not let their customers know.
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