Ep 7. The Case Against Second Chance Body Armor

In Whistleblower season 1 episode 7, titled "The Case Against Second Chance Body Armor," viewers are introduced to Aaron Westrick, a former research director at Second Chance Body Armor. Westrick had suspected that the company's vests, which were being sold to law enforcement agencies and the military, were defective and putting lives in danger.

Westrick's fears were confirmed when a Michigan state trooper was shot and killed while wearing a Second Chance vest. The vest failed to stop the bullet, and it was later discovered that the company had known about the defects in their vests for over a year. Westrick's attempts to bring attention to the issue were met with resistance from Second Chance executives who sought to silence and discredit him.

The episode explores the legal battle that ensued between Westrick and Second Chance. Westrick filed a whistleblower lawsuit under the False Claims Act, which allows individuals to bring lawsuits against companies that defraud the government. The lawsuit alleged that Second Chance had sold defective vests to law enforcement agencies and the military, thereby putting lives at risk.

The company initially denied the allegations and sought to have the lawsuit dismissed. However, after the evidence against them mounted, Second Chance eventually settled the lawsuit for $1.2 million.

The episode also features interviews with other whistleblowers who have exposed dangerous or unethical practices in their industries. One such whistleblower is Mark Klein, a former technician at AT&T who exposed the company's collaboration with the National Security Agency to spy on American citizens.

Ultimately, "The Case Against Second Chance Body Armor" serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of whistleblowers in holding corporations accountable and protecting public safety. It highlights the bravery and persistence of Aaron Westrick and others like him who risked their livelihoods to do the right thing and protect the public.