What to Know
- Montgomery County Parks joined a class action lawsuit against artificial turf company, FieldTurf, after replacing a school's athletic field.
- The replacement cost taxpayers more than $700,000, an official says.
- FieldTurf says their product is safe, and faces a class action lawsuit brought by unhappy customers in 46 states and Washington, D.C.
An artificial turf company accused of selling $570 million worth of defective turf to schools, local governments and parks departments is facing a class action lawsuit from unhappy customers in dozens of states, including D.C., Virginia and Maryland.
The parks department in Montgomery County, Maryland recently joined the lawsuit after officials were forced in March to tear out defective turf at the field outside Montgomery Blair High School. An officials said the replacement cost taxpayers $700,000.
"We know that if a kid falls and hits their head on something that hard, whether it be a cement sidewalk or artificial turf field that has deteriorated, the danger is concussion or death from the impact," concerned parent Janis Sartucci said.
Parents are also concerned about potential carcinogens in the crumb rubber used to make the turf, Sartucci said.
FieldTurf, the company behind the crumb rubber athletic fields, says the field lasted for eight years and fulfilled its warranty. It also said their turf is safer than grass in many cases.
Still, Montgomery County officials want a refund, and they’re not alone.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
FieldTurf is being targeted by a class action lawsuit that represents customers 46 states and Washington, D.C.
The customers say the company sold them defective products — and knew the turf would fail.
Representatives from FieldTurf sold their product claiming it would last for 10 years, but many customers found their fields in disrepair before the warranty was up, according to the lawsuit, which was made available by Forbes.
The company was unresponsive when customers attempted to cash in their warranties, the lawsuit says.
Representatives from FieldTurf sold their product claiming it would last for 10 years, but many customers found their fields in disrepair before the warranty was up, according to the lawsuit.
The company was unresponsive when customers attempted to cash in their warranties, the lawsuit says.
D.C., Maryland and Virginia have made claims against the company for failing to honor warranties and violating consumer protection laws.
"Field Turf misrepresented the reliability, performance, and cost-effectiveness of its turf fields," Michael Riley, Montgomery County’s park service director, said in a statement.
