VISTA —— The retailer that sold the bullet-resistant vest Oceanside police Officer Tony Zeppetella wore the day he was shot and killed has reached a financial settlement with Zeppetella's widow.
The settlement agreement calls for the company, Professional Police Supply Inc., to pay $45,000 into an account for Zeppetella's son, Jakob Zeppetella; $105,000 to Zeppetella's widow, Jamie Zeppetella; and $15,000 to cover legal costs and expenses for the Zeppetellas, court documents stated.
Attorneys for the Zeppetellas and Professional Police Supply could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Jamie Zeppetella's lawsuit against Second Chance Body Armor, the company that manufactured Tony Zeppetella's vest, and Toyobo Co., which produces Zylon fiber that was used in making the vest, still are pending and are scheduled to go to trial in December.
Tony Zeppetella was shot and killed June 13, 2003, during a traffic stop in front of the Navy Federal Credit Union on Avenida de la Plata in Oceanside.
Jamie Zeppetella filed a lawsuit in November 2003, alleging her husband would have survived if his vest had performed as promised. The lawsuit alleged two gunshots penetrated his vest.
In court documents, Toyobo and Second Chance have accused each other of ignoring or hiding test results regarding the safety of Zylon-based vests.
Prosecutors have charged Adrian George Camacho, 29, a five-time convicted felon and twice-deported illegal immigrant from Mexico, with first-degree murder. They are seeking the death penalty if Camacho is convicted of the slaying.
Camacho has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial in September.
Paul Kissel, the attorney for Professional Police Supply, wrote in documents filed in February, that his client was the "retailer only" and had "no role" in the allegedly defective designing and manufacturing of Zeppetella's vest.
Kissel described the $165,000 as a "tremendous amount for settling a nonliable party to buy its peace."
"The parties agree that the settlement is not an admission of liability and was entered into as an economic decision," Kissel wrote in a declaration filed with the court.
Contact staff writer Scott Marshall at (760) 631-6623 or smarshall@nctimes.com.
