Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Defective EOTech Gun Sights

Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.

A class action was filed on Dec. 10 against L-3 Communications EOTech Inc., alleging that they misled consumers about their “rugged” holographic gun sights.

“Defendant’s marketing, labeling, packaging and promotion of EOTech Sights relies on false and misleading claims that these products are rugged, ‘battle ready and have proven themselves time and again,’ and ‘[p]recisely designed and rigorously tested to perform in the most demanding environments,’” the Eotech class action lawsuit declares.

However, according to the defective gun sight class action lawsuit, EOTech has “admitted” that their holographic gun sights have: “thermal drift” when the sights experience a 20-degree temperature change; “reticle dimming” in areas of fog or high humidity; and increased paralax in lower temperatures.

The class action lawsuit states that EOTech first started making its holographic gun sights in 1996, and started marketing them to consumers in 2000. “Holographic” sights do not require users to close one eye, like telescopic sights, and also do not project light like a laser sight. Due to its ease of use and its claims of durability and accuracy, EOtech sights cost an average of $500.

“Had consumers been aware of defendant’s misrepresentations, they would not have purchased or would not have paid as much for the EOTech Sight,” the EOTech class action lawsuit asserts.

The defective gun sight class action lawsuit claims that EOTech marketed its gun sights “to outdoorsmen, hunters, and consumers seeking rugged and durable sights capable of rapid and precise target acquisition in harsh conditions.”

Plaintiff Jerry Chen alleges that he was one of those consumers looking for a “rugged” gun sight. He says he purchased an EOTech holographic sight in 2010, and another in 2012, based on their misrepresentations. Chen alleges that had he known about the issues with EOTech sights, he would not have purchased them.

This class action lawsuit comes on the heels of a recent settlement between the federal government and EOTech, also over their holographic gun sights. The U.S. Department of Justice settled its lawsuit against EOTech for over $25 million in November of this year. EOTech entered into two contracts in 2004 and 2010 to supply its holographic gun sights to the FBI, Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense. The DOJ states that EOTech defendants “engaged in fraudulent double dealing by selling defective products to the men and women who risk their lives to protect our country.”

The defective gun sight class action lawsuit alleges that EOTech did not disclose the “thermal drift” and other issues with its holographic sights on its website until it settled the federal action in November, even though it knew about issues with its sights since at least 2006.

The EOTech defective gun sight class action lawsuit seeks to represent all people in the United States who have purchased an EOTech holographic gun sight from 2004 to the present.

Chen is represented by Bonner C. Walsh of Walsh LLC, and Adam R. Gonnelli of Faruqi and Faruqi, LLP.

The EOTech Defective Gun Sight Class Action Lawsuit is Chen v. L-3 Communications EOTech Inc., Case No. 1:15-2308, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, Medford Division.