Hyman Brickle & Son, Inc., Violated Berry Amendment, Rhode Island 2024

The federal government has nailed Hyman Brickle & Son, Inc. for breaking the law by selling woolen blankets made with foreign labor to the US military.

According to a civil False Claims Act investigation led by the US Attorney’s Office in Rhode Island, the Woonsocket-based textile manufacturing company supplied blankets to the US military despite knowing they were made using labor from India.

The investigation, announced by US Attorney Zachary A. Cunha, focused on allegations that Hyman Brickle sold the nonconforming goods to the US military, violating the Berry Amendment, which requires that textiles sold to the Department of Defense be produced in the United States, including using United States labor for the production of the textiles.

The US Attorney’s Office alleges that Hyman Brickle’s sale of these nonconforming goods to the US military violated the False Claims Act. Through legislation known as the Berry Amendment, Congress has required that textiles sold to the Department of Defense be produced in the United States, including using United States labor for the production of the textiles.

As part of the False Claims Act settlement, Hyman Brickle will pay $492,236 to the federal government, representing full restitution for the cost of product paid for by the US government and double the damages on the relevant claims.

Assistant US Attorney Bethany Wong handled the litigation of this matter. The case was investigated by the US Defensive Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office, and the US Army Criminal Investigation Division, Major Procurement Fraud Field Office.

Hyman Brickle’s actions are a slap in the face to the brave men and women serving our country. It’s time for companies like Hyman Brickle to take responsibility for their actions and follow the law.

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