Unfortunately, doing so has gotten her in legal trouble with a large company that sells ionizers, one of those electronic air cleaners that Ive said is best to avoid. It seems the company would rather keep the results of independent research out of the public eye as much as possible. The proposed class-action lawsuit says GPS makes deceptive, misleading, and false claims about its products based on company-funded studies that are not applicable to real world conditions., A GPS spokesperson said the lawsuit is baseless and misleading and that the company will aggressively defend against it. HVAC IAQ Consultant Dr. Marwa Zaatari is one of those experts. When Defendants Products have been independently tested in real world conditions, they consistently fail to achieve the results as represented by Defendant.. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Yeah, as long as the contractor is only repeating claims by the manufacturer, can't see the contractor being held liable. Boeing also conducted a study into the technology and found minimal reductions in viral inactivation, the class action lawsuit says. Why? In those court documents, Global Plasma Solutions said of the lawsuit, "It is devoid of any concrete, specific allegations plausibly alleging that GPS made even a single false or deceptive statement about its products." Looks the same as an Iwave, different company. New cases and investigations, settlement deadlines, and news straight to your inbox. Education | NEWARK More than 500 air treatment devices will be disconnected from Newark classrooms after the school district learned thata class action lawsuit was filed alleging the company that makes the devicesmisrepresented how well they protect against the spread of the coronavirus. In February, professors at three major universities released an academic article that examined the effectiveness of one of GPSs devices using bipolar ionization, In November 2020, another manufacturer of air purifiers was. A GPS spokesperson said the result validates needlepoint bipolar ionizations effectiveness against certain pathogens. In its report, Boeing called the test results inconclusive due to lack of experimental confirmation., A GPS spokesperson also highlighted a passage in the Boeing reports conclusion that said: There remains significant interest in air ionization due to lack of byproduct production, minimal risk to human health, minimum risk to airplane materials and systems, and the potential for persistent disinfection of air and surfaces under specific flow conditions., The Boeing study concluded in January. This independent certification is also compliant with the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) guidance and follows recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Department of Education guidance. The test also found only minimal reductions in surface bacteria viability by bipolar ionization. Further, the Huntsville test found no reductions in Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, and Enterobacter cloacae.. Until then, please reach out to your Account Executive with any questions about our range of product offerings. By forcing someone with limited resources to fight a large corporation, they often win just by getting the individual to back down. Gary Moody GPS filed the lawsuit after obtaining emails and deposing the lead author of the study which showed the full scope of the misrepresentations and flawed nature of the study. 3:21-CV-00884- M; Global Plasma Solutions, Inc. v. Marwa Zaatari, D Zine Partners LLC, and enVerid Systems Inc.; in the Northern District of Texas dismissing all claims with prejudice following the resolution reached as a result of continued talks following mediation. Ethanol: chronic intermittent ethanol vapor exposure produces widespread significant tissue injury including hepatic, pulmonary, and cardiovascular changes. A proposed class action filed this week claims Global Plasma Solutions Inc. has misrepresented its commercial air treatment systems ability to clean the air of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the virus that causes COVID-19. 3101 Yorkmont RoadSuite 400Charlotte, NC 28208, Global Plasma Solutions, Inc.s lawsuit against Dr. Marwa Zaatari, D Zine Partners LLC, and enVerid Systems Inc. comes to a Resolution, Dallas, Texas (March 23, 2023) - GPS Air (GPS) has filed a stipulation of dismissal in Cause No. The suit alleges that GPS sought to capitalize on pandemic-related health concerns by marketing its Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization Technology (NPBI) air purification system as effective at eliminating the COVID-19 virus from the air, and claiming its product did not add harmful byproducts, when the company knew that was not the case. At AirReps, we are committed to ensuring our products meet or exceed customer expectations from concept to delivery through service and quality management. _______________________________________________________________________. Dr. Delphine Farmer, a leading researcher in the study, recently explained to the WSWS that ionizers do not actually accomplish their bold claims in real world settings. . Garner says in the claim that adding to the companys deception, it hides significant defects in its products and has deceptively represented company funded testing as independent, while also using test conditions that are not representative of the real-world use of the products. Click Change Settings if you want to tailor the use of your cookies. But as with everything, the devil is in the details. They include one California superintendent who cited the lawsuit and switched off that districts more than 400 GPS devices. The emails attached to the complaint show that Stephens was pushing to get media attention for his predetermined conclusions well before the test was concluded. Learn more about the cookies we use. A University of Arizona lab test described in the Boeing study found that the GPS device showed a 66.7% inactivation of a common cold coronavirus on a surface after an hour of exposure at up to 62,000 negative ions per cubic centimeter. Founded in 2008, Global Plasma Solutions (GPS) is a leader in indoor air quality, with over 30 patents and 250,000 installations worldwide since its founding, including in research labs, schools, universities, health care facilities and airports. GPS pointed to another study, one conducted in the weeks before Boeing began its study in September, by a third-party lab. ABOUT GLOBAL PLASMA SOLUTIONS Founded in 2008, Global Plasma Solutions (GPS) is a leader in indoor air quality, with over 30 patents and 250,000 installations worldwide since its. I will say, the cost is not insignificant, Triplett said, but we really feel like this is really money well spent because its about the safety and the health of our students and staff.. The co. The case status is Pending - Other Pending. https://topclassactions.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php. In addition to suing Dr. Zaatari for $180 million, GPS is also suing Elsevier, one of the largest publishers of peer-reviewed scientific research. The test report shows it was conducted in a sealed, 20-by-8-foot chamber, with airflow speeds of 2,133 feet per minute or about 24 mph. The needlepoint bipolar ionization devices, from North Carolina-based Global Plasma Solutions, were initially approved for purchase by the Newark Unified School District board in November to help eliminate potential coronavirus transmission in classrooms, and to provide peace of mind to students and staff, officials said. You can change these settings at any time. settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding It completed a study of two devices powered by GPS technology that another aviation company now markets to clean the air and surfaces in planes. Did you buy an air purifier during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure clean air in your home? We are also extending an offer to conduct onsite testing to verify the safety of this technology and the added benefits and confidence bipolar ionization delivers for Newarks schools.. Global Plasma Solutions (GPS) is one of the country's top manufacturers of purifiers that use a technology called bipolar ionization: small machines, usually installed in air ducts, that zap. In April, a covid-19 commission task force from The Lancet, a leading medical journal, composed of top international health, education and air-quality experts, called various air-cleaning technologies ionization, plasma and dry hydrogen peroxide often unproven.. Why? International Committee of the Fourth International. COMPANY INFO: Global Plasma Solutions Inc. (Bloomberg Law Subscription) Global Plasma Solutions Inc. misleadingly touts its air ionization technology as capable of removing almost all Covid-19 virus from a room within an hour, a consumer alleges in a proposed nationwide class action. AirReps commitment to safety, transparency, and customer satisfaction remains strongly embedded in our company values. As if this coviid isnt enough on our minds. But her goal is $400,000. Bay Area students chosen as semifinalists in the prestigious U.S. Presidential Scholars Program who made the cut? Filtration, ventilation with outdoor air, and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation are methods that work. This all comes as a proposed class-action lawsuit is accusing Global Plasma Solutions of making "false, misleading, and deceptive" claims, adding that its products "make the air worse for. Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the Boeing researchers found another lab result they could not replicate: While the GPS white paper reported a 96.24 percent reduction in Staphylococcus aureus in 30 minutes, Boeing engineers found no reductions in the bacteria in an hourlong test. AirReps is an innovator in climate control and comfort. All educators and workers concerned with placing the highest levels of safety in classrooms and workplaces should contact the WSWS today to build a committee in your schools and district. Took part in several technical educational seminars in Europe. DALLAS, March 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --GPS Air ("GPS") filed a stipulation of dismissal in Cause No. Education of service staff, improvement of skills and customer satisfaction. Asheville, NC GPS products are certified to UL 2998, ULs stringent zero ozone standard. In other words, in a real world application, ionization is not effective against COVID-19 transmission, the complaint states. I dont normally post this kind of appeal in my articles, but this fight is important. He has a doctorate in physics and writes the Energy Vanguard Blog. Emails attached to the complaint show that the authors ignored contradictory data and misrepresented the results. Notably, Boeings tests in Huntsville detected no hazardous ozone gas from the GPS unit, the report says. If the case moves forward and settles, thats when those affected would have an opportunity to claim whatever compensation the court deems appropriate. Let us know in the comments section! Instead of neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 particles in the air, the devices instead produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs). 2023 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. That means removing virus-laden particles from the air or deactivating the viruses on particles can prevent disease and save lives. And what does it say about your product when you sue an indoor air quality expert? GPS knew about this study before it was published because GPS obtained emails between Stephens and Marwa Zaatari (a paid advisor for a GPS competitor) in which Zaatari is seen organizing the funding for the second study and helping to direct the testing. The lead author of the Study has admitted under oath in a deposition taken in another lawsuit that the underlying data reported in the study was false and contradicted the conclusions reached by the authors. Some products are outright scams. The installation of ionizers also solves another issue for districts, as they are far less costly and have no industry standards compared to proven mitigation strategies for improving indoor air quality, such as updating Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems, using Merv-13 filters, and operating HVAC systems at high efficiency in order to ensure at least five complete air exchanges per hour. For the last year I have been tracking the exploding, unregulated IAQ industry. The lawsuit spurred a Newark, California, school district to turn off its GPS devices, according to a May 18 memo from Superintendent Mark Triplett to district families. 81. r/HVAC 12 days ago. Case No. Many schools used federal funds to purchase the products. In February, professors at three major universities released an academic article that examined the effectiveness of one of GPSs devices using bipolar ionization technology. To ensure the most secure and best overall experience on our website, we recommend the latest versions of, Data proving that GPSs NPBI technology performs as advertised was suppressed. Seiderman also said that Global Plasma Solutions had figured out how to do ionization with no harmful byproducts, another claim challenged by the lawsuit. Significantly, when a recent statement from Columbia County School District in Georgia announced masks are no longer a requirement in classrooms, officials sought to reassure their community that the continued use of ionizers in classrooms and on buses would provide adequate protection from COVID-19. Quickly, I must hurry, for there go my people and I am their leader! Your email address will not be published. They also can mess with peoples lives. The lawsuit first takes aim at GPSs patented Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization (NPBI) technology, described in the complaint as the backbone of the companys products. Toluene: long-term inhalation of toluene can cause permanent damage to the brain, muscles, heart, and kidneys. Because she's been pointing out that independent researchers have found results that don't support GPS's claims. This browser does not support PDFs. The articles lead author also admitted under oath in early January 2022 that there was no experimental control to test the ionizer in on and off conditions in the reported field study. Others have been proven to work. Well do our best to post any notable updates on this page, so check back here for more information. Seiderman noted the manufacturer had partnerships with the aviation industry that allowed them to test their devices against the virus. Yes Ive also purchased a AIR PURIFIER, FOR MY SONS BEDROOM AND 1 FOR THE LIVINGROOM AREA.. Before commenting, please review our comment policy. of The Mills Law Firm, and Steffan T. Keeton, Esq. You must contact the For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 561-388-9728. The aircraft builder wrote that air ionization has not shown significant disinfection effectiveness, the lawsuit said. 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Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), First Republic Bank seized, sold to JPMorgan Chase, COVID: Newark school district to disconnect $360,000 air cleaning devices following lawsuit, Covid-sniffing dogs can help detect infections in K-12 schools, new California study suggests, Bay Area school enrollment plummets for the sixth year in a row. your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are According to the class action lawsuit, GPS used a chamber the size of a shoebox to support its claim that its air purifiers could kill COVID-19 for a home or school. We use cookies to improve functionality and performance, enhance user experience, and provide tailored content. Global plasma solutions lawsuit https://chimicles.com/global-plasma-.investigation/ We have installed hundreds of these the last few years I had my suspicions it was bullshit from the get go. As Zaatari wrote on her GoFundMe page, These past few years have taken a considerable toll on my emotional wellbeing and that of my familys.. Staff recommended the purchase after conducting research in conjunction with consultants including Lafayette-based McCracken Woodman, Concord-based RGMK, and in consultation with other districts and industry manufacture representatives, staff reports said. DALLAS, March 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GPS Air ("GPS") filed a stipulation of dismissal in Cause No. Dear Abby: Am I overreacting to my European daughter-in-law's behavior? In all, Superintendent Mark Triplett said during an April board meeting the district had purchased 556 of the devices and installed them for a total of $359,945. Global Plasma's products use NPBI technologya system that combines ions with particles, such as pollen . I purchased 6, for all membersof my immediate family! that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, The GPS Air Purifiers Class Action Lawsuit is. Top Class Actionss website and social media posts use affiliate links. Global Plasma Solutions, Inc.'s lawsuit against Dr. Marwa Zaatari, D Zine Partners LLC, and enVerid Systems Inc. Comes to a Resolution. Even in the second study, the authors conceal their relationship with Zaatari, a direct competitor of GPS that sells filtration, and who is also an advisor to enVerid which is also a competitor to GPS, when they state, they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. GPS has numerous emails where Zaatari is directing the testing and in one email Stephens notes his excitement that GPSs competitors are supporting him because his work is most likely going to help their industry. The second study is as biased as the first study but is also an attempt by the authors to distance themselves from clear falsehoods of the first study. Because shes been pointing out that independent researchers have found results that dont support GPSs claims. Last summer, Global Plasma Solutions wanted to test whether the company's air-purifying devices could kill covid-19 virus particles but could find only a lab using a chamber the size of a. Boeing found minimal or no reduction on surfaces in four other pathogens it tested with GPS ionizers for an hour in a Huntsville, Alabama, lab. The GPS Air products have not been evaluated by the FDA as medical devices and, therefore, are not intended to treat, cure, or prevent infections or diseases caused by certain viruses or bacteria. The claim alleged that Molekule air purifiers are falsely advertised as able to clean the air of pollutants and viruses such as COVID-19. You can follow him on Twitter at @EnergyVanguard. Shes publicized a lot of the research on electronic air cleaners that are in the iffy category. Companies that make the air purifiers say they emit charged ions, or activated oxygen, that are said to inactivate bacteria and viruses in the air. My only advice is to get payed what you are worth. His prior work has been seen in multiple Bay Area outlets, including SF Weekly, as well as on KQED and KLIV radio. All Rights Reserved. The Boeing engineers used the companys technology to try to kill E. coli on surfaces in a lab but found no observable reduction in viability after an hour. The district had also purchased and installed air purifiers with HEPA filters for every classroom and school office space prior to the return to in-person learning on April 29, Triplett said in the letter. You must be a magazine subscriber to access this feature. When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type. Parents cited independent scientific papers, articles and letters from experts in air quality, and in response the district disconnected the devices until further notice. So they have tested their ionization product directly on our biggest concern today, Seiderman said. I do a triple evac with nitro to remove non condensables. At the end of 30 minutes, the overall average decrease in active virus was more than 99 percent. You can make between 55 to 60 per hour. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information. You can also click here to sign up for ClassAction.orgs free weekly newsletter, where youll find the latest information about class action news, updates and settlements. They can shut people up. On May 7, law firms representing a man who spent over $750 on a GPS air cleaner in Texas filed the fraudulent concealment lawsuit against GPS in U.S. District Court in Delaware. Boeing noted in its conclusion that air ionization has not shown significant disinfection effectiveness.. Please visit www.gpsair.com/trademarks for a list of our marks. by PRNewswire. We are convinced we are right. In November 2020, the Newark Unified School District board heard a presentation from Nicole Seiderman of the San Jose-based Norman S. Wright Corporation, a vendor, touting the advances in technology by Global Plasma Solutions. Boeing did not test the technologys effectiveness in the air, only on surfaces. While we consider all information, we felt it prudent to share more details so our customers can make an informed decision that best supports their needs. Docket (#1) COMPLAINT against Elsevier Inc., Elsevier LTD with Jury Demand ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ANCWDC-5410474), filed by Global Plasma Solutions, Inc.. (Attachments: #1 Exhibit A-Article and Supplemental Data, #2 Exhibit B-Letter from R. Muckenfuss to Q. Chen, #3 Exhibit C-Deposition Excerpts of Y. Zeng, #4 Exhibit D-GPS Third Party Testing Webpage, #5 Exhibit E-Email String . The suit charges the company with fraud and claims the company used false, deceptive and misleading claims to sell its products and capitalize from the COVID-19 pandemic. Join a union or start a union. Rather, it trades one group of harmful chemicals for another group of harmful chemicals.. 05-29-2021, 09:00 AM #2 hvac69 Professional Member Join Date May 2004 Location Superintendent Mark Triplett of Newark Unified School District in California recently announced the district will turn off all 556 ionizers it installed from GPS until further notice. The lawsuit also proposes state-specific subclasses of those who purchased the products in California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington. We are aware of the lawsuit filed against air purification company Global Plasma Solutions (GPS) and take these allegations very seriously. This case was filed in U.S. District Courts, Texas Northern District Court. Boeing said in its report that with ionization there is very little external peer reviewed research in comparison to other traditional disinfection technologies such as chemical, UV and thermal disinfection and HEPA filters, all of which it relies on to sanitize its planes. Global Plasma Solutions Inc. Mills, Esq. This won't delete the articles you've saved, just the list. Terms and Conditions. They are considered the top in terms of addressing and killing the virus, Triplett said in April about the devices, as the district sought to reassure staff, students, and parents the air in classrooms would be safe for a return to school. The companys study is being debated in a proposed class-action suit. A Boeing study found the technology isn't effective enough to use on planes. At AirReps, we are committed to ensuring our products meet or exceed customer expectations from concept to delivery through service and quality management. The lawsuit claims that the defendants misrepresentations and false statements were woven into an extensive and long-term advertising campaign accelerating during the COVID-19 pandemic., People are being victimized by these companies for profit, said Mickey Mills, a Houston attorney for the plaintiff. The suit also claimed the devices can actually make the air worse. of Reich & Binstock LLP, Michael A. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning), Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy, Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American, "the prior statements by Dr. Zaatari at issue in this case do not apply to GPS and its technology and were not intended to apply to GPS or its technology", "it is my understanding that GPS uses soft ionization in its products and not hard ionization", "Dr. Zaatari does not endorse GPS or its products", "enVerid and GPS occasionally compete on projects with their different air cleaning technologies", "enVerid's technology is a sorbent media-based filtration system that removes a wide range of gaseous contaminants from indoor air in a manner that complies with ASHRAE's IAQ Procedure", "GPS's technology uses needlepoint bipolar ionization to remove particles, pathogens, and certain gaseous contaminants from indoor air", "enVerid does not endorse GPS or its products", "all prior statements by Dr. Zaatari at issue in this case were made independent of enVerid".
