Polyloom Corporation of America has taken legal action against a nonprofit organization and several individuals, accusing them of disseminating false information about the safety and environmental impact of artificial turf.
The complaint targets Grassroots Environmental Education (GEE), Inc., Dr. Kyla Bennett, Jay Feldman, Dr. Sarah Evans, and Patricia Wood. Polyloom, which produces and manufactures artificial grass surfaces, claims that GEE and its associates have been spreading misleading statements that could harm Polyloom's reputation and business relationships. According to the complaint, GEE hosted a webinar titled "The Trouble with Turf" on January 23, 2025.
The plaintiff alleges that GEE has made several false claims about artificial turf on its website and promotional materials. These include assertions that artificial turf contains harmful chemicals like PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), cannot be recycled, requires pesticides for maintenance, and poses health risks due to high lead levels. Polyloom counters these claims by stating that their products are free from detectable PFAS, as confirmed by independent testing labs; they have pioneered recycling processes for turf; no pesticides are recommended or approved for their products; and their fields meet safety standards comparable to toy safety regulations.
Furthermore, Polyloom argues that GEE's allegations about bans on artificial turf in places like Cape May, NJ, and Boston, MA, are misleading since no such bans exist. The plaintiff fears that these falsehoods will cause significant economic damage by deterring potential customers from purchasing their products.
In response to these concerns, Polyloom sent a letter to the defendants on January 15, 2025, requesting them to remove false information from all platforms and collaborate on content review before proceeding with the webinar. However, they did not receive any response by the stipulated deadline of January 17.
As part of their lawsuit, Polyloom seeks injunctive relief to prevent the webinar from taking place unless it excludes defamatory content. They also demand compensatory damages exceeding $75,000 along with punitive damages for defamation/trade libel and intentional interference with business relationships.
The plaintiff is represented by attorneys Brian C. Neal and Matthew B. Rogers of Burr & Forman LLP in Nashville along with Graham H. Stieglitz of Burr & Forman LLP in Atlanta. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee under Case ID: 2:25-cv-06124-FB-ST.