FieldTurf Settles $50M Class-Action Lawsuit Over Defective Synthetic Turf Fields

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Artificial turf fields have long promised durability and safety, but many field owners found out the hard way that those claims didn’t hold up. Now, in a major legal turn, FieldTurf USA has agreed to a nationwide settlement exceeding $50 million in a class-action lawsuit involving its controversial Duraspine synthetic turf product.

⚖️ Federal Judge Approves Settlement in Turf Field Lawsuit

In 2024, U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp approved a class-action settlement that resolves years of litigation. The lawsuit alleged that FieldTurf knowingly sold defective artificial turf fields that deteriorated prematurely, putting users at risk and placing heavy financial burdens on municipalities and school districts.

The settlement includes major plaintiffs such as:

• Carteret, NJ

• Newark Board of Education

• Hudson County, NJ

• Levittown Union Free School District, NY

• Neshannock Township School District, PA

• City of Fremont and Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District, CA

💰 Settlement Terms: Cash or Turf Credit

More than 1,200 field owners nationwide were eligible for compensation. Under the deal:

• Plaintiffs can choose $7,500 in cash or

• $50,000 in credits toward new FieldTurf installations.

• The court also approved over $6 million in attorney fees and $1 million in related costs.

Despite the large pool of potential claimants, only 31 claims were approved, resulting in less than $1 million in actual payouts. Most claimants opted for credit toward future installations instead.

🏟️ Fast Wear, Big Costs

Carteret, NJ, one of the lead plaintiffs, spent over $2 million on six Duraspine fields between 2006 and 2010. But by 2013, the borough began reporting premature wear to FieldTurf. According to a NJ Advance Media investigation, FieldTurf had known about product flaws since 2009, yet continued selling the turf until it was discontinued in 2012.

In total, 1,428 Duraspine fields were sold across the U.S., including 164 in New Jersey, generating an estimated $570 million in revenue for the company.

📰 “The 100-Yard Deception” Investigation Sparked Legal Action

Much of the public scrutiny and subsequent litigation stemmed from NJ Advance Media’s award-winning series, “The 100-Yard Deception,” which exposed widespread failures in Duraspine fields and highlighted the risk to student-athletes and local budgets.

Following the reports, 19 lawsuits were filed in New Jersey federal court. Most were consolidated into this class-action case.

🛠️ Customer Service or Damage Control?

While FieldTurf denies wrongdoing, it agreed to the settlement to “put customers first” and resolve the claims.
Attorney Adam Moskowitz, co-lead counsel in the case, praised the outcome:

“The settlement happened because FieldTurf decided to put their customers first, and because class members continue to have great confidence in FieldTurf’s products.”

FieldTurf has maintained that it honored warranties and treated customers fairly throughout the years.

⚠️ What’s Next for Field Owners?

If you’re a field owner who used Duraspine turf, you may still be eligible for credits under the settlement. Legal experts recommend reviewing your records and contacting the claims administrator if you haven’t already.

📌 Final Thoughts

This $50 million class-action settlement sends a clear message: transparency and product integrity matter, especially when public safety and taxpayer dollars are involved. While FieldTurf’s synthetic turf may have looked green on the surface, for many cities and schools, it came at a high cost.

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