Palmetto State Armory Lawsuits, Ongoing Workplace Discrimination Case After Two Similar Suits Settled or Dismissed 2026
Palmetto State Armory faces an active workplace discrimination lawsuit filed by former employee Neil Wolin in November 2024. Two other recent lawsuits—one alleging racial discrimination and another involving a product injury claim—were settled or dismissed in late 2024 and early 2025.
The Columbia-based firearms manufacturer and retailer has confronted multiple legal challenges since 2024, though most have resolved without public settlement details disclosed.
What the Neil Wolin Discrimination Lawsuit Alleges Against Palmetto State Armory
Neil Wolin, a former social media coordinator, sued Palmetto State Armory in November 2024 in U.S. District Court in Columbia, South Carolina, alleging religious discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on his Jewish identity. Wolin claims he experienced workplace discrimination between January 2023 and May 2024 when he was terminated.
According to the complaint, coworkers made anti-Semitic comments to Wolin including statements that he was cheap, should feel nervous walking by an oven, and would fit in an ashtray. Wolin alleges managers personally witnessed some of the harassing behavior but failed to take corrective action.
Why Wolin Says Palmetto State Armory Retaliated Against Him
Wolin admits he called a coworker an expletive when he reached a breaking point from the alleged harassment. He claims Palmetto State Armory did not fire him until three weeks after he reported the alleged harassment to a manager in May 2024.
Wolin’s lawsuit alleges this termination constituted unlawful retaliation for reporting workplace harassment based on a protected characteristic—his religion. The lawsuit seeks damages for violations of federal civil rights laws protecting against religious discrimination and retaliatory employment practices.
How Palmetto State Armory Responded to Wolin’s Allegations
Palmetto State Armory acknowledged Wolin is Jewish but denied his accusations of wrongdoing. The company stated in its response to the lawsuit that Wolin never complained about workplace harassment due to a protected characteristic, which includes religion.
Palmetto State Armory asserts it fired Wolin for violating workplace policies. The company alleges Wolin created a hostile work environment through multiple outbursts, including using a derogatory term toward a colleague with mental health issues who was attending therapy. Julian Wilson, co-owner of JJE Capital Holdings, the umbrella group for Palmetto State Armory, told The Post and Courier, “We strongly deny the unfounded claims and will vigorously defend against this lawsuit.”
Previous Palmetto State Armory Lawsuits That Settled or Were Dismissed
Palmetto State Armory faced two other recent lawsuits that resolved in late 2024 and early 2025 without proceeding to trial.
Tremell Washington Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Resolved December 2024
Tremell Washington, a former AK armorer who built and assembled firearm parts at Palmetto State Armory’s Lexington County plant from November 2021 to September 2022, filed a racial discrimination lawsuit in April 2024. Washington alleged he experienced a racially hostile work environment including coworkers and supervisors using racial slurs in his presence.
Washington claimed on August 30, 2022, he found an air hose at his workstation tied into a noose. When he brought the noose to the plant manager’s attention, the manager allegedly laughed, according to the lawsuit. Washington also alleged white coworkers posted racist material on social media.
Washington claimed Palmetto State Armory falsely accused him of unprofessionalism and unfairly terminated him in September 2022. Palmetto State Armory denied Washington’s claims and noted Washington had previously been warned about leaving work without permission, leaving his team understaffed, and falling behind on production.
In December 2024, Washington and Palmetto State Armory agreed to dismiss the case. Federal court records show the lawsuit was resolved. Washington’s attorney, Chance Sturup, confirmed the lawsuit had been “resolved” but declined to provide settlement details.
Product Injury Lawsuit Against Palmetto State Armory Dismissed
Jeffrey Howell, an Arizona man, sued Palmetto State Armory and three other companies in May 2024 after ammunition allegedly exploded while he was loading a shotgun. Howell claimed the explosion left him with severe burns, cuts, and hearing loss.
According to Howell’s complaint, he purchased a Rock Island Armory pump-action shotgun from Palmetto State Armory’s website in March 2022. In May 2022, Howell loaded five rounds into the shotgun’s magazine, but when he racked the slide to chamber a round with intent to load a sixth round, the ammunition allegedly exploded violently in the shotgun.
Howell also sued Rock Island Armory (the shotgun manufacturer), Blackwater Worldwide (the ammunition distributor), and Tactical Shit (the online retailer where Howell purchased the shotgun shells). Blackwater Worldwide posted a voluntary recall of the ammunition in late 2022, acknowledging awareness of two incidents where ammunition detonated in tube-fed shotguns.
Palmetto State Armory was dismissed as a defendant in this lawsuit. Julian Wilson confirmed the company’s dismissal but did not provide additional details about the case resolution.
What You Must Know About Palmetto State Armory Legal Matters
The Neil Wolin lawsuit remains active as of January 2026. Wolin’s discrimination claims against Palmetto State Armory are proceeding in U.S. District Court in Columbia, South Carolina. The case has not reached trial, and no settlement has been announced.
The Washington racial discrimination lawsuit was resolved in December 2024. Terms of the resolution were not disclosed publicly. Neither Washington’s attorney nor Palmetto State Armory provided details about any settlement or agreement.
The Howell product injury lawsuit resulted in Palmetto State Armory being dismissed as a defendant. The case continues against the other defendants—Rock Island Armory, Blackwater Worldwide, and Tactical Shit.
How These Cases Compare to Similar Workplace Discrimination Claims
Workplace discrimination lawsuits alleging religious or racial harassment typically require plaintiffs to prove they experienced a hostile work environment based on protected characteristics, reported the harassment to employers, and faced retaliation for reporting. Employers often defend by asserting employees were terminated for legitimate business reasons unrelated to protected characteristics.
In cases similar to Wisconsin firearm laws where legal complexity requires careful analysis, workplace discrimination cases depend heavily on witness testimony, documentation of complaints, and evidence of employer responses to harassment reports.
What to Do If You’ve Experienced Workplace Discrimination
If you believe you experienced workplace discrimination based on religion, race, or other protected characteristics, document all incidents with dates, times, witnesses, and specific statements or actions. Report harassment to your employer through proper channels established in employee handbooks or HR policies.
File a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within 180 days of the discriminatory act (or 300 days if your state has a fair employment practices agency). The EEOC investigates discrimination charges and may pursue enforcement action or issue a right-to-sue letter allowing you to file a lawsuit.
When to Consult an Employment Discrimination Attorney
Consult an attorney experienced in employment discrimination law if you face retaliation after reporting harassment, if your employer fails to address documented harassment, or if you’re terminated shortly after reporting discrimination. Attorneys can advise whether your situation violates federal or state anti-discrimination laws.
Most employment discrimination attorneys work on contingency fee arrangements, collecting fees only if they recover compensation. Initial consultations are typically free, allowing you to understand your legal options without financial obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Palmetto State Armory Lawsuits
What Lawsuits Is Palmetto State Armory Currently Facing?
Palmetto State Armory currently faces one active lawsuit filed by Neil Wolin in November 2024 alleging religious discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Two other recent lawsuits—one by Tremell Washington alleging racial discrimination and one by Jeffrey Howell alleging product injury—were resolved or dismissed in late 2024 and early 2025.
What Does Neil Wolin’s Lawsuit Against Palmetto State Armory Allege?
Wolin’s lawsuit alleges Palmetto State Armory subjected him to religious discrimination and harassment based on his Jewish identity between January 2023 and May 2024. He claims coworkers made anti-Semitic comments, managers witnessed the harassment without taking action, and the company retaliated by firing him after he reported the harassment.
How Did Palmetto State Armory Respond to Wolin’s Allegations?
Palmetto State Armory denied Wolin’s allegations and stated he never complained about harassment based on a protected characteristic. The company claims Wolin was fired for violating workplace policies by creating a hostile work environment through multiple outbursts, including using derogatory terms toward a colleague with mental health issues.
What Happened to the Tremell Washington Racial Discrimination Lawsuit?
Washington’s lawsuit alleging racial discrimination and hostile work environment was resolved in December 2024. The parties agreed to dismiss the case. Terms of the resolution were not disclosed publicly. Washington’s attorney confirmed the lawsuit was “resolved” but declined to provide details.
Was Palmetto State Armory Found Liable in the Jeffrey Howell Product Injury Case?
No. Palmetto State Armory was dismissed as a defendant in Howell’s lawsuit. Howell sued Palmetto State Armory and three other companies after ammunition allegedly exploded while he was loading a shotgun, but Palmetto State Armory is no longer a defendant in that case.
What Should I Do If I Experienced Discrimination at Palmetto State Armory?
Document all incidents with specific dates, times, witnesses, and details. Report harassment to Palmetto State Armory through proper HR channels. File an EEOC charge within 180-300 days of the discriminatory act. Consult an employment discrimination attorney to understand your legal options and whether you have grounds for a lawsuit.
Are There Other Legal Issues Involving Palmetto State Armory?
Palmetto State Armory successfully defended against a patent infringement claim by Shield Arms in 2023-2025. The court ruled in Palmetto State Armory’s favor in September 2025, finding the company’s Micro Dagger magazine did not infringe Shield Arms’ patents and invalidating Shield Arms’ claims.
Last Updated: January 26, 2026
Disclaimer: This article provides general information about Palmetto State Armory lawsuits and is not legal advice. Individuals facing workplace discrimination or seeking to file claims should consult qualified employment attorneys for case-specific guidance.
If you experienced workplace discrimination or harassment, document all incidents, report them to your employer, and consult an employment discrimination attorney to understand your legal rights and options for filing EEOC charges or lawsuits.
Stay informed, stay protected. — AllAboutLawyer.com
Sources Cited:
- Wolin v. Palmetto State Armory, LLC, U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina (filed November 2024)
- The Post and Courier: “Palmetto State Armory is hit with a discrimination lawsuit – again” (January 30, 2025)
- Washington v. Palmetto State Armory, LLC, U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina (resolved December 2024)
- Howell v. Rock Island Armory, et al., U.S. District Court, District of Arizona (filed May 2024)
- Palmetto State Armory v. Shield Arms, LLC, U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina (ruled September 2025)
About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
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