(WJET/WFXP) — A jury awarded $3 billion in punitive damages to 8 Las Vegas residents who suffered sudden liver failure after consuming recalled and discontinued Real Water brand drinking water.
Las Vegas residents, including 5 children and 3 adults, claimed that Real Water contained a toxic chemical known as hydrazine, which caused their sudden liver failure.
A jury awarded $3 billion in punitive damages to 8 Las Vegas residents who suffered sudden liver failure after consuming drinking water from the recalled and discontinued Real Water brand.
Las Vegas residents, including 5 children and 3 adults, claimed that Real Water contained a toxic chemical known as hydrazine, which caused their sudden liver failure. Hydrazine is a toxic chemical used in the production of rocket fuel. The children involved were between 7 months and 5 years old and had to be flown to a children’s hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, for treatment as a result of drinking Real Water in the fall of 2020.
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Real Water argued that they did not anticipate that hydrazine would be present in the water.
You felt like you were poisoned and you were dying.
Christopher Wren, plaintiff
The emotional testimony revealed the pain and fear experienced during the moments from hospitalization to recovery. All those affected now suffer permanent liver damage and mental trauma.
After the Las Vegas-based health district made the FDA investigation public in mid-March 2021, company president Brent Jones issued a statement asking stores nationwide to remove Real Water from the shelves. The company described the measure as voluntary.
A federal lawsuit, settled in June 2021, claimed that Real Water staff had failed to properly clean and disinfect water tanks in which they mix processed municipal tap water with E2 concentrate, which could lead to chemical and microbial contamination.
While the companies marketed their products as a healthy alternative to tap water, the government alleged that the products actually consisted of municipal tap water that the defendants processed with various chemicals in violation of current good manufacturing practices, relevant food safety standards and risks. preventive measures
In June 2021, the FDA announced that Real Water had agreed to cease operations until they could comply with federal regulations.
However, just two months later, on August 20, 2021, the company officially filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy amid several pending lawsuits.
Nevada jury awards $130 million to five people who suffered liver damage after drinking bottled water
This is not the first case in which a jury awarded millions in damages. In October 2023, a jury awarded more than $228 million in damages to several plaintiffs who also suffered from liver failure, including the family of a 69-year-old woman who died from liver failure in 2020.
The children involved were between 7 months and 5 years old and had to be flown to a children’s hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, for treatment as a result of drinking Real Water in the fall of 2020.
Real Water argued that they did not anticipate that hydrazine would be present in the water: hydrazine is a toxic chemical used in the production of rocket fuel.
You felt like you were poisoned and you were dying.
Christopher Wren, plaintiff
The emotional testimony revealed the pain and fear experienced during the moments from hospitalization to recovery. All those affected now suffer permanent liver damage and mental trauma.
After the Las Vegas-based health district made the FDA investigation public in mid-March 2021, company president Brent Jones issued a statement asking stores nationwide to remove Real Water from the shelves. The company described the measure as voluntary.
A federal lawsuit, settled in June 2021, claimed that Real Water staff had failed to properly clean and disinfect water tanks in which they mix processed municipal tap water with E2 concentrate, which could lead to chemical and microbial contamination.
While the companies marketed their products as a healthy alternative to tap water, the government alleged that the products actually consisted of municipal tap water that the defendants processed with various chemicals in violation of current good manufacturing practices, relevant food safety standards and risks. preventive measures
In June 2021, the FDA announced that Real Water had agreed to cease operations until they could comply with federal regulations.
However, just two months later, on August 20, 2021, the company officially filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy amid several pending lawsuits.
This is not the first case in which a jury awarded millions in damages. In October 2023, a jury awarded more than $228 million in damages to several plaintiffs who also suffered from liver failure, including the family of a 69-year-old woman who died from liver failure in 2020.
Keynote USA
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