Las Vegas, Nevada — A Nevada jury has ordered a former Las Vegas-based bottled water company to pay a significant $5.2 billion in a lawsuit centered around allegations of the product causing liver damage. The Clark County District Court concluded a 12-day trial, finding AffinityLifestyles.com Inc. and its product line, Real Water, liable in a case involving negligence and product liability.
The verdict announced Wednesday includes $230 million in compensatory damages and a staggering $5 billion in punitive damages awarded to Hunter Brown and multiple other plaintiffs. This ruling adds to a series of costly judgements against the company, which has already faced nearly $3.5 billion in penalties from previous lawsuits this year.
The plaintiffs’ attorney, Will Kemp, expressed concerns that Real Water’s insurer might contest the payout due to the company’s recent bankruptcy filing. The company, previously managed by Brent Jones, a former Republican member of the Nevada State Assembly from 2016 to 2018, has yet to respond to the verdict.
During the trial, it was revealed that Real Water contained hydrazine, a toxic chemical commonly used in rocket fuel, which likely contaminated the water during its treatment process before bottling. Despite defense arguments suggesting the contamination was unintentional and stemmed from ignorance of the chemical’s presence, the jury decided on a finding of negligence.
Real Water was marketed as a premium “alkalized” drinking water, boasting healthy detoxifying effects and was widely distributed across several U.S. southwestern states including Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and the Los Angeles area. It was available in uniquely designed boxy blue bottles and also supplied to homes in large quantities until its recall in March 2021.
Kemp, representing additional plaintiffs, mentioned that there are several more civil lawsuits pending against AffinityLifestyles.com, indicating ongoing legal battles the company might face.
The cases highlight significant concerns regarding consumer safety and the responsibilities of corporations in ensuring their products are free from harmful substances. This series of legal actions could potentially influence future industry standards and regulatory measures in product safety and consumer protection.
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