Lawsuit Filed against Energy Drink Maker

Los Angeles, CAAlthough the Monster Energy drink lawsuits might be the ones in the news most frequently, other energy drink makers face lawsuits of their own. Monster Energy reportedly settled two lawsuits in recent months, and faces another high-profile lawsuit in the near future. But Rockstar Beverage Corp. faces a lawsuit of its own, filed in June 2015.

CBS News (6/30/15) reports that Oscar Maldonado filed a lawsuit against Rockstar Beverage Corp., alleging he suffered a heart attack after drinking up to four Rockstar drinks in less than eight hours on June 30, 2013. Initially after drinking the Rockstar beverages, Maldonado reportedly suffered shortness of breath and chest pain. Three days later, he was told he was having a heart attack and required emergency surgery.

Maldonado alleges the energy drinks are marketed as safe, but the high amounts of caffeine in the beverages put consumers at risk of adverse health effects. Furthermore, the lawsuit claims, Rockstar drinks contain taurine. According to the lawsuit, when taurine, caffeine and other ingredients are mixed, they can cause heart problems. Maldonado argues in court documents that Rockstar did not provide adequate warning about the dangers associated with ingesting high levels of caffeine.

Two wrongful death lawsuits filed against Monster Energy have recently been settled. According to The Wall Street Journal (5/26/15), the family of Alex Morris settled their lawsuit in April for an undisclosed amount. Morris allegedly died at the age of 19 of cardiac arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy after drinking two cans of Monster Energy daily for three years.

Meanwhile, the family of Shane Felts also settled in April for an undisclosed amount. Heather Felts, Shane’s widow, alleged Shane drink one energy drink every day for two weeks before he died, and had 240 milligrams of caffeine in his system when he died. The lawsuit claims doses above 200 milligrams are potentially fatal.

In August, the lawsuit filed by the family of Anais Fournier is scheduled for court. Fournier died at age 14 after reportedly drinking two cans of energy drink within 24 hours. Fournier had a preexisting heart condition when she drank the Monster beverages. According to CBS News, the cause of death on Fournier’s autopsy was listed as “cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity.”

Monster Beverage Corp. has maintained its products are safe for consumption.