An Oklahoma woman is suing the maker and a local distributor of Monster energy drink on behalf of her 16-year-old son, who allegedly collapsed and went into cardiac arrest after drinking a Monster beverage in November 2011. The lawsuit, filed by Angela Wheat in Bryan County District Court in January 2013, names as defendants the California-based energy drink maker, Monster Beverage Corp., and local distributor Ed F. Davis, Inc. If you or a loved one has suffered a life-threatening side effect like cardiac arrest, and you believe a popular energy drink like Monster to be the cause, consult our knowledgeable attorneys at AMA Law as soon as possible to discuss your legal options. You may have grounds to file a product liability lawsuit against the energy drink manufacturer, in order to pursue the financial compensation you and your family deserve.
MONSTER BLAMED FOR TEEN’S CARDIAC ARREST
According to allegations raised in the Monster lawsuit, Wheat’s teenage son purchased a Monster energy drink and then went to a local church for volunteer work. “Shortly after consuming the Monster Energy drink, (he) collapsed and lost consciousness while working with other church members to clean the church,” the complaint states. The teen was administered CPR and transported to the Medical Center of Southeastern Oklahoma, and later OU Children’s Hospital. The lawsuit directly blames the boy’s consumption of the Monster energy drink for the potentially life-threatening medical event, stating: “To this date, (the boy) remains under the care of various physicians and therapists for continued diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of the injuries he suffered as a result of his consumption of the Monster Energy drink…”
DEATHS POSSIBLY LINKED TO ENERGY DRINKS
In her lawsuit, Wheat is seeking unspecified damages in excess of $75,000, and accuses Monster Beverage Corp. and Ed F. Davis, Inc. of a “design defect and failure to warn” on the drink’s label, punitive damages, negligence, and unfair and deceptive trade practices. The suit is believed to be one of the first in Oklahoma accusing the maker of Monster and its distributors of playing a role in an injury. According to a 2012 report issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), at least five deaths possibly associated with the highly-caffeinated energy drink have been reported to the agency over the course of three years. Although the FDA report did not claim a definitive link between Monster and the deaths, a number of people have filed lawsuits against the energy drink maker across the United States in recent months.
CONTACT OUR EXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS FOR LEGAL HELP
Significant attention has been brought to the potential dangers of highly-caffeinated drinks like the popular Monster, Red Bull, 5-Hour energy and Rockstar energy drinks recently, as researchers examine the potential link between excessive caffeine consumption and adverse medical events like cardiac arrest and death. If you consumed an energy drink like Monster, and you have since experienced a serious side effect, don’t hesitate to seek legal representation. Our reputable lawyers at AMA Law have extensive experience protecting the legal rights of injured consumers, and will work diligently to help you seek fair and timely reimbursement for your injuries, medical bills and other damages potentially related to the allegedly defective product.