Las Vegas, Nevada – A jury in Las Vegas has reached a verdict awarding $3 billion in punitive damages to eight residents who suffered from sudden-onset liver failure after consuming the now-recalled Real Water brand drinking water. The individuals affected, including five children and three adults, alleged that the water contained a toxic chemical called hydrazine, leading to their severe health issues.
The children, as young as 7 months old up to 5 years old, required treatment at a children’s hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah after consuming Real Water in the fall of 2020. Real Water, the company behind the product, claimed they were not aware of the presence of hydrazine in the water, a toxic chemical commonly used in rocket fuel.
Testimonies during the trial revealed the harrowing experience of feeling poisoned and on the brink of death, as well as the lasting impact of permanent liver damage and mental trauma on all those affected by the contaminated water. The emotional toll was evident as the plaintiffs recounted their hospitalization and recovery journeys.
Following a federal investigation made public by the Las Vegas health district in March 2021, Real Water was pulled off shelves nationwide, with the company’s president issuing a statement urging stores to do so voluntarily. The investigation found that the company had failed to properly clean and sanitize the water tanks, leading to potential chemical and microbial contamination.
In June 2021, the FDA announced Real Water agreed to halt operations until they could adhere to federal regulations. However, just two months later in August 2021, the company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy amidst multiple pending lawsuits. This legal action was not an isolated incident, as a previous case in October 2023 awarded over $228 million in damages to individuals who suffered liver failure from consuming the contaminated water.
The impact of the Real Water contamination serves as a stark reminder of the importance of stringent safety measures in food and beverage production to prevent public health crises such as this one. The fallout from this incident underscores the need for vigilance in monitoring and regulating the safety of products consumed by the public to avoid such devastating outcomes in the future.