Monster Beverage served with second wrongful death lawsuit

Popular energy drink maker Monster Beverage faces its second wrongful death lawsuit following the death of a 19-year-old. The family of the 19 year old believe their son suffered cardiac arrest the day after drinking two 16-ounce cans of Monster's energy drink. The coroner found that the teen's death was due to cardiac arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy.

The product liability suit alleges that the 19-year-old died because Monster Energy Drinks were dangerous products. Companies have a responsibility to make sure their products are safe, and they may be held accountable when their products cause injuries or death. Products that are not dangerous at first blush may still be dangerous or defective products.

In this case, an attorney for the law firm representing the family in says his team is committed to holding companies that make energy drinks responsible for the harm their products cause. But Monster says the lawsuit admits that the teen drank its product for years with no incidents occurring as a result, and says that the fact that he drank Monster Energy drinks before his cardiac arrest does not establish a connection.

Earlier this year, an attorney for Monster said doctors it hired found no connection between the drinks and the death of a 14-year-old girl who had consumed the drink. That girl's death spurred the first lawsuit against the company.

The Food and Drug Administration is investigating reports of illness, injury or deaths of people who consumed energy drinks, and the American Academy of Pediatrics says the caffeine and other stimulants in energy drinks should not be taken by children and adolescents.

Source: CNBC, "Second Wrongful Death Suit Filed Against Monster Beverage," Jason Gewitz, June 25, 2013

• Our law firm represents people who have been injured or killed by dangerous products in the Los Angeles area. For more information, visit ourproduct liabilitypage.