In a recent legal blow to a now-defunct Las Vegas water company, a jury has awarded a staggering sum of $5.2 billion to a group of individuals claiming severe liver damage after consuming Real Water-branded products. According to a report by 8 News Now, this verdict includes $5 billion in punitive damages alongside $230 million in compensatory damages, providing a rather bleak conclusion to the company's controversial chapter.
Real Water's parent company, AffinityLifetyle.com, is accused of falsely advertising their product as the healthiest drinking water on the market, while it allegedly contained a toxic level of concentrate. Linked by several plaintiffs to acute non-viral hepatitis and life-threatening liver failure, their experiences prompted a joint investigation from both local and federal health agencies. According to court records cited by News 3 Las Vegas, the proceedings resulted in a nationwide recall, preceding the company's bankruptcy declaration.
One of the plaintiffs, Daisy Wei, shared with 8 News Now her harrowing ordeal, detailing symptoms like jaundice and vomiting that culminated in nearly a year of repeated hospitalizations. "I couldn’t get out of bed," Wei described, revealing her battle through acute liver failure that came close to requiring a liver transplant. It was ultimately determined by her medical team that her condition was a consequence of long-term consumption of Real Water.
The litigation, largely led by the firm Kemp Jones LLP, pointed the finger at hydrazine, a highly toxic chemical found in the water—and unexpectedly, also an ingredient in rocket fuel. "It's a wake-up call to the industry," attorney Breanna Switzler remarked in her interview with 8 News Now, emphasizing the dire need for proper testing of products destined for public consumption. While the company previously testified to testing their water, they admitted an oversight in not screening for hydrazine specifically.
Though the financial awards are substantial, for the victims like Wei, no amount of money can reverse the lasting health consequences they're left to manage. Wei mentioned to 8 News Now that she still deals with permanent liver scarring and will need ongoing medical tests and treatments for life. However, she sees the settlement as a glimmer of hope, commenting, "It's kind of like a little light at the end of the tunnel."
