Panera settles Charged Lemonade wrongful death suit

[KARAH RUCKER]

TWO YEARS AFTER AN IVY LEAGUE STUDENT’S DEATH PUT THE SPOTLIGHT ON A CAFFEINATED BEVERAGE FROM PANERA BREAD, HER FAMILY HAS SETTLED WITH THE RESTAURANT CHAIN.

THE FAMILY OF 21-YEAR-OLD UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA STUDENT SARAH KATZ REACHING A SETTLEMENT JUST DAYS BEFORE THE CASE WAS HEADED FOR TRIAL.

THE FAMILY’S LAWYER — ELIZABETH CRAWFORD WITH THE LAW FIRM KLINE AND SPECTER — TELLING STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS MONDAY — QUOTE “THE MATTER HAS BEEN RESOLVED” BUT ADDED SHE COULD NOT COMMENT ANY FURTHER.

ACCORDING TO A LAWSUIT FILED IN PHILADELPHIA LAST YEAR — KATZ AVOIDED ENERGY DRINKS BECAUSE OF A HEART CONDITION – BUT ORDERED PANERA’S CHARGED LEMONADE NOT KNOWING ITS HIGH LEVELS OF CAFFEINE.

THE SUIT CLAIMED THE DRINK WAS NOT PROPERLY LABELED, DESCRIBED AT THE TIME AS A “PLANT-BASED” OPTION, AND KATZ GOING INTO CARDIAC ARREST AT THE RESTAURANT – LATER DYING AT THE HOSPITAL.

A LARGE CUP OF THE BEVERAGE CONTAINED ABOUT 390 MILLIGRAMS OF CAFFEINE – WHILE THE FDA SAYS A SAFE QUANTITY OF CAFFEINE FOR HEALTHY ADULTS IS TYPICALLY AROUND 400 MILLIGRAMS – A DAY.

AFTER KATZ’S FAMILY FILED ITS LAWSUIT – MORE ALLEGATIONS EMERGED CONCERNING THE DRINK.

THE FAMILY OF 46-YEAR-OLD DENNIS BROWN OF FLORIDA WHO LIVED WITH A CHROMOSOMAL DEFICIENCY DISORDER AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SUED PANERA AFTER HE DRANK THE CHARGED LEMONADE AND SUFFERED CARDIAC ARREST ON HIS WALK HOME. HE DIED AT THE SCENE.

IN RESPONSE TO THE LAWSUITS – PANERA RESPONDED THAT THEY HAD NO MERIT – BUT THE COMPANY WOULD LATER MAKE CHANGES – ADDING WARNINGS TO THE DRINK’S ONLINE DESCRIPTION – LIKE “CONTAINS CAFFEINE” “USE IN MODERATION” AND “NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN, PEOPLE SENSITIVE TO CAFFEINE, PREGNANT OR NURSING WOMEN.”

THEN EARLIER THIS YEAR – CITING A REVAMPED MENU – PANERA ANNOUNCING IT WAS PULLING THE CONTROVERSIAL BEVERAGES FROM ITS RESTAURANTS NATIONWIDE.

LIKE KATZ, THE FIRM OF KLINE AND SPECTER ALSO REPRESENTS BROWN AND TWO OTHER PLAINTIFFS WHO HAD NO UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS BUT CLAIM PANERA’S CHARGED LEMONADE CAUSED HEART INJURIES.

STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS HAS REACHED OUT TO PANERA FOR A COMMENT ON THE SETTLEMENT.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M KARAH RUCKER. FOR MORE OF OUR STORIES DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE SAN-DOT-COM.