Lawsuit blames Texas cheerleader’s death on excessive energy drink consumption – FOX 26 Houston
WESLACO, Texas – The parents of a Texas cheerleader have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a beverage distributor in Hidalgo County.
Larissa Rodriguez died in October. The 17-year-old was a cheerleader and student council president in Weslaco, Texas, with aspirations of attending the University of Texas and becoming a lawyer.
“We started this investigation because we found out through the medical examiner for Hidalgo County, that the cause of death was an enlarged heart due to stress and large amounts of caffeine,” Benny Agosto, Jr., the attorney for the parents, said Wednesday.
What they’re saying:
The lawsuit claims there are inadequate warnings on the cans and that the “wellness-centered” marketing led to Rodriguez’s excessive consumption of the drink.
“And why do you think the Alani is the invitation? Because this is the popular drink that you are supposed to be drinking,” Agosto said. “According to the marketing, according to the social media, and according to youth in this community. So there’s Alani drinks. ‘Hope you have the energy to go to homecoming with me. Yes or no?’ and of course she said yes.”
“The only cautionary language on the can – ‘Not recommended for children under 18, those sensitive to caffeine, pregnant or nursing women’ – is printed in small, inconspicuous text that is easily overlooked and wholly inadequate to warn consumers of the serious risks of cardiac injury and death,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit is asking for $1 million in damages. Agosto said Wednesday that he expects additional defendants to be named in the coming days.
The Source: Information in this article comes from a news conference by the attorneys representing Larissa Rodriguez’s family and documents filed in Hidalgo County court.
