Energy Drink May Have Caused Death of Young Man

There has been a lot of discussion regarding the safety of energy drinks.

Monster Beverage Corporation is facing a lawsuit for the wrongful death of a 19-year-old man, Alex Morris, who died on July 1, 2012 of a cardiac arrest. Morris’ family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company.

The Harmful Side of Energy Drinks

According to the coroner, the cause of Morris’ death was cardiac arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy. There were toxicity reports done and these along with the autopsy findings confirmed that Morris had not used illegal drugs or alcohol. But Morris had consumed two or more 16 oz. Monster Energy Drink cans in the 24 hours before he died. He drank the Monster Energy Drinks on a regular basis for some time. In the three years before his death he would regularly consume 2 cans of the energy drink per day.

The wrongful death lawsuit is being handled by the same attorneys who filed the lawsuit on behalf of Anais Fournier’s family after the 14-year-old girl died in December of 2011 after consuming the Monster Energy Drinks.  She explained the wrongful death lawsuit, saying that it is very difficult for the family and friends of Alex to relive his death, but that it is necessary in order to keep others safe. “We cannot be silent while more seemingly healthy young adults like Alex are putting their lives at risk, and we do not want any other parents to experience the devastation of losing their child,” she said. She wants Monster Energy to be held accountable and would like to see more research done and more regulation of the energy drinks.

Consider The Following

• The Food & Drug Administration has not been regulating the energy drinks in any significant way and the drinks continue to be sold to kids, teens, and young adults, even though there is more and more evidence coming to light that shows that these drinks may be less than safe.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics published a report back in May of 2011 which advised that children and adolescents never consume energy drinks because they contain potentially harmful stimulants.
• According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, the number of emergency room visits due to energy drink consumption between 2005 and 2009 increased ten fold. The numbers then doubled from 2007 to 2011.
• From April 2009 to May 2012 the Food and Drug Administration issued an adverse event report that states there may have been up to five deaths that could be linked to Monster Energy Drinks.
• Another study was done by the American Heart Association and results show that consuming energy drinks may alter the heart rhythm, could cause irregular heart beats, or even sudden cardiac arrest.
• Then in March, 2013, several doctors and scientists wrote to the FDA urging that the FDA take action to protect children and adolescents from purchasing and consuming potentially harmful highly caffeinated drinks.
• The American Medical Association has vocalized their support of a ban on marketing the drinks to anyone under the age of 18. Yet the drinks continue to be sold and marketed to the youth.

If a child or loved one has been injured from consuming energy drinks, contact Zevan and Davidson Law Firm at (314) 588-2700 to discuss your legal options.

photo credit: simon le nippon via flickr