LAS VEGAS (AP) — A jury in Nevada has delivered a $5.2 billion award in the latest large-sum lawsuit against a former Las Vegas-based bottled water company that was found responsible for causing liver damage in customers before it was recalled from store shelves in 2021.
A 12-day trial ended with the verdict Wednesday in the negligence and product liability case against AffinityLifestyles.com Inc. and its Real Water brand, according to Clark County District Court records. The jury awarded about $230 million in compensatory damages and $5 billion in punitive damages to Hunter Brown and several other plaintiffs.
Attorney Will Kemp, representing plaintiffs, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal he expects Real Water’s insurance company to fight paying damages because the company has filed for bankruptcy.
Affinitylifestyles.com was headed by Brent Jones, who served as a Republican Nevada state Assembly member from 2016 to 2018. Jones and attorneys for the company did not immediately respond Thursday to emails seeking comment.