“Charged Lemonade” sold at Panera stores is believed to be potentially hazardous and caused the death of a 21-year-old college student and a 46-year-old Florida man, according to lawsuits filed against the company by Kline & Specter.
If you or a loved one suffered severe injury or death after drinking the highly caffeinated beverage, you might have grounds for a lawsuit. Our firm, with more than 50 attorneys, five of whom are also highly skilled medical doctors – the most in the United States — has won billions against major manufacturers in product liability cases.
Kline & Specter has the experience and expertise to investigate and litigate Panera Charged Lemonade cases. Contact us for a free consultation of your case.
The death of Sarah Katz, a student at the University of Pennsylvania, and our ensuing lawsuit against Panera has made news across the country, from Pennsylvania and New England to Georgia and Texas, and even as far as India as the young woman’s family seeks answers and justice in the tragedy.
Katz died Sept. 10, 2022. The student's death due to cardiac arrest occurred after she drank a Charged Lemonade at a Philadelphia Panera location. According to the lawsuit by her parents, Jill and Michael Katz, their daughter had been diagnosed as a child with Long QT Type 1 Syndrome, which can cause arrhythmia, a disruption of the heart's rhythm and electrical activity.
Because of this, she had avoided heavily caffeinated drinks, but Panera's labeling of its Charged Lemonade did not adequately indicate it was highly caffeinated, according to the lawsuit. Katz suffered a cardiac arrest drinking a Charged Lemonade while with friends at a restaurant, then another cardiac arrest after she was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The lawsuit notes that the caffeine content of the Panera Charged Lemonade ranges from 260 milligrams in the 20-ounce regular size to 390 milligrams in 30-ounce size. That far exceeds the combined per-ounce contents of 12 ounces of Red Bull (114 milligrams of caffeine) and 16 ounces of Monster Energy Drink (160 milligrams of caffeine).
The suit also notes that at the Panera location where Katz got the drink, it was offered side-by-side with less- and non-caffeinated beverages and was not advertised as an energy drink, plus it also contains the stimulant guarana and high levels of sugar. It claims Panera engaged in “negligent, reckless, intentional, fraudulent, reckless, and/or outrageous misconduct."
The second lawsuit was filed after Dennis Brown, of Fleming Island, Fla., died in October 2023 of a cardiac arrest after he drank three of Panera's charged lemonades. The suit in that case was filed on behalf of his parents in Superior Court in Delaware.
Kline & Specter handles cases in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and New York. For cases outside those states, Kline & Specter works with local attorneys in each state as applicable.
Panera Supercharged Lemonade In The News:
Panera to drop Charged Lemonade after multiple lawsuits, Fox 4, 5/8/24
3rd Suit Alleges Panera's 'Charged' Drink Caused Heart Attack, Law360, 5/21/24
A woman alleges Panera’s highly caffeinated Charged Lemonade caused her to develop permanent heart problems, NBC 10 News, 1/17/24
FDA “gathering information” about the woman’s death after she drank Panera caffeinated lemonade, NBC 10 News, 10/25/23
Panera faces lawsuit over ‘Charged Lemonade’ energy drink after 21-year-old’s death, Fox 29 News, 10/25/23; CNN, 10/24/23; The Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/24/23