Katz’s roommate, Victoria Rose Conroy, told NBC News, “I guarantee if Sarah had known how much caffeine this was, she never would have touched it with a 10-foot pole.”
A judge denied Panera’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit. The FDA stated it was investigating Katz’s death following the filing. Later that month, Panera began displaying enhanced caffeine disclosures in-store and added warnings on its app.
Dennis Brown Case
In December 2023, Dennis Brown’s family filed a lawsuit after the 46-year-old Floridian died following the consumption of three Charged Lemonades. Brown, who had high blood pressure and avoided energy drinks, suffered a cardiac arrest in October.
The lawsuit highlighted that Brown may not have been aware of the drinks’ high caffeine content, as they were “offered side-by-side with all of the store’s non-caffeinated and/or less caffeinated drinks.”
Panera expressed sympathy for Brown’s family but denied the drinks caused his death, stating, “Based on our investigation we believe his unfortunate passing was not caused by one of the company’s products.”
Lauren Skerritt Case
In January, 28-year-old Lauren Skerritt from Rhode Island filed a third lawsuit, claiming Charged Lemonade caused her to develop permanent cardiac injuries. An athlete and occupational therapist with no underlying health conditions, Skerritt drank two and a half Charged Lemonades in April 2023 before experiencing heart palpitations. She was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation at the emergency room.
Luke Adams Case
On March 9, 18-year-old Luke Adams alleged that a Charged Lemonade led to his cardiac arrest. Adams consumed the drink with a chicken sandwich and later experienced seizures and cardiac arrest while at a movie theater.
