Family sues Panera, saying its caffeinated lemonade led to Florida man’s cardiac arrest

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The family of a 46-year-old resident of Florida has initiated legal action against Panera Bread Company, one of the prominent fast-casual restaurant chains in the United States. Their lawsuit alleges wrongful death and negligence, contending that Panera’s caffeinated lemonade was a contributing factor in the man’s fatal cardiac arrest.

David Brown, who had preexisting high blood pressure and abstained from energy drinks, assumed that Panera’s Charged Lemonade was a safe beverage, given that it was not marketed as an energy drink. This lemonade was available alongside the restaurant’s non-caffeinated and lightly caffeinated options. The lawsuit, which was filed in Delaware’s Superior Court where Panera Bread Company is registered, asserts that on October 9, Brown consumed the lemonade three times during a visit to the Panera Bread Company branch in Fleming Island, Florida. Tragically, he experienced cardiac arrest during his walk home and succumbed shortly thereafter. The lawsuit further reveals that he had ordered the Panera Charged Lemonade on at least seven occasions within a two-week span in September and October.

The legal complaint asserts that the defendants either had knowledge or should have been aware that the Panera Charged Lemonade, in its composition and formulation, posed potential harm to individuals, including children, expectant and nursing mothers, and those sensitive to caffeine, potentially resulting in severe injuries or fatality.

As of Tuesday afternoon, there has been no response from Panera’s corporate offices to inquiries seeking their comments on this matter.

David Brown, the deceased, had a chromosomal deficiency disorder, developmental delays, slight blurred vision, and mild intellectual disability, as outlined in the lawsuit. He had been employed at Publix Super Markets for 17 years and frequented the Panera restaurant after work for meals, visiting as many as three times per week. According to the lawsuit, he perceived the chain as a healthier dining option compared to other restaurants.

This lawsuit follows another wrongful death case filed in October by the family of 21-year-old Sarah Katz, a University of Pennsylvania student with a preexisting heart condition who passed away in September 2022 after consuming the same lemonade, as reported by various media outlets.

Panera Bread Company, a privately-held corporation headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, operates across 48 U.S. states and in Canada.

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• Panera Bread Company
• Wrongful Death Lawsuit
• Caffeinated Lemonade
• Cardiac Arrest
• Negligence
• David Brown
• Panera Charged Lemonade
• Superior Court in Delaware
• University of Pennsylvania
• Publix Super Markets
• St. Louis, Missouri
• Panera Bread Locations