Las Vegas, Nevada — A heartbreaking lawsuit filed by the family of a Nevada mother of six is raising alarming questions about the safety of a bottled water brand once marketed as the “healthiest drinking water available.”
The family of Addie Coggs, a 49-year-old Las Vegas woman who died in 2019, claims contaminated bottled water triggered the devastating illness that ultimately took her life.
Family Claims Bottled Water Caused Fatal ALS
According to the lawsuit, Coggs developed ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, after consuming products from the bottled water company Real Water, which was sold through retailers including Costco and WinCo Foods.
The complaint alleges the water contained hydrazine, a chemical commonly associated with rocket fuel and known for its toxic effects.
“As a direct and proximate result of the defective nature of the defendants’ lack of warning instructions on their bottled water products, Addie suffered substantial, adverse health consequences, including ALS and subsequent death,” the lawsuit states.
The family further claims that Coggs regularly purchased and consumed the water before being diagnosed with the fatal neurological disease.
Lawsuit Details Alleged Toxic Contamination
The complaint accuses Real Water and its parent company, Affinitylifestyles.com Inc., of creating unsafe drinking water through a flawed manufacturing process.
According to court filings, the hydrazine contamination may have formed during a process involving massive electrical charges applied to water concentrate over long periods of time.
“Water was passed through titanium tubes that were attached to negative and positive charges,” the complaint alleges.
Experts reportedly believe this process caused dangerous chemical reactions involving potassium and magnesium, ultimately producing hydrazine inside the water products.
The lawsuit describes hydrazine as a dangerous environmental toxin and notes that it is used in rocket fuel systems, including emergency power units for F-16 fighter jets.
FDA Previously Investigated Real Water
The case comes years after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigated Real Water in 2021 and found the company failed to properly control food safety hazards in its facilities.
Following the investigation, Real Water agreed to stop operations in June 2021.
The complaint alleges that numerous consumers suffered severe health problems after drinking the company’s products.
“Because of the inherent flaws in the manufacturing process described above and the failure to conduct standard ingredient testing, Real Water made unsafe water that contained hydrazine and caused numerous persons to have liver failure in Las Vegas,” the lawsuit claims.
The filing also references dozens of additional lawsuits tied to Real Water, including death cases, liver transplant cases, miscarriages, and ICU hospitalizations.
ALS Described as “100% Fatal”
The lawsuit describes ALS as a devastating neurological disease that destroys motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord.
“It results in the inability to move, speak, swallow and eventually breathe,” the complaint says. “It is 100% fatal.”
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Coggs’ family argues she had no other known chemical exposures or risk factors commonly associated with ALS before consuming the bottled water.
Attorney Will Kemp, who represents the family, spoke publicly about the case and the alleged dangers connected to hydrazine contamination.
“Addie drank Real Water, it triggered ALS, and she died of Lou Gehrig’s disease,” Kemp said.
He also emphasized the seriousness of the chemical involved.
“Hydrazine is the same rocket fuel that was used to launch the Apollo rocket to the moon in 1969,” Kemp stated. “It’s well-known to be a liver toxic.”
Legal Fallout Continues to Grow
The lawsuit is the latest in a growing number of legal claims connected to Real Water products. Reports indicate that Costco has previously settled lawsuits related to the bottled water brand.
As the legal battle continues, the case is drawing national attention due to the shocking allegations involving toxic chemicals in a product marketed as healthy drinking water.
What are your thoughts on this disturbing lawsuit and the claims against the bottled water company? Share your opinion respectfully in the comments below.
