### Former Las Vegas Water Company Ordered to Pay $5.2 Billion in Lawsuit

A Nevada jury has awarded $5.2 billion in damages in a significant lawsuit against AffinityLifestyles.com Inc., the parent company of the former Las Vegas-based Real Water brand. The company was found liable for causing liver damage to its consumers, leading to a recall of its product in 2021.

The jury's decision comes after a 12-day trial that culminated on Wednesday in Clark County District Court. The awarded sum includes approximately $230 million in compensatory damages and an additional $5 billion in punitive damages, benefiting Hunter Brown and several other plaintiffs.

Attorney Will Kemp, who represents the plaintiffs, indicated that the battle is far from over, as Real Water's insurance company may contest the damages due to the company's bankruptcy status. Prior to this verdict, other juries had already awarded significant sums against the company, including nearly $3.1 billion in June, $130 million in February, and $228 million in October 2023.

The crux of the lawsuits is the presence of hydrazine, a toxic chemical often used in rocket fuel, which was discovered in Real Water products during testing. This chemical contamination is believed to have occurred during the treatment process before the water was bottled.

Defense attorneys have argued that the company's negligence was unintentional, asserting that AffinityLifestyles.com Inc. was not aware of the hydrazine contamination and did not know to test for it.

Real Water, marketed as premium alkalized drinking water with purported detoxifying benefits, was sold in stores across the Southwestern United States, including Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, as well as the Los Angeles area. It had also been delivered to homes in large quantities until the product was pulled from shelves in March 2021.