Panera's Charged Lemonade Caused PA Man's Cardiac Arrest: Lawsuit

MONROEVILLE, PA — A Pittsburgh-area man who had to be resuscitated in March after drinking Panera Bread's controversial Charged Lemonade has filed a federal lawsuit against the bakery-cafe chain.

The suit was filed Monday by attorneys for Luke Adams, 18, of Monroeville, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. It came two weeks after Panera discontinued the highly caffeinated beverage.

Charged Lemonade has been blamed for two deaths and a woman's permanent health issues in other litigation.

Panera officials could not immediately be reached for comment, but the chain has denied any wrongdoing in previous legal documents.

The 24-page civil complaint contends that Adams - who had no known previous health issues - purchased a chicken sandwich and a large Charged Lemonade on March 9 at the Monroeville Panera. Later that evening, he went to a movie with friends at Monroeville Mall, where he became unresponsive.

Two nurses and a cardiologist who were in the theater performed CPR on Adams, according to the lawsuit. An automated external defibrillator, or AED, was used to shock Adams’ heart.

The complaint alleges that Adams had two seizures shortly after arriving at the hospital. Citing medical notes made at the time, the lawsuit stated that heavy caffeine intake was the only possible cause for the cardiac arrest.

Adams spent time in the hospital's intensive care unit and required intubation. An implantable defibrillator was installed to prevent a cardiac arrest recurrence, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also contends that Adams now suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and has generalized anxiety as a result of the incident.

Adams is asking the court to award compensatory and punitive damages.

Charged Lemonade contains multiple caffeine sources, including the guarana extract. Previous lawsuits have blamed the drink for the deaths of Sarah Katz, a University of Pennsylvania student who had a heart condition, and Dennis Brown, a Florida man. Another lawsuit said the beverage caused permanent cardiac injuries to Lauren Skerritt of Rhode Island.

After the filling of those lawsuits, which have yet to be settled, Panera issued a warning in its restaurants and on its website stating the drink was not recommended for children, people sensitive to caffeine or pregnant women. The drink then was removed from the menu.