A Russian woman has won a suit against the soft drink giant Coca Cola in Moscow after her defense lawyer succeeded in persuading the court that his client’s chronic ailment was brought about by consumption of beverages produced the by U.S. firm.
The woman was awarded a compensation measuring 3,133 rubles (approximately $120), a meager amount as compared to damages awarded to plaintiffs pursuing similar complaints in western courts.
Natalia Koshuba was diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease, which, the doctors concluded, had been caused by consumption of soft drinks. The plaintiff had demanded a compensation of 5,133 Roubles, which included her medical expenses and a compensation of moral damages.
Koshuba said she began to buy more soft drinks after the company launched a campaign urging customers to collect lids from soft drink bottles so as to exchange them later on for prizes. As a result, the woman consumed 2 to 3 liters of soft drinks daily in the course of five years.
The defense lawyer for Coca Cola suggested that the lids presented by the girl in the courtroom had been collected at dumps. But Koshuba’s defense brought in witnesses who confirmed that Natalia has never eaten any hot or fatty foods, practically never drank alcoholic beverages and worked out regularly. Hence, her addiction to Coca Cola drinks was the only cause of her disease.
Even though she won the claim, Natalia says she is not satisfied with the awarded amount and is set to sue the company again, demanding 3 million Roubles in moral damages.
Ian's comment: Isn't it funny; some of our competitors say alkaline water might be bad for the digestion, but we see advertising every day for something this court agreed caused gastroesophageal reflux. Doh-Oh! Double Duh-Oh, given the reports we get from people saying alkaline water has ended years of gastric upset!
No comments:
Post a Comment