CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – A consumer is challenging a water bottle maker's claims that gemstones in the bottle will alter the quality of water used in it.
Anna Ashkinazi, individually and on behalf of a class of similarly situated individuals, filed a complaint June 21 in the Cook County Circuit Court against Vitajuwel USA Inc. over alleged violation of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
According to the complaint, on Jan. 17 she purchased one of defendant's Gem Water bottles for $120. The suit states the bottles have gemstones encased in a hermetically sealed glass capsule in the bottle's bottom. The suit states the defendant advertises the stones in the product increases the pH and the level of dissolved oxygen of water stored in them. She alleges these claims are false.
The plaintiff holds Vitajuwel USA Inc. responsible because the defendant allegedly made false and misleading representation regarding the qualities of its Gem Water bottles in order to induce consumers to purchase the products.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks award for actual and compensatory damages, attorney's fees, costs, injunctive relief and any other relief the court deems just and equitable. She is represented by Yevgeniy "Eugene" I. Turin Sr. in Deerfield, Illinois.
The defendant removed the case to U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on July 20.
Cook County Circuit Court case number 18-CH-07777