WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — A New York man claims Simply Tropical juice drink is falsely labeled as "all natural" when it contains synthetic and toxic chemicals.
Joseph Lurenz, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a complaint Dec. 28 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against The Coca-Cola Company and The Simply Orange Juice Company, alleging violation of the New York Deceptive Trade Practices Act and other claims.
Lurenz alleges in his class action that Simply Tropical juice drink is deceptively labeled as "all natural" when testing has revealed the drink contains polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). He claims the drink's labeling of "all natural ingredients" with "nothing to hide" and using the word "simply" misleads consumers to believe the product is healthy when it contains toxic chemicals that have been associated with negative health effects including reproductive issues, developmental delays, reduced immunity, hormone disruption and increased cholesterol levels.
Lurenz alleges that the defendants knew that the drink product contained PFAS chemicals which pose a risk and failed to disclose it to consumers. He claims the defendants' frauduently misrepresented that the product was all natural and concealed the information in order to delay lawsuits and other causes of action.
Lurenz and the class seek monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Jason Sultzer and Daniel Markowitz of The Sultzer Law Group PC in Poughkeepsie ;Nick Suciu, III of Milberg, Coleman Bryson Phillips, Grossman PLLC in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; Gary Klinger of Milberg, Coleman Bryson Phillips, Grossman in Chicago; Erin Ruben of Milberg, Coleman Bryson Phillips, Grossman in Raleigh, North Carolina; and J. Hunter Bryson of Milberg, Coleman Bryson Phillips, Grossman in New York City.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York case number 7:22-CV-10941-NSR