A California federal jury awarded Monster Energy Co. nearly $293 million and teed up possible enhanced and punitive damages Thursday after finding Vital Pharmaceuticals Inc. and its CEO falsely advertised the "super creatine" ingredient of Bang energy drink, handing Monster a potentially record-breaking verdict following the monthlong trial.
An attorney for Monster Energy Co. urged a California federal jury Tuesday during closing arguments to award the company over $297 million from Vital Pharmaceuticals Inc. after a trial largely focused on claims that Vital falsely advertised super creatine, while Vital's attorney said the case suffers a "fatal problem of proof."
A California federal judge denied a last-ditch effort Friday by Vital Pharmaceuticals Inc. to present survey information during closing arguments in a trial over Monster Energy Co.'s allegations that Vital engaged in false advertising, saying that while his pretrial ruling on the issue could have been clearer, the information is still inadmissible.
A damages expert hired by Vital Pharmaceutical Inc. encouraged a California federal jury Thursday to disregard an estimate by Monster Energy Co.'s expert that it lost $272 million in profits from Vital's false advertising of "super creatine" in its Bang energy drink, saying it's based on "unreliable" evidence.
A California federal judge delivered a blow to Vital Pharmaceuticals Inc. on Tuesday in its defense of false advertising claims brought by Monster Energy Co., denying Vital's motion to introduce a report previously ruled inadmissible after finding Monster did not "open the door" during its case-in-chief of the ongoing trial.