NEED TO KNOW
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The family of Texas teenager Larissa Nicole Rodriguez filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the distributors of energy drink Alani Nu on Wednesday, April 8, according to multiple reports
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They claimed that the teen began drinking the energy drink after seeing social media posts, which advertised the drink’s health benefits and energy boost
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Rodriguez’s family attorney reportedly said the medical examiner determined that the teen’s cause of death was due to “an enlarged heart due to stress and large amounts of caffeine”
The family of a Texas teenager has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against distributors of an energy drink company.
Benny Agosto Jr., the attorney representing the family of Larissa Nicole Rodriguez, who died at the age of 17 in October 2025, announced in a press conference on Wednesday, April 8, that her family has filed a lawsuit against the distributors of energy drink Alani Nu, Glazer’s Beer and Beverage, in Hidalgo County District Court.
Agosto, Glazer’s Beer and Beverage and Alani Nu did not immediately respond to PEOPLE to provide additional commentary on the lawsuit.
During the press conference, Agosto reportedly claimed that the Hidalgo County Medical Examiner determined that Larissa’s cause of death was due to “an enlarged heart due to stress and large amounts of caffeine.”
PEOPLE submitted a request to the Open Government office associated with the Hidalgo County Medical Examiner for additional information, but did not immediately receive a response.
A photo of Larissa Nicole Rodriguez
Credit: Salinas Funeral Home
Agosto reportedly said that Larissa had picked up drinking Alani Nu energy drinks — at least one a day — in the year leading up to her death due to social media posts, which advertised the drink’s health benefits and energy boost, per NBC News and Fox 8.
“The medical examiner did not say in her report that she died because she drank caffeine that day,” Agosto said, per local outlet Fox 8. “It’s because of the continuous drinking of caffeine.”
Agosto also reportedly said, per NBC News, that the Alani Nu energy drinks “had inadequate warnings about the serious cardiac risks that this product brings.”
While the cans do have a label saying that the drinks are not recommended for children, the lawsuit — which seeks $1 million in damages — reportedly claims they were marketed and distributed by Glazer’s Beer and Beverage without noting the serious cardiac risks that excessive caffeine use could cause, per NBC News, Fox 8 and the San Antonio Express News.
“There’s no warnings, there’s nothing on there that says, ‘Hey, if you drink this, you’re going to be overstimulating your heart,’ ” Larissa Rodriguez’s mother, Jennifer Rodriguez, reportedly said, per Fox 8.
Agosto said the medical examiner’s report showed that there were no drugs or alcohol in Larissa’s system at the time of her death and that her family had no reported history of heart problems.
The family’s attorney described Larissa during the press conference as an “active” teen who was “full of life” and played tennis and was a cheerleader, and said that she had a “bright future” after being accepted into “almost 20 universities.”
“[She was] sending parents letters and emails that she was being accepted to [go] to college, and her life was cut short,” Agosto said.
Although Alani Nu was not listed as a defendant in the lawsuit, Celsius Inc., which owns the beverage company, told NBC News in a statement that it was “saddened by this loss, and our thoughts are with the family.”
A photo of Larissa Nicole Rodriguez
Credit: Salinas Funeral Home
“We take product safety seriously and believe consumers should have clear information about what they are drinking,” Celsius Inc. told the outlet. “Alani Nu energy drinks disclose 200mg of caffeine on the can, and the label states the product is not recommended for children, people sensitive to caffeine, pregnant women, or women who are nursing.”
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“Our products comply with applicable federal labeling requirements, and our policy is not to market or sample to anyone under 18, consistent with those label warnings,” they added.
Agosto said that additional defendants could be added in the future and noted that the lawsuit was made to prevent this from affecting other families.
“What ultimately they want is that this doesn’t happen to a single child. If they can save one life, that’s what they want. If they can change the industry so that there’s better protections and warnings for kids, that’s what they want,” Agosto said.
Read the original article on People
