Lewis Law is representing a case alleging a reprehensible act of negligence that landed nine of twelve unsuspecting victims in the hospital after suffering THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) poisoning. The plaintiffs allege they were inadvertently served THC-laced brownie bites at a catered event. THC is the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis that causes a consumer to become high.
After a Helping Hand Home Care Dinner hired Timothy Broxton of Easy B’s Market and Cafe, LLC, to cater a dinner, their guests allege they were unwittingly served THC-laced brownies, leading to mass hysteria, confusion, fear, and rapid heartbeat.
Unfortunately, the catering company seems to have somehow mixed up their products for cannabis customers with the catered event. This type of negligence is unacceptable, leading to potential dangers that warrant legal accountability in this case.
After attendees of the catered event began exhibiting symptoms of THC poisoning, officials called the Gainesville police to investigate possible food poisoning. However, our plaintiff’s lawsuit demonstrates that food poisoning was not the culprit.
Despite Broxton’s denial of liability, our plaintiff’s lawsuit also clarifies the brownie bites received a positive test for: “THC poisoning at levels beyond the upper concentration measuring limit of the Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s blood test for THC.”
Accidental (or intentional) THC poisoning is unacceptable and an area of personal injury law that is growing increasingly concerning as more states legalize and decriminalize cannabis.
THC Poisoning on the Rise With Cannabis Legalizations
From edible cannabis product packaging resembling kids' snacks and candy causing children THC poisonings to high school pranksters who think it's funny to drug someone without their consent for laughs or to chase internet clout, cannabis poisonings are on the rise.
An NIH study illustrates a 34 percent increase in poison control center calls a year following legalization in Colorado. Notably, emergency room and department presentations related to cannabis toxicity increased from 1.2 to 2.3 per 100,000 population with the legalization of recreational cannabis.
Symptoms of THC-Poisoning That Warrant Seeking Compensation
People often laugh at the idea of someone being drugged by cannabis brownies. However, there isn't anything funny about it. These people did not consent to taking the controlled substance. They are victims who deserve compensation for their medical bills, lost earnings, and other damages incurred.
The paramedics believed one victim in the mentioned lawsuit was having a stroke due to the severity of her symptoms. She thought she was dying and feared never seeing her grandchildren grow. The negligence demonstrated by Easy B’s Market and Cafe, LLC is entirely unacceptable.
People who do not consent to having their minds and faculties altered may experience particularly frightening and traumatic effects. Symptoms of THC poisoning that permit a negligence lawsuit and compensation include:
- Effects that lead to intentional injury or wrongful death
- Difficulty breathing (common side effect in children)
- Difficulty standing
- Rapid heart rate and increased blood pressure
- Paranoia and panic attacks
- Extreme anxiety and confusion
- Severe nausea and vomiting
- Delusions and hallucinations
- Extreme terror and fear
Damages that victims of negligent THC poisoning may be liable to recover in their lawsuits include:
- Medical bills (ER visits, hospitalizations, aftercare costs)
- Mental health expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Psychological trauma
- Post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD)
- Lost earnings
Due to the particularly heinous negligence of drugging unsuspecting victims at a catered event, a judge and jury may award other damages, including punitive damages. However, they’re unexpected in most personal injury lawsuits.
If you’ve been injured and suffered damages due to someone’s negligence, schedule a free consultation with Lewis Law. We offer a free case evaluation and are here to help by providing a compassionate hand in securing financial compensation for your losses.
Common Types of Negligence Personal Injury Lawsuits
People who experience injuries and actual damages from the negligent actions of another party may be liable to recover compensation. Common types of negligence personal injury lawsuits involve:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Slip and falls
- Work accidents
- Construction accidents
- Dog bites
- Product liability (defective product causing injury or wrongful death, such as food poisoning)
- Premises liability (injured on someone else's property due to their negligence)
An experienced personal injury lawyer can help obtain financial compensation for various other accidents involving someone else's negligence. Speak with an attorney at Lewis Law to clarify your circumstances and determine if you have a case.
How Lewis Law Can Help Seek Compensation With a Personal Injury Claim or Lawsuit
Lewis Law will thoroughly investigate your personal injury accident to determine liability, prove negligence, and attain compensation for your damages. Our firm will help recover compensation by:
Collecting and Analyzing Evidence From Your Personal Injury Accident
Evidence collection and preservation is a critical first step in investigating your accident claim. Depending on the type of accident, evidence that we collect may include:
- Police, accident, or incident reports
- Pictures of injuries immediately following an accident
- Video from traffic, dash, surveillance, security, commercial, and residential cameras
- Medical and rehabilitation records
- Lost income statements and pay stubs
- Tax returns
- Electronic recording and logging devices (commercial vehicles)
In the instance of the lawsuit mentioned above, lab reports confirming the brownie bites were THC-laced and the brownie itself are viable pieces of evidence.
Valuing the Damages in Your Personal Injury Accident Claim
Depending on the severity of your injuries, length of medical treatment and recovery times, and the amount of damages incurred, your attorney may have significant damages to value in your accident claim. Standard damages in personal injury lawsuits include:
- Medical Expenses: Emergency transportation and services, hospitalizations, surgeries, primary care, medical equipment, in-home and transportation modifications, prescription medications, future medical, and other expenses.
- Rehabilitation Costs: Physical therapy, chiropractic care, massage, acupuncture, occupational and vocational therapy.
- Mental Health Expenses: Online or in-person therapy sessions, counseling, prescription medications, and therapy books such as cognitive therapy behavior (CBT) workbooks.
- Property Damages: Vehicle repairs or replacement and property damages, such as fences, mailboxes, building damage, cell phones, smart watches, electronic devices, car seats, and clothing.
- Pain and Suffering: Chronic or physical pain, emotional distress, psychological trauma, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, scarring, worsening of existing injuries, shortened life expectancy, and more, depending on the accident type.
Spouses and surviving family members who experienced the wrongful death of a loved one due to the negligence of another are also eligible to recover compensation. Wrongful death damages include loss of consortium, loss of activities, loss of financial support, loss of guidance, and loss of inheritance.
Negotiating Fair Financial Settlements
Finally, Lewis Law will demand that liable insurance companies and other parties pay a fair settlement for injuries and damages from an accident. Our attorneys are skilled at negotiating for maximum compensation.
Schedule a free consultation with Lewis Law to discuss your accident case and discover a strategy to recover compensation for your losses.