What Is the Alani Nu Lawsuit?
The Alani Nu lawsuit is a Texas wrongful death case in which the parents of 17-year-old Larissa Rodriguez allege that Alani Nu energy drinks contributed to her fatal cardiomyopathy. The case is Cause No. C-1668-26-F in Hidalgo County District Court, filed April 8, 2026 against two Glazer's Beer and Beverage companies that distributed the drinks to H-E-B stores.
It is an individual civil case, not a class action and not a multidistrict litigation. Celsius Holdings bought the Alani Nu brand in April 2025 and is not a defendant, and the family's claims are allegations that the distributors deny.
Larissa Rodriguez was a cheerleader and honors student from Weslaco, Texas, who died in October 2025. Benny Agosto Jr. of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner and Damian C. Orozco of the Orozco Law Firm represent her family.
“This is a wrongful death action maintained under the Texas Wrongful Death statute and Texas common law. The amount in controversy is within the jurisdictional limits of this Court.”
Source: Plaintiffs' Original Petition, Rodriguez v. Glazer's Beer and Beverage, LLC, Cause No. C-1668-26-F, Hidalgo County District Court (filed April 8, 2026)
Why Are People Filing Alani Nu Lawsuits?
People are filing Alani Nu lawsuits because plaintiffs allege each 12-ounce can holds 200 milligrams of caffeine, twice the daily maximum the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends for ages 12 to 17, with a warning too small to alert teenagers to cardiac risk. So far, one such case has been reported, the Rodriguez family's wrongful death suit.
The petition says the only caution on the can reads "Not recommended for children under 18, those sensitive to caffeine, pregnant or nursing women." It alleges that text is printed small, names no maximum daily limit, and does not warn that multiple cans may cause cardiomyopathy, cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac arrest or death.
The petition also alleges the label hides the amount of taurine and the combined stimulants guarana, ginseng, L-theanine and others inside an "Energy Blend." It says the combination poses different and greater cardiac risks than caffeine alone, a point the family says was never studied or disclosed.
Marketing is the third pillar of the claim. The petition alleges Alani Nu is sold as a "better-for-you" wellness drink to young women, including minors, through Instagram and TikTok, with pastel cans and candy-inspired flavors that blur the line between a stimulant and a lifestyle accessory.
What Injuries Are Included in the Alani Nu Lawsuit?
The injuries included in the Alani Nu lawsuit center on one fatal heart condition, cardiomyopathy, plus the personal and financial losses the family claims after her death. The petition pleads them in three groups, each described below.
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood and can lead to an enlarged heart.
The petition alleges Larissa suffered a fatal cardiac event after drinking one or more Alani Nu drinks on or about October 20, 2025 and in the days before. It says the Hidalgo County Medical Examiner determined her cause of death was cardiomyopathy caused by excessive caffeine consumption.
Attorney Benny Agosto Jr. described the finding as an enlarged heart due to stress and large amounts of caffeine, and said toxicology testing found no alcohol or drugs. The sources reviewed relay these findings from the family's side, and the medical examiner's report itself was not published in them.
Agosto said the theory is cumulative, not a single-day event, and that Larissa drank at least one Alani Nu a day during the past year, sometimes more. NYU Langone cardiologist Dr. Nieca Goldberg told TODAY that chronically fast heart rates can cause an enlarged heart, though she did not treat Larissa and had not seen the report.
Loss of Companionship and Mental Anguish
Loss of companionship is a legal measure of the comfort, care and society that family members lose when a relative dies.
Jennifer Alicia Rodriguez and Roberto Rodriguez Jr. bring this claim in their own names as Larissa's parents under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code sections 71.002 and 71.004. The petition lists past and future mental anguish, loss of consortium, and loss of care, support, household services and companionship.
Only a jury could decide whether any of these losses are compensable, and no court has made that finding.
Pain, Expenses and Lost Earnings Before Death
Survival damages are losses a person suffered before death, which the estate may seek under Texas law.
Jennifer Rodriguez brings this claim as representative of Larissa's estate under section 71.021. The petition seeks compensation for physical pain, mental anguish and impairment before death, medical and funeral expenses, and lost earning capacity.
The petition also asks for exemplary and punitive damages, which Texas law generally reserves for conduct proven to be malicious or grossly negligent.
Who Qualifies for the Alani Nu Lawsuit?
You may qualify if:
- You or a family member suffered a serious heart problem or died after regularly drinking Alani Nu or another high-caffeine energy drink, and a doctor or medical examiner has connected the condition to caffeine
- You can show what was bought and consumed, such as cans, receipts, card statements, photos or social media posts
- Your injury or death is recent enough to fall inside your state's filing deadline, which in Texas is generally two years for wrongful death and product injury claims
You may not qualify if:
- Your heart condition has a documented cause unrelated to caffeine, since the cause of the heart condition is the central disputed issue in the Rodriguez case
- You are looking for a class action payout, since no class action or settlement fund exists for Alani Nu injuries as of October 2026
- Your claim concerns investment losses in Celsius stock, which belong to a separate securities class action rather than to this injury case
The Rodriguez case is a single family's lawsuit, not a certified class, so eligibility for any other person's claim has not been decided by any court. Only a qualified attorney reviewing your medical records, purchase proof and state deadline can confirm whether you may have a claim.
What Is the Current Status of the Alani Nu Lawsuit?
The current status of the Alani Nu lawsuit is a stayed state-court case: the 13th Court of Appeals paused all trial court proceedings, including discovery, on July 27, 2026, while it considers the distributors' petition for a writ of mandamus. The latest reporting reviewed, dated September 10, 2026, shows no ruling on that petition, no trial date and no settlement.
A writ of mandamus is a request that a higher court order a lower court to correct a ruling. If the 13th Court of Appeals grants it, the trial court could be directed to revisit its refusal to dismiss the case, and if it denies the petition, the stay would generally end and the case would resume. Agosto estimated in July that the appeal could take 60 to 90 days, depending on added briefing or oral argument.
Rodriguez v. Glazer's Beer and Beverage, LLC
The Rodriguez family filed Plaintiffs' Original Petition on April 8, 2026, asking for Level 2 discovery under the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and pleading that the case cannot be removed to federal court because the plaintiffs and the Glazer's defendants are all Texas residents. Glazer's Beer and Beverage of Texas answered on May 22, 2026 with a general denial.
Judge Noe Gonzalez of the 370th District Court denied the distributors' motion to dismiss after a hearing in late June 2026, and on July 23, 2026 allowed the case to continue while the distributors appealed. The distributors then petitioned the 13th Court of Appeals, which stayed the case four days later.
| Court | Hidalgo County District Court, Texas (370th District Court in later reporting) |
| Cause Number | C-1668-26-F |
| Date Filed | April 8, 2026 |
| Plaintiffs | Jennifer Alicia Rodriguez, individually and as representative of the Estate of Larissa Rodriguez, and Roberto Rodriguez Jr. |
| Defendants | Glazer's Beer and Beverage, LLC and Glazer's Beer and Beverage of Texas, LLC |
| Plaintiffs' Counsel | Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner; Orozco Law Firm |
| Causes of Action | Strict liability for manufacturing and design defect; strict liability for marketing defect and failure to warn |
| Damages Sought | More than $1,000,000, plus exemplary damages and interest |
| Appellate Proceeding | Petition for writ of mandamus, 13th Court of Appeals; trial court proceedings stayed July 27, 2026 |
| Trial Date | None set in the sources reviewed |
Because the family sued only the distributors, the main fight so far is whether a seller that did not design, make or label a drink can be held liable for it. The petition reserves the right to add parties, and Agosto said more defendants could follow as discovery continues.
Has the Alani Nu Lawsuit Settled?
No. The Alani Nu lawsuit has not settled, and no settlement fund, claims process or payout schedule exists as of October 2026.
The petition seeks more than $1,000,000 plus exemplary damages, but that figure is the amount pleaded, not a valuation, forecast or settlement offer. Any recovery would depend on the court of appeals, the evidence on causation, and a jury or a negotiated agreement.
Settlement terms in this kind of case are often confidential, so a future agreement might never be made public. Other energy drink cases show the pattern: the Panera Charged Lemonade suits ended in dismissals with the amounts undisclosed, as the comparison section below explains.
Latest Alani Nu Lawsuit Updates
The latest Alani Nu lawsuit updates show the Rodriguez wrongful death case paused in the 13th Court of Appeals, with no settlement announced as of October 2026. Every verified development appears in the timeline below, newest first.
Alani Nu Lawsuit Timeline
Investors Sue Celsius Over Alani Nu Caffeine Disclosures
Plaintiff law firms announced a securities class action against Celsius Holdings and certain officers in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Case No. 26-cv-62465, for investors who bought Celsius securities between February 21, 2025 and June 3, 2026. The complaint ties the investor claims to the Alani Nu cardiac-risk allegations, the lead plaintiff deadline is November 3, 2026, and the allegations are unproven.
Family Answers the Distributors' Appeal Petition
KRGV reported on September 10 that the Rodriguez family's lawyers filed their response on Tuesday, September 8, arguing in the 13th Court of Appeals that Glazer's knew Alani Nu was dangerous for minors and kept selling it. The response also alleges the distributors recruited Larissa as a brand ambassador, and no hearing date had been set.
Court of Appeals Stays the Rodriguez Case
The 13th Court of Appeals granted the distributors' emergency motion for temporary relief and ordered all trial court proceedings, including discovery, stayed until it resolves their petition for a writ of mandamus. The order asked the family's attorneys to respond within 10 days.
Trial Judge Lets the Case Continue During the Appeal
A Hidalgo County judge ruled that the Rodriguez lawsuit would keep moving while Glazer's pursued its appeal, so both sides could continue discovery and trial preparation. Glazer's had asked for a stay, and it responded by asking the 13th Court of Appeals to pause the case.
Judge Denies the Motion to Dismiss
Judge Noe Gonzalez of the 370th District Court in Hidalgo County denied Glazer's motion to dismiss the day after a hearing, KRGV reported on July 2. Glazer's lawyers had argued the company only distributed Alani Nu and did not design the can, make the drink or write the label.
Texas Attorney General Opens a Celsius Investigation
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an investigation of Celsius Holdings and its subsidiary Alani Nutrition, LLC under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, examining whether the companies misled consumers about the safety of Alani Nu for teenagers. The announcement cited the Weslaco lawsuit, and an investigation is not a finding of wrongdoing.
Glazer's Files Its Answer Denying Every Allegation
Glazer's Beer and Beverage of Texas filed an original answer in the 370th District Court denying each allegation in the Rodriguez petition. KRGV reported on June 1 that the distributors say they only sold the drink and that something else caused Larissa's death.
Family's Lawyers Announce the Lawsuit
Attorney Benny Agosto Jr. described the Rodriguez petition at a Hidalgo County news conference the day after it was filed. Celsius, which was not sued, said it was saddened by the loss and that its products comply with federal labeling requirements.
Rodriguez Family Files Wrongful Death Petition
Jennifer Alicia Rodriguez and Roberto Rodriguez Jr. filed Plaintiffs' Original Petition, Cause No. C-1668-26-F, in Hidalgo County District Court against Glazer's Beer and Beverage, LLC and Glazer's Beer and Beverage of Texas, LLC. The petition seeks more than $1,000,000 for the October 2025 death of their daughter Larissa.
Larissa Rodriguez Allegedly Drinks Alani Nu Before Her Death
The petition alleges Larissa Rodriguez, 17, bought and drank one or more Alani Nu drinks at an H-E-B store in Hidalgo County on or about October 20, 2025 and in the days before, and later suffered a fatal cardiac event. Her family says the county medical examiner attributed her death to cardiomyopathy caused by excessive caffeine consumption.
Celsius Completes Its Purchase of Alani Nu
Celsius Holdings completed its $1.8 billion acquisition of the Alani Nu brand in April 2025, according to NBC News. The deal came about six months before Larissa Rodriguez's death.
Canada Issues a Safety Warning on Alani Nu
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a safety warning for Alani Nu energy drinks over non-compliant caffeine content and labeling and advised Canadians not to drink, sell or distribute the product, according to the Rodriguez petition.
How to File an Alani Nu Lawsuit
To file an Alani Nu lawsuit, follow the 5 steps listed below.
- Get medical care and request your records: Ask your doctor or hospital for records that document any heart diagnosis, test results and your caffeine intake history.
- Preserve the cans and purchase records: Keep any remaining cans, receipts and card statements, and see the evidence section below for the full list.
- Consult a product liability attorney: A lawyer experienced in product liability or wrongful death can review whether a claim exists and which companies could be responsible.
- Identify the right defendants: The Rodriguez petition sued the Texas distributors and reserved the right to add parties, so an attorney may consider the distributor, the brand owner or both.
- File before your state's deadline: Texas generally allows two years for wrongful death and product injury claims, and other states differ, so confirm your own deadline promptly.
Answer a few questions and a case reviewer will follow up. Free, no obligation.
A case reviewer will follow up soon.
What Evidence Do I Need for an Alani Nu Lawsuit?
Evidence for an Alani Nu lawsuit centers on proof of purchase and consumption, medical records linking the heart condition to caffeine, and a record of how much was consumed. The Rodriguez case shows why the medical link matters, since the family's claim rests on the medical examiner's finding that caffeine caused the cardiomyopathy.
- The cans and any receipts, order confirmations or card statements showing where and when the drinks were bought
- Photographs or video of the drinks being consumed and of the label, including the caffeine amount and warning text
- Medical, emergency room, hospital and autopsy or coroner records
- A log or social media posts showing how many energy drinks were consumed and when
- Messages with the seller, brand or insurer about the drinks or the harm
What Did the Alani Nu Lawsuit Defendants Allegedly Know About Caffeine Risks?
The Alani Nu lawsuit defendants allegedly knew, or should have known, that a can with 200 milligrams of caffeine and other stimulants carried foreseeable cardiac risks for minors. The petition says the defendants failed to test the combined effect of caffeine, taurine and guarana before sale and failed to monitor safety afterward.
In its September 2026 appeals response, the family goes further and alleges the distributors knew the drinks were dangerous for minors, recruited Larissa as a brand ambassador and ignored a 2023 safety warning from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
The distributors deny all of it. Their May 22, 2026 answer says they are non-manufacturing sellers who did not alter the product, that the warnings were adequate, that superseding causes or Larissa's own fault contributed, and that no scientific proof links her death to the drink. Celsius separately says Alani Nu discloses its 200 milligrams of caffeine, states the product is not recommended for children, and complies with federal labeling rules.
Regulators have taken notice without making findings. The Texas Attorney General's June 4, 2026 investigation points to youth-oriented branding such as colorful packaging, and notes that cans list caffeine but may lack age or heart-health warnings.
| Party | Role | Stated position |
|---|---|---|
| Glazer's Beer and Beverage, LLC and Glazer's Beer and Beverage of Texas, LLC | Distributors and named defendants | Deny each allegation and say they only distributed the drinks |
| Alani Nutrition, LLC | Brand owner, described in the petition as designer and marketer, operating through Congo Brands LLC | Not a defendant; no separate statement in the sources reviewed |
| Celsius Holdings, Inc. | Parent company of Alani Nu since April 2025 | Not a defendant; says its products comply with federal labeling requirements and it does not market to anyone under 18 |
| Texas Attorney General | Investigator under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act | Examining whether Celsius and Alani misled consumers about safety for teens |
How Does the Alani Nu Lawsuit Compare to Related Cases?
The Alani Nu lawsuit compares to related cases as a single-family wrongful death suit, unlike the investor, consumer and regulatory matters that surround it. The closest precedent is Panera Bread's Charged Lemonade litigation, which the Rodriguez petition itself cites.
| Case | Court or body | Who is acting | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panera Charged Lemonade lawsuits | Multiple courts | Families and individuals alleging two deaths and two permanent cardiac injuries | All four suits resolved by July 2025, one settled in October 2024 and three dismissed with prejudice, amounts undisclosed; Panera pulled the drink in May 2024 |
| Celsius Holdings securities class action | U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, Case No. 26-cv-62465 | Investors who bought Celsius securities from February 21, 2025 to June 3, 2026 | Lead plaintiff deadline November 3, 2026; allegations unproven |
| Texas Attorney General investigation | Office of the Texas Attorney General | State government under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act | Opened June 4, 2026; no findings announced |
| Alani Nutrition Fit Snacks class action | Reported by ClassAction.org on December 9, 2021 | Consumers alleging the protein bars were falsely advertised as healthy | Outcome not confirmed in the sources reviewed |
Celsius also faces a different consumer case over its own drinks, covered in the Celsius drink lawsuit guide, which ended in a $7.8 million "No Preservatives" settlement and has no connection to Alani Nu.
Searches for an Alani rat or mouse lawsuit turned up no verified court case about a rodent in an Alani Nu can, so that term is not treated here as a filed lawsuit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Alani Nu lawsuit about?
The Alani Nu lawsuit is about a Texas family's claim that Alani Nu energy drinks contributed to the death of 17-year-old Larissa Rodriguez from cardiomyopathy in October 2025. The family alleges the cans carry 200 milligrams of caffeine with inadequate warnings, and the distributors deny it.
Is the Alani Nu lawsuit a class action?
No. The Alani Nu lawsuit is an individual wrongful death case, Cause No. C-1668-26-F in Hidalgo County District Court, and it is not a class action or a multidistrict litigation. The only class action tied to the drink is a separate securities suit by Celsius investors.
Has the Alani Nu lawsuit settled?
No. The Alani Nu lawsuit has not settled as of October 2026, and the 13th Court of Appeals stayed the case on July 27, 2026 while it reviews the distributors' petition. The family's petition seeks more than $1,000,000, which is the amount pleaded and not a settlement figure.
Who is being sued in the Alani Nu lawsuit?
The people being sued in the Alani Nu lawsuit are Glazer's Beer and Beverage, LLC and Glazer's Beer and Beverage of Texas, LLC, the distributors that supplied H-E-B stores. Alani Nutrition and Celsius Holdings are not defendants, though the family's lawyer said more defendants could be added.
How many Alani Nu drinks did Larissa Rodriguez drink?
The petition alleges Larissa Rodriguez drank one or more Alani Nu drinks around October 20, 2025 and in the days before, and her attorney said she drank at least one a day over the past year. He said the claim is about regular use, not a single day of heavy drinking, and no exact count is pleaded.
What is the latest Alani Nu lawsuit update?
The latest Alani Nu lawsuit update is that the 13th Court of Appeals paused all trial court proceedings on July 27, 2026, and the family filed its response on September 8, 2026. No ruling on the distributors' petition, trial date or settlement has been reported.
Is there an Alani Nu rat lawsuit?
No verified Alani Nu rat lawsuit exists in the sources reviewed. The Alani Nu lawsuit covered on this page concerns caffeine and warnings, and searches for a rodent-in-the-can case found no court filing.