The recreational use nitrous oxide for its “eupohoric” effects has been promoted by manufacturers and smoke shops despite another effect – serious injury and, in some cases, death.
Such was the case a few years ago when a driver high on nitrous oxide killed a 25-year-old woman. A St. Louis jury recently awarded a $745 million verdict for marketing and corporate misconduct by United Brands Corp., maker of the nitrous oxide product Whip It! The smoke shop that sold Whip It! and the driver of the car were also found responsible.
If you or a loved one was injured by someone under the influence of nitrous oxide, you may have grounds for a nitrous oxide lawsuit.
The nitrous oxide lawyers at Kline & Specter, including five doctor/lawyers – the most in the nation -- have the experience and expertise to both investigate and litigate wrongful injuries caused by nitrous oxide.
In recent years, the misuse of nitrous oxide, which is easily available in various aerosol products, has become “more and more widespread,” according to the National Institutes of Health.
In the St. Louis case, the driver, who was sentenced for various criminal charges, abused inhalants right before the crash, according to a news report. During trial, the attorney for the victim’s family alleged the manufacturer that sold Whip It! to smoke shops willingly "poisoned people for profits."
United Brands was found 70 percent responsible for the tragic death of Marissa Politte and the store that sold the product, Coughing Cardinal, 20 percent responsible. The driver who had “huffed” nitrous oxide was found 10 percent at fault.
The driver’s car struck Politte just outside an urgent care facility as she was leaving her job as a radiology technician.
Kline & Specter has more than 50 attorneys to handle nitrous oxide lawsuits. We have offices in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and New York. For cases outside those states, we work with local attorneys in each state as applicable.
