A Nevada man lost his sense of taste and developed other health complications after he was served cleaning solvents in lieu of beer from a tap at a bar.
ABC News reports that on March 18, a Las Vegas jury awarded Lon Enwright $8 million for the incident that took place in December 2018 at a Barley’s Casino & Brewing Co. in Henderson. He sued the casino bar for negligence.
Following the incident, Enwright additionally suffered from stomach and esophageal ulcers and has a higher chance of getting cancer. The 38-year-old has a Ph.D and is a middle school special education teacher who also coaches basketball. At one point, he worked as a wine steward at Las Vegas Strip restaurants.
According to the lawsuit, Enwright asked for a sample of a beer that was on tap. After drinking what was given to him, he felt sick and began convulsing. The filing said he was served chemicals that used to clean beer taps and lines—and that the bar employees knew the beer lines weren’t working because they were being cleaned.
His attorney, Andre Lagomarsino said the $8 million is for “the loss of enjoyment of life.” Enwright’s attorneys said the Henderson bar took accountability for the incident and proposed to pay Enwright $300,000 in damages prior to the trial.
“Dr. Enwright experienced a sudden and intense burning in his mouth, on his tongue, and down his esophagus into his stomach. He soon began convulsing, hyperventilating, and violently vomiting before Henderson Fire Department arrived to the scene,” his lawyers said, per KIRO-7.
“There’s no potential for improvement,” his attorney, Rahul Ravipudi, added. “It will only get worse over time.”
Starbucks is currently being sued over a similar situation, where a man ordered a plain coffee and was unknowingly served cleaning chemicals which he then drank.
