Carabello v. Wakefern Food Corporation

A female in her early 30s sustained loss of her left eye and a cerebral, neurological injury as a result of a bottle of Poland Springs water exploding and projecting a piece of glass through her eye. Plaintiff contended that there was a manufacturing defect in the bottle and/or the store was negligent in the handling and stacking of the glass bottles, which resulted in a compromise of the glass structure of the bottle and its ultimate exploding. Defendant, Wakefern Food Corporation, took the position that there was no mishandling of the product. Plaintiff settled with Poland Springs and the bottling company for $1 million and tried the case against Wakefern Food Corporation. The trial lasted nine (9) days and after four (4) hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Wakefern Food Corporation and against plaintiff.