California Jury Finds Metabolife Negligent, But Says Supplement Did Not Cause Man's Stroke

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif.-The jury in California's first Metabolife products liability case to go to trial found that the supplement maker was negligent; however, decided that it was not the cause of plaintiff Tom Hendriksen's August 1998 stroke. Hendricksen v. Metabolife International Inc., No. RCV057282 (Rancho Cucamonga Co., Calif., Super. Ct.)

Following four days of deliberations, the 10-woman, two-man panel decided that Metabolife supplied inaccurate warnings with the supplement and was negligent in manufacturing, selling and distributing Metabolife 356. The jury did not, however, award any damages to the plaintiff.

Hendriksen and his wife, Dena Hendriksen, initially filed their suit on …