SAN DIEGO - It was a radio stunt that went horribly wrong. A mother of three in Sacramento died after consuming some 2 gallons of water. Now a jury has awarded her family $16.57 million.
"My head hurts. They keep telling me that it's the water -- that it will tell my head to hurt that it will make me puke."
Those were the last words of Jennifer Strange, spoken moments after she won a radio contest.
Egged on by the radio station's on-air talent, Strange drank nearly two gallons of water without using the restroom. Too much for her kidneys, she died from water intoxication.
"They were broadcasting -- they were so excited when someone vomited," says local attorney Harvey Levine who handled the case.
Levine has been practicing law for 40 years. He says this case was unique. "It's one of the first cases I'm aware of that is imposing liability based on what we would call broadcasting negligence."
Levine says the $16.57 million dollar verdict could have lasting impacts on the industry. "A broadcasting company is not going to ignore the fact that this station totally failed to research the risks. The station didn't explain the risks to the participants and didn't even have an EMT present."
"Little" Tommy Sablan produces the popular local Jeff and Jer morning show which was not involved in this stunt, but they've had their own wild on-air challenges. "We've had people riding in a grocery cart down steps. We've had people drink tabasco sauce."
Sablan supports the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and is very aware of liability, and how this verdict could change his industry. "Sometimes we overlook a little somethings but now -- with this out -- we will absolutely be a little bit more careful."
The trial lasted for seven weeks with the jury deliberating for 11 days.
