Many attorneys can tell you that a client's worst enemy can be themselves. Whether by alienating a jury with ego and attitude, not being truthful with their counsel, or letting their emotions get the better of them at the worst possible times, they can damage their case regardless of which table they're sitting behind. Sometimes, it's enough to help them lose.
Such was the case with Thomas Iglesias, who saw his class action false advertising lawsuit against AriZona Beverages USA, LLC (ABUSA) fail on August 14, 2025. U.S. District Judge Jeffery White granted summary judgment to the beverage company, with each of the claims alleged by Iglesias either not meeting the necessary burden or being undone by the plaintiff's words and actions.
Under scrutiny were ABUSA's advertising slogans and labeling on cans, which trumpet that certain products are "All Natural" or "100% Natural." With the term "natural" having no concrete definition in the food and drink industry, Iglesias' lawsuit was already facing an uphill battle before his missteps helped to doom it. So sit back, pop open a cold (and possibly "natural") drink, and learn why ABUSA isn't likely to be taking claims off their products anytime soon.
What Do You Squeeze To Get a Frost Chillzicle Juice Cocktail?
Created in 1992 in Brooklyn, New York, AriZona began with an iced tea that cost $.99 for a 22-ounce can. As the company grew, it expanded into flavored iced teas, lemonades, mixed beverages like Arnold Palmers (iced tea and lemonade), and fruit juice drinks like Strawberry Kiwi. As its list of flavors increased, the 22-ounce cans with colorful and distinctive graphic designs became ingrained as part of the company's image.
Also fairly ubiquitous to ABUSA beverages is a claim of either "All-Natural," "100% Natural," or both printed on the container. So-called "natural flavors" hold a unique position in the industry. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers "natural" to mean that nothing artificial or synthetic has been included in a food or beverage, but that leaves a great deal open to interpretation.
A "natural flavor" can originate from a natural source, such as a plant, but it can be very different after processing. It can also be combined with other "natural flavors." Some research has found that additives are the fourth-most common ingredient on food labels.
Such was the concern of Iglesias in December 2022 when he filed a class action suit against ABUSA. Having consumed ABUSA products since 2016, his suit alleged that the claims of "All Natural" and "100% Natural" printed on ABUSA's containers were false advertising. In addition to violations of California's Consumers' Legal Remedies Act, False Advertising Law, and Unfair Competition Law, Iglesias claimed the drink company was guilty of unjust enrichment and breach of express warranty.
Iglesias was seeking an injunction enjoining ABUSA from continuing their allegedly false advertising. He also requested relief in the form of damages — or did he?
Open Mouth, Insert Foot, Close Gently
While Iglesias' filing clearly laid out the claims and the remedies sought, the answers given during his deposition had an extremely deleterious effect. He filed suit in December 2022, but paperwork was being prepared for the filing while Iglesias, who was aware of ABUSA's alleged false advertising, continued to imbibe their products. This undermined his claims that if he'd known about the issue, he wouldn't have purchased the drinks.
In a moment that surely caused his counsel to audibly wince, Iglesias responded "no" when asked if he was "seeking monetary recovery in this case." When pressed, he instead said that he wanted the "natural" claims to be removed and for ABUSA to "stop lying to customers."
Noting that an injunction was unnecessary because Iglesias had indicated he wasn't going to purchase ABUSA products in the future, his suit had failed to prove consumer violations, and that he had no standing for injury, Judge White granted summary judgment to ABUSA. No report on whether ABUSA celebrated with their own beverages or something with a little more kick.
Related Resources
- What Are Express and Implied Warranties? (FindLaw's Consumer Protection Law)
- What Your Food Must Legally Tell You (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
- What Is a Summary Judgment? (FindLaw's Filing a Lawsuit)
