A Personal Tragedy Highlights Corporate Failures
Here’s a story that should grab the attention of every conservative who believes in both free enterprise and personal responsibility. Former Nevada Supreme Court Justice Abbi Silver just filed a lawsuit against the now-defunct Real Water company. She alleges their contaminated product killed her husband, Kirk Jaster.
Jaster died from ALS in September 2024. The lawsuit alleges he got the disease from drinking Real Water that contained hydrazine. That’s a toxic chemical used in rocket fuel. Think about that for a moment. A man trusted a company to sell him safe drinking water. Instead, he allegedly got poisoned.
The Real Water Disaster Gets Worse
This isn’t just one case. Real Water has become a nightmare that shows what happens when companies ignore basic safety rules.
Las Vegas residents, including 5 children and 3 adults, claimed that Real Water contained a toxic chemical known as hydrazine, which led to their sudden-onset liver failure. Some of these kids were babies. The children involved ranged from 7 months old to 5 years old and had to be flown to a children’s hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah for treatment which was a result of drinking Real Water in the fall of 2020.
The numbers are staggering. Juries have already awarded over $8 billion in damages across multiple cases. Juries have previously delivered separate verdicts against the company, awarding plaintiffs almost $3.1 billion in June, $130 million in February, and $228 million in October 2023.
A Conservative Company Owner’s Epic Failure
The man behind Real Water is Brent Jones. He served as a Republican in the Nevada Assembly from 2015-2016. During his term, he sponsored several unsuccessful conservative efforts, including a Republican attempt to require voters to show identification before receiving a ballot and a bill to kill the state’s health insurance exchange.
Jones talked a good game about limited government and personal responsibility. But when it came to his own business, he failed spectacularly.
FDA investigators found that the company did not properly test processed tap water before it was bottled, and failed to properly clean and sanitize water tanks where they mixed municipal water with concentrates.
Why This Matters to Conservatives
This case hits right at the heart of conservative principles. We believe in free markets. But free markets only work when companies act responsibly. Real Water shows what happens when a business cuts corners and puts profits over people.
Silver’s husband allegedly trusted the company. According to the suit, UFC fighter Gray Maynard recommended Jaster drink Real Water, and Jaster purchased bottles from a grocery store. He allegedly had no idea he was drinking poison.
The FDA had to step in because the company wouldn’t police itself. Health officials first reported cases of liver failure in children linked to Real Water in 2021. When federal investigators tried to get information, Real Water initially refused to cooperate with the investigation.
The Role of Government Oversight
Critics might say this proves we need more government regulation. That’s the wrong lesson. The FDA already had rules in place. Real Water ignored them. Federal inspections found multiple regulatory violations in manufacturing processes and failures to follow proper water bottling requirements.
The problem wasn’t too little regulation. It was a company that refused to follow existing rules. When businesses act this way, they deserve what they get. And consumers deserve justice.
Justice Silver’s Unique Position
Abbi Silver brings a unique perspective to this lawsuit. She had a distinguished legal career before her personal tragedy. Silver has since been appointed to serve on the Nevada Gaming Commission by Governor Joe Lombardo in April 2024. According to her official biography, she is the only judge in Nevada history to be elected to every court in the state’s judicial system, including municipal, justice, district, appeals and supreme courts.
Silver resigned early from the Nevada Supreme Court in 2022, citing “unforeseen circumstances” and wanting to spend more time with family. Her husband was likely already showing signs of illness.
What Conservatives Should Learn
This case teaches us several important lessons. First, free markets depend on honest companies. When businesses lie to customers, they poison the whole system. Second, personal responsibility goes both ways. Companies must be responsible to their customers. Third, when businesses fail this badly, the government has a role in protecting people.
The Real Water disaster shows what happens when a company markets itself as healthy while allegedly selling poison. Real Water advertised its product as “the healthiest drinking water available,” while it allegedly contained dangerous toxins.
Looking Forward
Silver’s lawsuit seeks damages of over $50,000 to cover medical bills and pain and suffering. She’s also asking for a jury trial. Given the massive verdicts against Real Water already, this case could add millions more.
The company is already bankrupt. Attorney Will Kemp, representing plaintiffs, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal he expects Real Water’s insurance company to fight paying damages because the company has filed for bankruptcy. But the legal battles send a clear message to other companies.
What Conservatives Can Do
As conservatives, we should support victims like Silver while defending the principles that make free markets work. That means backing strong property rights, honest contracts, and real consequences for businesses that harm people.
We should also remember that being pro-business doesn’t mean defending bad businesses. Companies that poison their customers aren’t champions of free enterprise. They’re criminals who hurt the reputation of honest businesses everywhere.
This case shows that conservative principles and consumer protection can work together. When companies act responsibly, the government stays out of the way. When they don’t, they face the consequences in court.
The Real Water disaster could have been prevented if the company had simply followed existing safety rules. Instead, babies got liver damage and a respected judge alleges that she lost her husband. That’s not the free market we want to defend.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
