Whip-It! Sellers Ordered to Pay $745 Million for Fatal Incident

A St. Louis jury has ordered the distributor and local seller of Whip-It! nitrous oxide cartridges to pay $745 million in a wrongful death lawsuit. The lawsuit was brought by the parents of Marissa Politte, who was killed by a driver under the influence of Whip-It! nitrous oxide. The evidence presented at trial showed that Whip-It! chargers are often used as inhalants, leading to addiction and brain damage. The jury found that the distributor and head shop conspired to sell the product to the driver. The judgment includes $20 million in compensatory damages and $725 million in punitive damages. The defendants have not commented on the verdict.