Connecticut Judge Allows Deceptive Marketing Lawsuit Against "Poland Spring" Bottled Water to Proceed
Poland Spring, a well-known bottled water brand owned by Nestlé Waters North America Inc., is currently embroiled in a significant lawsuit in Connecticut that questions its legal classification as "spring water."
The lawsuit, filed in 2017, challenges the makeup of the proposed classes and the alleged damages claims reaching into billions or even trillions of dollars. Nestlé is actively contesting class certification, indicating that the case is still unresolved as of August 2025.
The legal status of Poland Spring water as "spring water" across various U.S. states remains a point of contention, with no direct, uniform federal or state ruling establishing it conclusively as spring water or not. However, the ongoing litigation suggests that in some jurisdictions, the label and characterization may be challenged legally.
In a 61-page document, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer rejected several claims in the lawsuit, including the class's request for an injunction against the sale of Poland Spring-branded water. However, the issue of whether Poland Spring qualifies as "spring water" remains unanswered.
The plaintiffs have presented evidence that consumers consider spring water to be more valuable than other water, creating an issue of fact as to ascertainable loss. Yet, Meyer contested the plaintiffs' assertion that they have no choice but to purchase Poland Spring Water, stating that it would be uncommon for a vendor to only have this water available.
Notably, the allegation that Nestlé is breaching and exploiting customers' trust for undue sales and profits was not addressed in Meyer's ruling. Nestlé remains highly confident in its legal position.
The contamination of bottled waters, including Poland Spring, with certain contaminants like PFAS ("forever chemicals") in Massachusetts, could further complicate regulatory and legal scrutiny over labeling and safety claims.
As the lawsuit continues, the legal designation of Poland Spring as "spring water" varies by legal challenge and regulatory scrutiny, with no final settled status yet and ongoing litigation as of mid-2025. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for the bottled water industry and consumer trust.
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