Monster, Coke Topple $9 Million Award to L.A. ‘Juice King’ Heirs

Monster Beverage Co. and Coca-Cola Co. escaped a $9.5 million damage award by a California jury to descendants of Los Angeles’ “Juice King” Hubert Hansen over use of his name, a state appellate court said Thursday.

Hansen founded a fresh juice company in Los Angeles in the 1930’s. Through a series of transactions, Monster Energy ultimately purchased two businesses run by Hansen’s descendants and began using his name and story to market some of its products, including Hubert’s Lemonade.

When Monster announced its intent to sell to Coke some of its brands in a $2.1 billion deal, including those using ...