Family files lawsuit over Florida woman’s kratom-related death

The family of a Florida woman who died last year has filed a lawsuit against an Idaho-based company, alleging that it sold her the herb kratom without proper warnings and instructions.

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According to a lawsuit filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, family members allege that Krystal Talavera, 39, of Boynton Beach, died on June 20, 2021, after ingesting a kratom product supplied by Grow LLC.

The registered nurse and mother of four was discovered unconscious and lying face down in her living room floor, the Sun-Sentinel reported. A cup of hot coffee and an open bag of “Space Dust,” a product sold by Grow LLC, was found next to her, according to the lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, Talavera’s body was found by Biagio Vultaggio, her partner and the father of her youngest child, at 11 a.m. EDT on June 20, which was Father’s Day. Talavera had been preparing breakfast for Vultaggio, the lawsuit alleges.

Talavera was taken to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

An autopsy performed by the Palm Beach County Coroner determined the cause of death was “acute mitragynine intoxication,” according to the lawsuit. “At high concentrations, mitragynine produces opioid-like effects, such as respiratory failure,” the coroner’s office said. Mitragynine is an ingredient in kratom, according to the newspaper.

Talavera used the product “under the belief that Kratom was a safe dietary supplement with several health benefits,” the lawsuit said.

Attempts to reach representatives of Grow LLC have been unsuccessful, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

The family is seeking damages in excess of $75,000. The trial is scheduled to begin on July 31 in West Palm Beach, according to the newspaper.

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