By What Is the Dwayne Johnson Energy Drink Lawsuit?
ZOA Energy is a U.S. energy drink brand co-founded by actor and former professional wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The brand name draws on a Polynesian word meaning “warrior,” and its drinks are sold nationwide in several flavors. Johnson is publicly tied to the company as a co-founder and promoter, which is why his name dominates searches about the case.
Case Details at a Glance
The official case name is Mikhail Gershzon v. ZOA Energy, LLC, Case No. 3:23-cv-5444-JD. It was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, a federal court based in San Francisco. Gershzon is the plaintiff and class representative, and ZOA Energy, LLC is the defendant. The case was filed in October 2023 and centers on how ZOA labeled and marketed its drinks.
A class action lets one person sue on behalf of many people who bought the same product and were allegedly affected in the same way. If the case settles, the court must approve the deal before money goes out.
What Did the Lawsuit Allegedly Claim?
The core allegation involved ZOA Energy drinks labeled “0 Preservatives.” According to the plaintiff and the court-authorized settlement materials, the drinks contain citric acid and ascorbic acid, which Gershzon alleged can function as preservatives. Ascorbic acid is the chemical name for vitamin C.
The plaintiff’s theory was that a can promising zero preservatives should not contain ingredients that serve a preserving function, even if they also have other uses. On that basis, he alleged the label was misleading to shoppers who chose the product because of that statement. The notice describes claims including breach of warranty and violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law (Business and Professions Code § 17200), among others.
These are allegations, not findings. The court never decided that the label misled consumers. The case was not about caffeine, health effects, or injuries from drinking ZOA products. It was a labeling and marketing dispute.
ZOA Energy’s Response
ZOA Energy denied the allegations. According to the settlement materials, the company maintained that its labeling and marketing were truthful, accurate, and compliant with applicable law. It did not admit wrongdoing or liability.
The parties settled to avoid the expense, delay, and uncertainty of continued litigation. The court did not rule that either side was legally correct. In plain English, a settlement is a negotiated compromise, not a verdict. Settlement summaries also report that ZOA agreed to stop using “0 Preservatives” on products that contain chemical preservatives.
Was Dwayne Johnson Personally Sued?
No. Dwayne Johnson was not named as a defendant in the Gershzon case. The only named defendant is ZOA Energy, LLC.
Johnson co-founded and is closely associated with the brand, so online searches often pair his name with the dispute. That explains terms like “Dwayne Johnson ZOA lawsuit.” But a founder’s association with a company does not make him a party to a case against it.
The $3 million settlement fund should not be described as money Johnson personally paid or owes. Consumers who filed claims were making claims against the settlement fund created in the case against ZOA Energy, LLC. This article does not describe any other lawsuit involving Johnson and ZOA.
ZOA Energy $3 Million Settlement
The settlement created a $3 million fund to resolve claims that ZOA’s “0 Preservatives” marketing was deceptive. The settlement releases the class’s claims tied to that labeling, and ZOA admitted no wrongdoing.
The $3 million is not a guaranteed payout to consumers. It is a pool of money that covers several things before and alongside consumer payments, including the costs of administering the settlement, a service award to the class representative, and attorneys’ fees and expenses that the court must approve. Kroll Settlement Administration LLC was the claims administrator.
What each person received depended on the number of valid claims. The agreement provided that payments would be reduced proportionally if approved claims exceeded the money available. Reporting based on a court filing indicates the amended agreement also allowed increases if claims came in below the available funds, which matters for the payment picture described below.
Who Was Eligible?
According to the official settlement information, eligible consumers were U.S. residents who purchased ZOA Energy drinks bearing the “0 Preservatives” statement in the United States for personal use, not for resale or distribution, between March 1, 2021, and November 21, 2025.
Not everyone who ever bought a ZOA product qualified. The drink had to carry the “0 Preservatives” statement, the purchase had to fall within those dates, and the buyer had to submit a valid claim on time. People who opted out of the settlement could not receive payment from it.
How Much Could Consumers Receive?
The settlement paid per can, with different rules depending on documentation. Consumers without proof of purchase could receive $1.00 per unit, up to a maximum of $10.00 per household. Consumers with proof of purchase, such as receipts, could receive $1.00 per unit, with a maximum claim widely reported as $150.
The maximum is a ceiling, not a promise. Final amounts depended on how many cans were claimed, whether purchases were verified, and how the fund was adjusted after claims were reviewed. Because the settlement allowed proportional adjustments in either direction, a claimant’s final payment could differ from the posted $1.00 rate.
One report citing a court filing says payments were raised to at least $2.00 per can, and some claimants say they received amounts such as $20.45. Those are secondary reports. Anyone with a payment question should rely on the official settlement administrator.
Claim Deadline
The official claim deadline was February 20, 2026, and the opt-out and objection deadline was February 13, 2026. Both have passed. New claims are no longer being accepted unless the official settlement administrator announces otherwise.
This article does not recommend submitting a late claim. Only the official settlement website can confirm whether any late filing is allowed.
Settlement Approval and Payment Status
The court first scheduled a final approval hearing for March 26, 2026. Reports based on the docket state that U.S. District Judge James Donato entered the final approval order and judgment on August 19, 2026. Before payments can issue, a settlement typically has to clear final approval and the appeal window.
The official settlement website currently states that submitted claims have been reviewed and that payments for approved claims were issued on October 16, 2026. It also states that uncashed checks become void after April 14, 2027. That date is consistent with the settlement’s rule that payments not redeemed within 180 days of issuance are no longer payable to the class member.
Approved claimants may have been paid by check, prepaid card, or digital methods depending on what they selected, and amounts can differ from person to person. If you submitted a claim, use the settlement administrator’s contact information on the official website for questions about your payment. Prepaid cards may also carry their own expiration terms.
Dwayne Johnson Energy Drink Lawsuit Timeline
- October 2023: Mikhail Gershzon files the case against ZOA Energy, LLC in the Northern District of California, alleging the “0 Preservatives” label was misleading.
- 2024–2025: The parties litigate and negotiate. ZOA denies the allegations.
- November 21, 2025: Preliminary approval of the $3 million settlement is reported; the class period closes the same day.
- Winter 2025–2026: The claim period runs, with notice sent to potential class members.
- February 13, 2026: Deadline to opt out or object.
- February 20, 2026: Claim deadline.
- March 26, 2026: Originally scheduled final approval hearing.
- August 19, 2026: Final approval order and judgment entered, according to docket-based reports.
- October 16, 2026: Payments for approved claims issued, per the official settlement website.
- April 14, 2027: Uncashed checks become void.
Conclusion
The Dwayne Johnson energy drink lawsuit is a labeling case against ZOA Energy, LLC, not against Johnson himself. The plaintiff alleged that citric and ascorbic acid made the “0 Preservatives” claim misleading, ZOA denied that, and the court did not decide who was right. The $3 million fund covered consumer payments, administration, and court-approved fees. With the claim period closed and payments issued in October 2026, the practical focus now is cashing checks before April 14, 2027 and contacting the administrator with questions. This article is general information, not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is there a Dwayne Johnson energy drink lawsuit?
Yes, in the sense that the case concerns a brand he co-founded. The actual case is Gershzon v. ZOA Energy, LLC, Case No. 3:23-cv-5444-JD, and it has been resolved by a class settlement.
2. Was Dwayne Johnson personally sued?
No. The named defendant is ZOA Energy, LLC. Johnson was not named as a defendant in the settlement case.
3. What is the ZOA Energy lawsuit about?
It is a consumer class action over the “0 Preservatives” label on ZOA Energy drinks. It is not a personal injury case or a dispute about caffeine or health effects.
4. What does the “0 Preservatives” lawsuit claim?
The plaintiff alleged that citric acid and ascorbic acid function as preservatives, making the label misleading. These are allegations that were never decided by the court.
5. How much is the ZOA Energy settlement?
The settlement fund is $3 million. It is not a guaranteed $3 million to consumers, because fees, costs, and administration come from the fund and individual payments depended on valid claims.
6. Who was eligible for the ZOA Energy settlement?
U.S. residents who bought ZOA Energy drinks labeled “0 Preservatives” for personal use between March 1, 2021, and November 21, 2025, and who filed a valid, timely claim.
7. Can I still file a ZOA Energy settlement claim?
The claim deadline was February 20, 2026, so new claims are no longer being accepted unless the official settlement administrator announces otherwise. Check the official website before taking any action.
8. When were ZOA Energy settlement payments issued?
The official settlement website states payments for approved claims were issued on October 16, 2026, and uncashed checks become void after April 14, 2027.
9. Did ZOA Energy admit wrongdoing?
No. ZOA denied the allegations and settled to avoid the cost and risk of continued litigation. The court did not find that either side was legally correct.
10. What is the current status of the Dwayne Johnson energy drink lawsuit?
As of October 2026, the case has final approval, the claim period is closed, and payments to approved claimants have been issued. Questions about individual payments should go to the settlement administrator.