Woman sues for laxative-laced soda

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KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 18 (UPI) -- A Missouri woman wasn't laughing when she became the victim of a prank intended for an employee at a Family Dollar store.

Barbara J. Nelson is suing the company and two employees of the Kansas City store after she drank most of a laxative-laced bottle of Coca Cola.

An assistant manager at the store told police he was trying to teach a lesson to an employee who was "notorious" for stealing food out of an employee refrigerator. To do so, the manager opened two bottles of Coke and dumped 25 laxative pills in each, resealing the caps with glue so they wouldn't be detected, The Kansas City Star reported.

The employee noticed the pills in the bottles and rather than throwing them out, he put them in a cooler for customers to buy.

Security footage confirms Nelson purchased one of the bottles. She drank most of it before noticing the pills and returning to the store. While at the store she fell ill and paramedics took her to the hospital where she was treated for dehydration and cramps.

A Family Dollar representative called Nelson later and offered her a $200 gift card.

"It was like we were playing 'The Price is Right' or something," Nelson said.

She turned them down and has filed a lawsuit in Jackson County Court. Documents show she is seeking "more than $25,000." A lawyer said the figure is likely to be in "six figures."