Student Arrested for Buying Sparkling Water Mistaken for Beer, Receives $212,500 Compensation

Last year, college student Elizabeth Daly was arrested by ABC agents after leaving a Virginia supermarket. Daly, who was under the age of 21 at the time, was believed to be purchasing a carton of beer with her friend. Turns out the carton Daly’s friend was holding on her way out, however, was simply La Croix sparkling water. Now it looks like Daly will be receiving a settlement for that arrest in the form of $212,500.

According to the Daily Mail, when Daly and her friend entered her vehicle, unmarked agents surrounded it, banging on the windows. Not really sure if the agents were in fact the real deal, Daly’s friend allegedly suggested that they “go, go, go” according to the lawsuit. In doing so, the vehicle grazed two of the agents.

Daly and her friend were arrested at a red light nearby. Since she was the driver, she faced two counts of assault and one count of eluding. Both of the charges fall into the category of a Class 6 felony where Daly would have to serve up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $2,500. She filed a lawsuit for alleged malicious prosecution, failure to train ABC agents properly and six counts of assault and battery. While Daly initially sued for $40 million in damages, she settled on the $212,500.

That can buy a lot of sparkling water.