Class-action lawsuit against Poland Spring gets new life

A judge has given new life to a class-action lawsuit accusing Poland Spring of selling water that’s sourced from wells, not springs.

The same federal judge in Connecticut dismissed the lawsuit last year, but he ruled last week that an amended complaint can proceed with claims in eight states: Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.

Poland Spring’s corporate parent, Connecticut-based Nestle Waters North America, reiterated Tuesday its contention that it’s a “meritless lawsuit” and said the judge’s decision doesn’t undermine its confidence.

Nestle Waters says Poland Spring meets Food and Drug Administration’s guidelines that allow “spring water” labels if the water is drawn from the same source as a natural spring and meets certain requirements for chemical composition.