CEO Behind LaCroix Accused of Sexual Harassment

National Beverage Corporation CEO Nick Caporella has been accused of sexual harassing two pilots on his business jet, The Wall Street Journal reports. Caporella, the 84-year-old head of the company that makes LaCroix sparkling beverages, was sued by the two former pilots, who claim he groped them on more than 30 trips between 2014 and 2016. They claim the harassment happened while Caporella was flying, and they were second-in-command in the cockpit of the plane. He has denied the allegations in court records, and National Beverage attorney Glenn Waldman called the allegations “scurrilous” and “meritless.” Waldman said he was hired by the company to conduct an investigation into the matter, and said Caporella was being targeted “because he is wealthy and in his 80s.” The company claimed that any touching that occurred “would be the equivalent of an innocuous pat on the back or handshake,” and the two pilots had left due to “poor performance.” One of the pilots withdrew his claims as part of a settlement deal, while the second lawsuit is still ongoing.