Pepsi Bottle Cap Sweepstakes (1992)
In the early ’90’s Pepsi was seeking opportunities to increase sales in the Phillipines. Part of their marketing strategies included a bottle cap sweepstakes which would award 18 prizes of $32,000 to customers with winning bottle caps. Of course a computer error resulted in aprox 750,000 winning bottle caps being distributed, touching off riots (and following lawsuits) that left at least six dead after Pepsi refused to honor the winning bottle caps.
On June 15, 2005 The Supreme Court cleared Pepsi-Cola of any liability. The June 15 decision, found “no proof of negligence” by Pepsi and said the company should not be held liable for damages.