Dr. Bronner's settles lawsuit over employee's ketamine massage death - CBS News 8

[Ashley Na]

Dr. Bronner's employee, Denise Lozano, died after getting what her family says was a company-sponsored ketamine massage.



SAN DIEGO — Natural soap-maker, Dr. Bronner's, has settled a wrongful death lawsuit from the family of an employee who died after receiving, what the family claims, was a company-sponsored ketamine massage.


Denise Lozano, a longtime Dr. Bronner's employee and member of the company's road crew, the Foamy Homies, died in her Mission Hills home on December 10, 2022, shortly after getting a ketamine massage from Christian Lee Allbert, a self-proclaimed "Quigong" practitioner from Cardiff.


The settlement comes just four months after Lozano's sister, son, and mother filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the natural soap giant, which alleged Dr. Bronner's recommended that Lozano get the massage to relieve her chronic back pain.


Dr. Bronner's issued this statement on the settlement:


"Both of our families continue to mourn the tragic passing of Denise Lozano. Denise was an employee of Dr. Bronner’s at the time of her death two years ago. She was a cherished employee and treasured member of Dr. Bronner’s community and a beloved daughter, sister, mother, and family member. We hold her and all those who loved her in our hearts.


The Lozano family recently filed a wrongful death lawsuit naming Dr. Bronner’s company as well as its CEO and other employees as defendants. The lawsuit alleges that Denise died while receiving a form of ketamine treatment that may have involved other drugs. She received the treatment at her home, unrelated to the legal and authorized program Dr. Bronner’s company offers as a mental health benefit.


Dr. Bronner’s Ketamine Assisted Therapy benefit is only provided through a legally authorized third-party administrator, not the “ketamine massage” provider named in the lawsuit. Neither David nor Mia Bronner recommended that Denise receive a ketamine massage. The Lozano and Bronner families have now resolved the legal case amicably, and the lawsuit against the Dr. Bronner’s company, as well as its CEO, and other employees, will be dismissed."


As mentioned in the company's statement, Dr. Bronner's, through its CEO - Cosmic Engagement Officer David Bronner, has long promoted the use of psychedelics and other drugs and advocated for the decriminalization of psychedelics on the state level, according to the company's website.


In a blog post uploaded on Feb. 28, 2022, Dr. Bronner's announced that starting Jan. 1, 2022, the company's coverage expansion in its mental healthcare benefits for employees would include ketamine-assisted therapy through a partnership with Enthea, a nonprofit healthcare organization that aims to provide safe and affordable access to psychedelic-assisted therapies.


"Enthea also plans to administer coverage for MDMA-assisted therapy and psilocybin-assisted therapy, once those treatments receive FDA approval," the post said.


In addition to ketamine-assisted therapy, Dr. Bronner's has actively advocated for the use of psychedelic-assisted therapy to treat PTSD, depression, addiction, and end-of-life anxiety under the company's campaign "HEAL SOUL!"


But in their lawsuit, Lozano's family claims Dr. Bronner's went too far in their advocacy by helping to arrange Lozano's fatal massage.


According to the lawsuit, Lozano took the recommendations from her company to get a "K-Massage," a ketamine massage, in hopes of relieving the constant back pain she suffered.

"My family and I want to make sure this type of tragedy doesn’t happen again and that my sister is remembered for the kind and loving mother, daughter, fiancé, and sister whose life was wrongfully cut way too short," said Denise Lozano's sister, Raquel Lozano in a February 2025 statement to CBS 8 made before the settlement.

Denise Lozano's Death​

Dec. 10, 2022, was an ordinary day for Denise Lozano.


Before Allbert arrived at Denise Lozano's home on Wednesday, Dr. Bronner's employees and some Foamy Homies members, who were on their way to the airport, stopped by her Mission Hills home in the early afternoon to drop off some items they did not want to take on the plane to Asheville, North Carolina.


According to the family's lawsuit, Denise Lozano planned to attend her fiance's art opening and a birthday party for another company employee for most of the day.


The day was also spent dealing with the constant back pain Lozano felt.


For relief, she had scheduled a 2:30 pm ketamine massage with Allbert.


Although Dr. Bronner's has its own formally approved ketamine program, Allbert's services and products were part of an informally sponsored wellness program, according to the lawsuit.


At some point during the ketamine massage, something went wrong. Something the family told CBS 8 that they are still trying to piece together.


According to the lawsuit, Allbert texted Mia Bronner at 4:20 p.m., updating her that things were "going well."


Around 6:37 p.m., Allbert called 911 to report Denise Lozano's death.


According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs said that when police arrived at Denise Lozano's home, it was obvious that the scene was inconsistent with Allbert's statements. He seemed to have altered or cleaned the scene to avoid criminal prosecution.


Police eventually arrested Allbert on suspicion of possession of cocaine, ketamine, MDMA, MDA, and metal knuckles. He pleaded guilty to felony charges for possession of cocaine and a Class I controlled substance. In January 2024, a judge sentenced Allbert to two years of probation.


Allbert, however, has not been charged in connection with Lozano's death.


Allbert did not respond to CBS 8's request for comment.


"This lawsuit is about honoring Denise’s life and legacy. She was a talented artist with a heart of gold," said Raquel Lozano last February. "She put her love and trust in the wrong people and lost her life because of it. I sincerely hope that the people who knowingly and recklessly put her in harm's way learn that their actions and behaviors did and can have dire consequences."


Lozano family attorney Marc Bragg told CBS 8 that while the lawsuit against Dr. Bronner's is over, the family's quest for justice for Denise Lozano is not.


"The case against Christian Allbert is continuing, and we are interested in hearing from anyone with information about him."