Journalist Mark Hayward, writing in the New Hampshire Union Leader​, first reported the news and has written several articles detailing how the woman, Colleen Grady, claims she made her July 2011 discovery.

Grady had claimed that the grisly find induced emotional distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and she filed her claim for damages accordingly.

Minute Maid brand owner Coke, Hannaford Brothers supermarkets (where the product was bought) and Victory Distributors were co-defendants in the four day trial.

Coke attacks 'baseless allegations'​

The rat also had its day in court – namely the Hillsborough County Superior Court North, in New Hampshire – having been frozen since the fateful day but displayed as part of the trial testimony.

Coke spokeswoman Jennifer Cruickshank – in a statement sent to Hayward – said the jury verdict affirmed the quality of Minute Maid beverages, adding that production processes and quality protocols made it “virtually impossible”​ for this event to happen.

“It’s unfortunate that someone would seek to profit from such baseless allegations. We are pleased the ruling was in our favor,”​ Cruickshank added.

You can read more about the rat, and the case itself, in Hayward’s more detailed article.