Simon & Luke Collects Settlements on Behalf of Peanut Butter Salmonella Victims
. By Ron Simon
Sylvester, GASimon & Luke recently collected settlements on three more cases for individuals who suffered severe salmonella poisoning after consuming Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter made by ConAgra Foods, Inc.
In November 2006, public health officials at CDC and state health departments detected a substantial increase in the number of reported Salmonella Tennessee illnesses. Illness was linked to the consumption of two brands of peanut butter (Peter Pan and Great Value) produced at ConAgra's plant in Sylvester, Georgia. Based on these findings, ConAgra ceased production at the plant and recalled both products on February 14, 2007. As of September 2007, over 714 cases of Salmonella Tennessee illness had been linked to the consumption of the contaminated peanut butter.
Shortly after the recall, Ron Simon of Simon & Luke led a team into ConAgra's peanut butter plant to inspect and document the conditions that caused the contamination of the peanut butter.
Extensive laboratory testing by the CDC, FDA, and Simon & Luke found the outbreak strain of Salmonella Tennessee in several opened and unopened jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter. In addition, Salmonella Tennessee was found in environmental samples obtained from the plant during inspections. Salmonella Tennessee is a rare serotype of Salmonella.
Prior to reaching the settlements, Simon & Luke had filed over 50 peanut butter salmonella lawsuits in jurisdictions all over the United States.
Under the terms of the settlement agreements, the settlement amounts are confidential.
Simon & Luke has now resolved over 755 peanut butter salmonella cases against ConAgra. "ConAgra and its counsel stepped up and did the right thing for our clients, and our clients are happy to put this behind them" said Ron Simon.