Listeria Contamination Lawsuit Against Walmart
A Wyoming man has filed a lawsuit against Walmart after his wife died of Listeria Contamination from a tainted cantaloupe purchased there, says Frenkel & Frenkel.
A Wyoming man has filed a lawsuit against Walmart after his wife died after eating a tainted cantaloupe purchased at the store. Frederick M. Lollar filed the wrongful death suit in Laramie County’s First Judicial Court claiming wrongful death.
Tainted Fruit and Reported Bacteria Source
According to court documents, Lollar’s wife, Jaqueline, ate three-quarters of a cantaloupe he brought home from Walmart on September 1, 2011. The Food and Drug Administration reported that the lot of cantaloupes delivered to the Sheridan Walmart was contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
Lollar says that after he purchased the cantaloupe, Walmart removed the product from the shelves but did not inform customers that they may have been exposed to the bacteria.
Deaths and National Impact
At least 147 cases of listeria were reported, and more than 30 people died after eating the contaminated cantaloupe throughout the United States, with reports to the Centers for Disease Control coming in from 20 states.
Approximately 20 percent of those who contract listeriosis — the illness caused by the bacteria — die from meningitis, encephalitis, or other complications related to the illness.
The symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal problems, causing many of those with the illness to mistake it for the flu. However, listeriosis can have drastic consequences if not treated properly.
Complications Linked to Listeria Infection
According to the Centers for Disease Control, people with listeriosis commonly develop life-threatening illnesses such as meningitis and encephalitis. Pregnant women may suffer miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, or the newborn may develop a life-threatening infection.
Listeria is treated with strong antibiotics and is curable if caught early. The contaminated cantaloupes came from Jensen Farms located in the Rocky Ford area of Colorado.
Legal Rights and Next Steps
When a product causes illness or death, a lawsuit may be in order. If you or a loved one became sick, or if a loved one died, as a result of the Listeria Contamination caused by tainted cantaloupes, contact Frenkel & Frenkel for a free initial consultation to learn your rights.