A class action lawsuit was filed by Seattle lawyer Bill Marler for people who became sick after eating a peanut butter that is contaminated with salmonella.
Marler Clark, a firm that specializes in food illness cases has been informed by almost 3,000 people in 40 states and several foreign countries about the situation. One family in Colombia, which took a case of possibly-contaminated peanut butter after a visit to the United States, is among those who contacted Marler Clark. Likewise, a soldier in Iraq who got peanut butter in a care package from home is also among these people.
Furthermore, the figure also includes more than a dozen people in Western Washington and two from Seattle.
The class action lawsuit demands compensation for the people who became sick after eating the peanut butter, but were not hospitalized. Those of more serious cases will also be handled separately, probably demanding more based on the severity of the case. Marler says he has heard of several people who are hospitalized for up to 12 days and his office is investigating the possibility of four deaths.
To proceed with the suit, Marler has employed an epidemiologist to check each of the reported illnesses. This is to ensure that no one who is faking it will be in the lawsuit.
The peanut butter which was recalled due to its potential risks was made by ConAgra and sold under the Peter Pan and Great Value labels.
Stephanie Childs, ConAgra spokeswoman in Omaha says she's not yet aware of the lawsuit, but ConAgra says it takes consumer concerns seriously. That's why it recalled the peanut butter.