Jensen Farms Cantaloupe Listeria Outbreak - Marler Clark Litigation in Arkansas

Garland County Circuit Court

Danny and Nicole Hardcastle v. Frontera Produce, Primus Labs, Associated Wholesale Grocers, CH Robinson Worldwide and Harps Food Stores

The lawsuit alleges that 40-year-old Danny Hardcastle consumed cantaloupe that had been purchased at a Price Cutter store in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in August of 2011. He fell ill with symptoms of Listeria infection on September 10, 2011 and sought medical treatment for his illness.

Mr. Hardcastle was hospitalized from September 13 through September 17, 2011 for treatment of severe listeriosis and related complications. He continued to be extremely ill even after being discharged from the hospital and continues to suffer from the effects of his Listeria infection.

Laboratory testing of a blood specimen collected during Mr. Hardcastle’s hospitalization returned positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The Arkansas Department of Health Public Health Lab conducted Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) on the bacteria and showed that it was a genetic match to one of the strains of Listeria bacteria associated with the Jensen Farms cantaloupe outbreak.

Mr. Hardcastle’s medical bills to date are in excess of $60,000.