Settlements for victims of the 2008 peanut butter Salmonella outbreak were approved today by the United States District County for the Western District of Virginia, Lynchburg Division. The settlements had been under consideration by the court in an insurance payout. Peanut Corporation of America, which produced and shipped the tainted peanut products, filed for bankruptcy in February 2009.
“I am pleased that we will be able to tell our clients that they will finally receive reimbursement for their medical expenses and wage loss,” said Bill Marler. “This has been a complex settlement process but has resolved to the benefit of those injured.”
In 2008 and early 2009, at least 714 people in 46 states were confirmed ill with Salmonella Typhimurium infection after consuming peanut and peanut butter products produced by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). Marler Clark represented 109 victims of the outbreak, including the family of a Minnesota man who died as a result of his Salmonella infection.
“We previously received a substantial settlement contribution from Kellogg, which we applaud for standing up, taking responsibility, and dealing fairly with its injured customers,” said Bruce Clark. “Although some of our clients remain dismayed that Stuart Parnell, head of PCA and author of this entirely avoidable foodborne disaster, has avoided criminal sanctions.”