The Gresham Outlook, and other news media, has reported the story of a lawsuit triggered by the salmonella poisoning of a toddler, allegedly due to consuming meat produced by Cargill Meat Solutions, that caused the child to endure a seven-day hospital stay.
R.J.L., 10 months old, suffered with extreme diarrhea and an elevated temperature, before it was determined that she had contracted Salmonella Heidelberg.
The Heidelberg strain of salmonella is resistant to most antibiotics.
R.J.L.'s parents, M.L. and B.M.B., are asking for damages for their pain and suffering along with reimbursement for past and future medical, travel and other related expenses. Bill Marler, the family's attorney, stated that the suit also names food suppliers and other businesses that may have been involved.
He said that a jury would determine the amount of the damages - if the family wins their case.
R.J.L. contracted the only known case of Heidelberg Salmonella in the state of Oregon. There have been 107 people, including R.J.L, in 31 states that have been infected.
The Centers for Disease Control statistics are as follows: The age range is between one and 88 years of age (with median age of 23), forty-eight percent are female and of the 58 reported cases 22 were hospitalized.
In this outbreak there was one fatality, a 65 year-old woman from California.
Marler stated that 11 people, from 11 states, have contacted him since the outbreak.
Marler has litigated approximately 6 other cases stemming from food-borne illnesses.
Marler said, "Cargill needs to step up and start testing for these bugs more frequently. When they find it, they need to divert that to further processing, such as more cooking or other forms of rendering."
On August 3 the Cargill company recalled 36 million pounds of fresh and frozen ground turkey that had been produced from February 20 through August 2. Ground turkey, prepared and cooked for her at home by her father, was what sickened R.J.L.
The outbreak of salmonella has proven to be the largest Class 1 that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has seen so far.
The recalled brands include: Honeysuckle White, Riverside, Kroger, Safeway Fresh, Shady Brook Farms and Giant Eagle. Cargill has a complete list of recalled items on their website.
The spokesman for Cargill, Mike Martin, said, "We're certainly relieved that (R.J.L.) has recovered and we're sorry she had to go through what she went through. But beyond that, the lawsuit and litigation will play out in court."
Another lawsuit was filed in Arkansas from the same outbreak.
Martin said that Cargill has since instituted a Department of Agriculture-approved safety plan. A panel of third-party experts will be looking over new safety features.
Martin added, "We're always reviewing our food safety efforts, and we'll do what is appropriate for ensuring food safety."
If you, or a member of your family, have been sickened after consuming a food product, you need to contact a personal injury lawyer. The root of the trouble may not have been in your handling or preparation, but from the original source.