Virginia (VA) Personal Injury law firm news

Virginia’s Peanut Corporation Of America Faces First Wrongful Death Lawsuit After Salmonella Outbreak

MarketWatch has reported that Virginia's Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) has been hit with its first wrongful death lawsuit in regards to the recent outbreaks of salmonella poisoning from peanut products.

The first lawsuit involves the death of nursing home woman, 72-year-old Shirley Mae Almer, who ate a peanut butter product that was delivered to the adult care facility by King Nut Companies. The heir of Almer, Jeffery Almer, has filed suit against both the Virginia-based Peanut Corporation of America and King Nut Company. A five-pound pail of King Nut peanut butter was found in the nursing home that had been recalled by the FDA in connection with the salmonella outbreak.

Jeffery Almer's lawyer is arguing that Shirley Mae Almer's death on December 21 was the direct result of the illness she contracted from the peanut butter. The recall was not announced by PCA and the Federal Food and Drug Administration until January 13 - and by that time, more than 500 people around the country had become ill from the salmonella. Forty-three states were affected by the outbreak, including Virginia.

"This is a very large and significant recall," the lawyer said. "It points to a number of vulnerabilities in our food safety system that require legislation and funding to correct. Consumers should feel concerned and demand a significant overhaul."

The prosecution's argument is that both companies were negligent in training and supervising their employees to prevent such breeches in safety. In addition, the two peanut companies were negligent in their failure to maintain safe conditions for their products and properly test products.

The peanut processing plant is also currently involved in a criminal probe for the salmonella outbreak. In the past, PCA plants have been found to be unsanitary and products have been found to be contaminated. The FDA also stated that national brands of peanut butter are safe to eat.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm is based in Virginia (VA), near the NE North Carolina (NC) border and handles car,truck,railroad, and medical negligence cases and more. Our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, KY.

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Our VA personal injury lawyers have been selected for many accolades.

Two of the attorneys with our Virginia Beach accident injury law firm, James Lewis and Rick Shapiro, have been named the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Two of our VA injury lawyers -- Lewis and Shapiro - have been named to Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury since 2010. In addition, Lewis and Shapiro have been selected for inclusion in the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009. 

Our VA accident injury law firm was the first in the commonwealth nvited to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Rick Shapiro was named as one of the Top 100 Injury Lawyers in Virginia by the National Trial Lawyers Association.

In October, 2000 our law firm and co-counsel obtained what was then the largest verdict in Virginia's history for an injured person. Our brain damaged client received an initial award of $46 million that rose to $60 million with interest when the defendant abandoned an appeal and agreed to settle. 

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About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have experience handling wrongful death cases. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia if your family member or loved one was killed as a result of someone else's carelessness.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been named to the National Million Dollar Advocates Form since 2009 and listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Shapiro and Lewis have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers are chosen for this professional honor. In addition, ours was the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms.

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