Boar's Head, the beleaguered deli meat giant at the center of a liverwurst-linked listeria outbreak, was sued Wednesday by the family of a man who died after allegedly eating the company's ham. .
Otis Adams Jr., a retired Air Force veteran, died in May after purchasing allegedly contaminated meat at a Publix grocery store in the Tampa area. According to the complaint filed The case was tried in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Sarasota County, Florida. He was 79 years old.
Boar's Head recalled 7 million pounds of cooked meat and cheese in July after dozens of people fell ill. At least 10 people died.
The outbreak was caused by liverwurst made at a cockroach-infested plant in Jarratt, Virginia, which has been cited for dozens of health and safety violations over the past year.
It appears that Adams did not eat liverwurst until his death.
Adams' wife, Judith, bought Boar's Head Tavern ham and Boar's Head Yellow American Cheese at a Publix for her husband on or about April 12, according to the complaint.
Two weeks later, she purchased more Boar's Head Tavern Ham from the same Publix store for her husband, according to the complaint.
Adams ate the Boar's Head ham for several days afterward, according to the complaint, and became ill, including weakness, diarrhea, fatigue and a fever.
His illness progressed rapidly, causing him to develop a blood infection, meningitis and sepsis, according to the lawsuit. Mr. Adams passed away on May 5th.
“We contend that his tragic and untimely death was entirely preventable,” lawyers from the Morgan & Morgan law firm said in a statement.
“Mrs. Adams holds Ms. Boaz Head accountable for the unsafe conditions at the Jarratt, Va., facility that allegedly led to her husband's death and fights to prevent others from experiencing the pain and loss she experienced. ”
She is seeking “just and appropriate” damages and relief as the court deems appropriate.
Boar's Head did not respond to a request for comment.
In September, the Florida-based company announced it would stop manufacturing and selling liverwurst and close its Virginia plant.
“Our investigation determined that the root cause of the contamination was a specific manufacturing process that existed only at the Jarratt (Virginia) facility and was used only for liverwurst,” the company said in a statement. Ta.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is conducting an internal investigation into the handling of boar heads.
In addition to his wife, Adams is survived by his sister, three sons, seven grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
