A Wyoming man has filed a lawsuit against Walmart after his wife died of Listeria contamination from a tainted cantaloupe purchased there, says Frenkel & Frenkel.
A Wyoming man has filed a lawsuit against Walmart after his wife died after eating a tainted cantaloupe purchased at the store. Frederick M. Lollar filed the wrongful death suit in Laramie County’s First Judicial Court claiming wrongful death. Tainted Fruit According to court documents, Lollar’s wife, Jaqueline, ate three-quarters of a cantaloupe he brought home from Walmart on September 1, 2011. The Food and Drug Administration reported that the lot of cantaloupes delivered to the Sheridan Walmart was contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Lollar says that after he purchased the cantaloupe, Walmart removed the product from the shelves but did not inform customers that they may have been exposed to the bacteria. Death from Bacteria At least 147 cases of listeria were reported, and more than 30 people died after eating the contaminated cantaloupe through the United States, with reports to the Centers for Disease Control coming in from 20 states. Approximately 20 percent of those who contract listeriosis, the illness caused by the bacteria, die from meningitis, encephalitis or other complications related to the illness. The symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches and gastrointestinal problems, causing many of those with the illness to mistake it for the flu. However, listeriosis can have drastic consequences if not treated properly. Listeriosis Complications According to the Centers for Disease Control, people with listeriosis commonly develop life-threatening illnesses, such as meningitis and encephalitis. Pregnant women may suffer miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth or the newborn may develop a life-threatening infection. Listeria is treated with strong antibiotics, and is curable if caught early. The contaminated cantaloupes came from Jensen Farms located in the Rocky Ford area of Colorado. When a product causes illness or death, a lawsuit may be in order. If you or a loved one became sick, or if a loved one died, as a result of the listeria contaminated cantaloupes, contact Frenkel & Frenkel for a free initial consultation to learn your rights.
