Salmonella outbreak in the news again, lawsuit filed

San Mateo County residents may recall the 2010 outbreak of salmonella which lead to a massive egg recall effort across the country. At the time, eggs that had been shipped all over the nation were subject to the recall and numerous cases of illness and hospitalization were reported. Approximately 1,300 people in America were hospitalized, including a reported 266 in California. The bad eggs were traced to a farm in Iowa, and when all was said and done, more than 500 million eggs had been recalled.

It is scary to think of contamination in the nation's food supply, but it can be even scarier when an actual outbreak results. In a case that has been linked to this 2010 outbreak of salmonella, one California family has filed a wrongful death cause of action after a family member died from what they claim was negligence on the part of a restaurant and their egg supplier during this outbreak.

The family claims that their deceased loved one, a man who was 89 years old at the time, became ill after eating the contaminated eggs. At the time he was admitted to the hospital he was in shock, and eventually ended up on life support. He subsequently passed away after his family made the decision to take him off of life support.

As this unfortunate situation unfolds further, the next step will be a response from the companies that the family claims are responsible. In a wrongful death lawsuit, most families seek compensation for the loss of a loved one, which can include damages for pain and suffering, as well as for loss of companionship and even badly needed income lost as a result of the negligence. Time will tell whether or not the family will have to go to trial, or if a settlement will be reached.

Source: MercuryNews.com, "Family files lawsuit in death of East Bay man who ate salmonella-tainted eggs," Paul T. Rosynsky, June 5, 2012