Personal Injury Law

Public Radio - Progress Slows for Food Safety Legislation

Posted on July 27, 2010
From KBIA Public Radio Missouri: Time is running out for new food safety regulation legislation to receive a senate debate. If it becomes law, regulations in the Senate Food Safety Modernization Act would drastically affect the way food safety is monitored in the United States...

I know the Recession is bad, but "Reptile food may have sickened people in 17 states?"

Posted on July 27, 2010
AP's Mary Clare Jalonick reports that reptile owners who have been feeding rats, mice and chicks to their pets may be at risk for Salmonella poisoning. The company that sells the reptile food, Mice Direct, announced a recall of the frozen rats, mice and chicks Tuesday, saying that human illnesses possibly related to the frozen reptile feed have been reported in 17 states...

2010 Pasteurized Milk Problems?

Posted on July 26, 2010
Since posting the 2010 list of raw (unpasteurized) dairy-related problems, I've been asked about pasteurized dairy products. In a previous review, outbreaks from pasteurized milk products were found to be very uncommon considering the large number of people who drink them...

$500,000 Setlement Reached in Hepatitis A Class Action

Posted on July 26, 2010
According to the Quad-City Times, anyone who received immunizations as a result of possible exposure to hepatitis A at a McDonald's restaurant in Milan, Ill., can make a claim in a $500,000 settlement that is pending approval in Rock Island County Circuit Court...

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Has the nail been driven into the coffin of the conventional wisdom that grass-fed beef is safer than grain-fed beef?

Posted on July 25, 2010
In 2008 I posted, 'Grass-Fed vs Grain-Fed Beef and the Holy Grail: A Literature Review,' in which I raised the question if grass-fed beef is safer that grain-fed. My concern was, as I said, that Quotes like these were becoming more common on the Internet and recent media reports: 'Products from grass-fed animals are safer than food from conventionally-raised animals...

Australian Food Safety Conference, 7-9 September and NZFSA Conference, 13-14 September

Posted on July 24, 2010
Although I just returned to the States, I will soon be packing my bags again to speak in Australia and New Zealand on food safety. New Zealand - Facing food safety challenges to reputation and consumer confidence Technology changes, new production methods, and advances in packaging, storage and distribution of food change what we eat and the way we eat it...

Lawsuit filed in Wisconsin Salmonella Case

Posted on July 24, 2010
Jessica Stephen of the Kenosha Wisconsin News reported yesterday on the lawsuit we filed on behalf of 'a Pleasant Prairie woman sickened in a recent salmonella outbreak connected to' the Baker Street Restaurant & Pub. According to the lawsuit, Dzinovic and her boyfriend ate at the restaurant on June 17...

Outbreaks, illnesses and recalls linked to raw (unpasteurized) dairy products, United States, 2010 (through July 23, 2010)

Posted on July 24, 2010
There have been nine at least since January that have been reported.  Also, there are others - like an Campylobacter outbreak in Massachusetts that the state has not yet announced.  But, here are some details so far on most of the known outbreaks (click on image to download details):

PCA is about to Pay $12,750,000, but Stewart Parnell is not in Jail

Posted on July 24, 2010
Bryan Gentry reported yesterday that '[t]he victims of a salmonella outbreak that was traced to Lynchburg-based Peanut Corp. of America nearly 18 months ago could finally see some money next month. On Wednesday a U.S. District Court judge in Roanoke agreed to speed up the process of approving the personal injury claims received in PCA's bankruptcy case...

Your Salad - Is the convenience worth the risk? Is irradiation the silver bullet?

Posted on July 22, 2010
While I was 'vacationing' in Greece and Italy over the last weeks, Fresh Express was recalling even more romaine lettuce salad products because of potential E. coli contamination (an earlier Salmonella recall occurred two months ago).  Of course, that does not count a Fresh Express outbreak that did sicken people in April and no recall occurred...

No more travel writing from this lawyer

Posted on July 21, 2010
Just landed in Boston from Rome a few hours ago and I have already been dealing with client legal issues and legal arguments with lawyers - some of them a bit hot I am afraid.  My vacation is clearly over.  OK, one more photo of the Umbria countryside...

No tour at the Roman Abbitoire

Posted on July 16, 2010
The temperature here in Rome was hovering near 100 as we wandered from the Spanish Steps to the Coliseum and other Roman ruins.  It seems wherever you turn you were either walking over or bumping into something that dated from the turning point between B...

Baker Street Restaurant in Kenosha possibly linked to 26 Salmonella Illnesses

Posted on July 15, 2010
Baker Street Restaurant & Pub has closed because of a suspected salmonella outbreak. Diane Bosovich, the Kenosha Department of Health's assistant director of nursing, said the restaurant was closed Tuesday as a precaution after some people who contracted the bacterial illness revealed they had eaten there...

Fresh Express Recalls Romaine Lettuce Due to E. coli O157:H7 Risk

Posted on July 15, 2010
Fresh Express is voluntarily recalling certain Romaine lettuce salad products with expired Use-by Dates of July 8 - 12 and an "S" in the Product Code because they may have the potential to be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. No other Fresh Express salads are included in the recall...

CDC makes us worry about Salmonella in Eggs too

Posted on July 14, 2010
Sitting down for breakfast in our last day in Athens, I decided to check my Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) alert.  This popped right out - "The CDC estimates that nearly 3 million eggs sold each year are contaminated with Salmonella bacteria...

When in Rome - as they say

Posted on July 14, 2010
It is good to see that Marler Blog is translated via Google here in Rome: Also, one of my recent posts, "Lawyers, Microbiologists, and Safe Food," was recently posted on Le Blog d' Albert Amgar in French – ' Les avocats, les microbiologistes et la sécurité des aliments...

What would Pericles do?

Posted on July 13, 2010
After hiking around the Parthenon in the heat of the day (tried to do it early, but there was a four hour strike by workers) and watching the changing of the guards in front of the Parliament Building, we headed back to the hotel and discussed where to eat tonight...

Ellensburg Day Care E. coli Outbreak is E. coli O26 linked

Posted on July 12, 2010
The E. coli outbreak that temporarily closed three Ellensburg day-care operations appears to be winding down, health officials said last Friday. However, press reports a few hours ago indicate that the outbreak strain that has sickened several children and adults is E...

No, this is not a travel blog

Posted on July 12, 2010
The Parthenon (Ancient Greek: Παρθεν?ν) is a temple in the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, dedicated to of the Greek goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their protector. Its construction began in 447 BC and was completed in 438 BC...

Never far from being reminded of my job

Posted on July 11, 2010
Sitting on my deck in the village of Oia on the Island of Santorini is about the last place I thought I would think about why my job is so important. I then received this email: Hi Bill, I hope you, your family and your terrific team in Seattle are doing well! I came across a "snippet" of you on Larry King-sort of vicariously when he announced his retirement-but it lead me to an interview you did along with Barbara Kowalcyk...

Lawyers, Microbiologists, and Safe Food

Posted on July 10, 2010
There must be a good joke about a lawyer who sidles up to a bar and strikes up a conversation with the microbiologist on the next stool. I don't know the punch line, but rest assured it will have something to do with the microbiologist peering through a microscope, and the lawyer chasing ambulances...

Senator Reid, it is time to move S 510 to a vote - do it for Linda

Posted on July 09, 2010
I assume by now that Senator Reid or his staff has viewed Val Willingham's CNN interview with Linda and her husband (both his constituents). Senator Reid, the time has come to move on S 510.

Colorado Raw Milk Sickens 30

Posted on July 09, 2010
Yesterday between visits at ancient Minoan historical sites and churches that pre-date Columbus by 300 years, we did a bit of hiking in search of the Kri-kri, the Cretan goat. Clearly, something that looks difficult to milk. I was reading this morning the press release from the Boulder County Department of Health that now a second child has been hospitalized with severe illness (likely hemolytic uremic syndrome) after becoming ill from drinking unpasteurized goat milk in June that came from Billy Goat Dairy in Longmont...

First Colorado E. coli Lawsuit filed against Rocky Mountain Natural Meat

Posted on July 09, 2010
This morning we filed the below lawsuit on behalf of one of the victims of the E. coli outbreak linked to illnesses in Colorado and New York.

14 more hit with E. coli in Colorado - no link to raw milk or bison?

Posted on July 09, 2010
Little Sailors Child Development in Northglenn, Colorado have been linked to an E. coli outbreak that has affected more than a dozen people. The Tri-County Health Department has announced that 14 people, 13 children and a teacher have been diagnosed with a mild strain of E...

More Buffalo Recalled in Nevada Due to E. coli O157:H7

Posted on July 08, 2010
The July 2 Recall has been expanded to include approximately 776 additional pounds of Bison Products that were distributed to a firm in Nevada for further processing. FSIS became aware of the problem during the course of an on-going investigation into a cluster of E...

Ready Pac Foods Announces Voluntary Spinach Recall Because of E. coli O157:H7

Posted on July 08, 2010
Ready Pac Foods, Inc. of Irwindale, California is recalling 702 cases of the Baby Spinach variety of Spinach Temptations 6 oz. bagged salads with Use-by Dates of July 4 with Product Code I1707B, IR127121 and July 8 with Product Code I2007B, IR130373 because they could be contaminated by Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E...

I'm Vacationing as the President works on Food Safety

Posted on July 07, 2010
The rumors are flying around here on the Eastside of Crete that President Obama and family will be staying here in Elounda soon.  If true, I must admit that it is not that bad of an idea.  The weather is perfect, the water clear and warm, the food fresh and healthy and ancient history at every turn...

The Doctor, Sanjay Gupta, tries to get the Senate to move forward on Food Safety

Posted on July 05, 2010
Here is the transcript from Dr. Gupta's recent show on Health: Welcome to a place where you can learn how to live longer and stronger. I'm your doctor. I'm also your coach.  First up, an exclusive story: Imagine a woman who almost died -- why -- because she ate raw cookie dough...

Despite at least two Buffalo or Bison Meat Recalls, are Manufacturers still exempt from E. coli Testing?

Posted on July 03, 2010
The most current version of FSIS Directive 10,010.1 that I could find while sitting in Heathrow Airport states in part: Fabricated steaks and finely sliced beef (9 CFR 319.15(d)) do not meet the standard of identity for ground or chopped beef product and, therefore, would not be subject to E...

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