Lawsuit Filed in Salmonella Sprout Case

Lawsuit Filed in Salmonella Sprout Case

Marler Clark Website

SEATTLE-A lawsuit was filed today in King County Superior Court against Harmony Farms, LLC, the Auburn, Washington, sprout grower that was linked by the Oregon Department of Human Services to at least nine cases of Salmonella Saintpaul in Washington and Oregon in early March, 2003.  The sprouts were distributed to retailers in both states, until recently recalled.  The lawsuit was filed on behalf of 20-year-old Sam House, an Independence, Oregon resident who became ill with Salmonella as a result of consuming contaminated alfalfa sprouts.  He is represented by Andrew Weisbecker, a partner in Marler Clark, the Seattle law firm nationally known for its representation of victims of foodborne illness.

 

The lawsuit is based on the Washington Product Liability Act, which states that Harmony Farms owed a duty to consumers to manufacture a product that was not adulterated, and was fit for human consumption.  Sam became seriously ill after consuming a sandwich that contained contaminated Harmony Farms alfalfa sprouts, suffering from high fever, severe nausea, and diarrhea.  He required emergency room treatment, missed a number of days of work, and incurred substantial medical expenses while doctors treated his infection.

 

            “My client suffered because the sprouts distributed by Harmony Farms were unfit for human consumption,” said Weisbecker.  “Safeguards should have been in place to protect customers’ health.  There have been many foodborne illness outbreaks, including Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7, caused by different types of sprout products.  These producers need to reduce the risk of contamination, and also need to warn consumers of the potential for infection