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Twelve Million Dollar Verdict in Salmonella Outbreak

Recently, a salmonella outbreak was traced back to a peanut-based company in Lynchburg, Virginia. There were nearly 120 victims of salmonella from peanuts. A 12 million verdict was reached for the salmonella outbreak and the victims will split the settlement amount. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the legal counsel representing the victims said they could start seeing settlement portions over the next several months.

As recently as one year ago, The Peanut Corporation of America filed for bankruptcy protection, in the event of the salmonella outbreak. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration traced the salmonella outbreak to one of its facilities in Blakey, Georgia. The Centers for Disease Control determined about 714 people became ill sick in 46 states and Canada as a result of the outbreak. The salmonella outbreak may have been the cause of 9 fatalities.

The settlement amount comes from an insurance policy the Peanut Corporation of American had with The Hartford and to be eligible for the settlement, the victims and survivors of the outbreak had to file a claim by October 31, 2009, as part of the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Additionally, $750,000 from the settlement will be used to pay administrative costs and attorneys’ fees.