Northern California Microbiology Society Event: Separating Facts from Fiction

[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Marler Clark, LLP PS ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

There is a Worm in my Freezer! “ I recently found a whole, 2-cm long worm packaged inside a Lean Cuisine frozen dinner. I have the worm in my freezer. I'm interested in discussing my rights in this matter. Could you please contact me, or refer me to a firm that may be able to give me assistance? ”

“ Christening” the Carpet ,[object Object]

Lending a Helping Hand ,[object Object]

The Chaff ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],How Do We Do It?

Basic Tools of the Trade ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Health Department Involvement

Matching Incubation Periods ,[object Object],PATHOGEN INCUBATION PERIOD Staphylococcus aureus 1 to 8 hours, typically 2 to 4 hours. Campylobacter 2 to 7 days, typically 3 to 5 days. E. coli O157:H7 1 to 10 days, typically 2 to 5 days. Salmonella 6 to 72 hours, typically 18-36 hours. Shigella 12 hours to 7 days, typically 1-3 days. Hepatitis A 15 to 50 days, typically 25-30 days. Listeria 3 to 70 days, typically 21 days Norovirus 24 to 72 hours, typically 36 hours.

Matching Symptoms with Specific Characteristics of Pathogens ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Epidemiologic Assessment ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Medical Attention ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Communicable Disease Investigation ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Molecular Testing Results ,[object Object],[object Object]

Traceback Records POS A POS B POS C POS D FIRM A FIRM B FIRM C FIRM D FIRM E FIRM G FIRM H FIRM F FIRM I FIRM J FIRM K FIRM L FIRM M FIRM N FIRM O GROWER A GROWER B GROWER D GROWER C Firm Name Firms A,C,D,G, H,I,L,M,N Growers A&C Firms B,E,F,J,K Firm O, Grower D Grower B No. of outbreaks Assoc. with firm/ Total no. of outbreaks 1/4 1/4 2/4 3/4 4/4

Prior Health Department Inspections ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Improper Cooking Procedures ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Hamburger buns are toasted on the grill immediately adjacent to the cooking patties, and it is conceivable that, early in the cooking process, prior to pasteurization, meat juices and blood containing active pathogens might possibly splash onto a nearby bun.

Improper Refrigeration ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],The likely source of E. coli O157:H7 in the Jell-O was from raw meat juices dripping on the Jell-O while it was solidifying in the refrigerator.

Improper Storage and Cooking ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Civil Litigation – A Tort – How it Really Works ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Strict Liability for Food – a Bit(e) of History “… a manufacturer of a food product under modern conditions impliedly warrants his goods… and that warranty is available to all who may be damaged by reason of its use in the legitimate channels of trade…” Mazetti v. Armour & Co ., 75 Wash. 622 (1913)

Who is a Manufacturer? ,[object Object],RCW 7.72.010(2); see also Washburn v. Beatt Equipment Co ., 120 Wn.2d 246 (1992)

The Legal Standard: Strict Liability ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

It ’s called STRICT Liability for a Reason ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Why Strict Liability? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

The reason for excluding non-manufacturing retailers from strict liability is to distinguish between those who have actual control over the product and those who act as mere conduits in the chain of distribution. Negligence Is The Legal Standard Applied To Non-Manufacturers See Butello v. S.A. Woods-Yates Am. Mach. Co ., 72 Wn. App. 397, 404 (1993).

But, Litigation Can Work – A History Lesson ,[object Object],[object Object]

Punitive (or Exemplary) Damages: ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

A Real Life Example ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Benton Franklin Health District

Preliminary Interviews ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Case Finding ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Finley Schools ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Epidemiologic Investigation ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Environmental Investigation ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Environmental Investigation

Results ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],9801447 9801446 9801443 9801462 9801480 9801482 9801513 9801455 9801481

Results ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Results ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Conclusions ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

The Lawsuit ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

The Basic Allegations ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

At Trial: The Plaintiff ’s Case ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

More of The Plaintiff ’s Case ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

The School District ’s Defense ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

The Taco Meal Recipe Card It ’s not our fault, someone sold us contaminated beef

More of the School District ’s Defense ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

What Will a Jury Think? A Jury = 12 Consumers

What Did This Jury Think? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

In The End ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

William D. Marler Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm 1301 Second Avenue Suite 2800 Seattle, Washington 98101 Questions?

Northern California Microbiology Society Event: Separating Facts from Fiction

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