Pritzker Hageman attorneys have filed a lawsuit against Forever Cheese, Inc. on behalf of a victim of the outbreak of Listeria infections linked to imported cheese. Our client suffered ventilator-dependent respiratory failure and profound nervous-system and cognitive dysfunction. After weeks in the hospital and rehabilitation, he continues to suffer from neurological symptoms, including but not limited to cognitive dysfunction, left-sided weakness and hand tremors all as a direct result of the Listeria infection (listeriosis) caused by the outbreak strain.
Contact our attorneys fro a free consultation regarding the cheese recall. Our lawsuit also names Whole Foods Market as a defendant, and other distributors, retailers and restaurants also sold cheese that sickened victims of this outbreak. Whole Foods Market issued a cheese recall on September 12, 2012, and Peterson Company, a distributor who sold Frescolina riccota salata cheese, just issued a ricotta salata cheese recall yesterday and indicated that at least one outbreak victim had eaten cheese sold by the company.
Each Listeria outbreak is caused by a genetically unique strain of the bacteria. In this case, the FDA found the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes from a sample of uncut Frescolina ricotta salata cheese distributed by Forever Cheese, a New York company. This is solid evidence that the Frescolina ricotta salata cheese is the source of the outbreak.
Prompted by the listeriosis outbreak and finding of Listeria bacteria in the cheese, Forever Cheese issued a recall of ricotta salata cheese, Frescolina brand:
Forever Cheese inc. is recalling all Ricotta Salata Frescolina brand, Forever Cheese lot # T9425 and/or production code 441202, from one specific production date due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The cheese was sold to distributors for retailers and restaurants between June 20 and August 9, 2012. Products were sold to supermarkets, restaurants and wholesale distributors. The cheese in question is Ricotta Salata brand Frescolina from one production date coded 441202 on the original wheel.
We have evidence suggesting that other cheeses were contaminated with Listeria from the Frescolina ricotta salata cheese and that some of these cheeses gave people Listeria infections that caused illness.
The lawsuit our law firm filed this week against Forever Cheese seeks money damages for the following:
- Medical and hospital expenses for the treatment of injuries;
- Physical and mental pain;
- Damage to the marital relationship; and
- Other harms and losses to be proven at trial.
To date, there are 14 confirmed cases of listeriosis in 11 states. All 14 were hospitalized.
