Defective products of all kinds from cars to food can cause serious problems for the people they negatively affect. From illness to injury and 
even death, a product that is not safely produced or does not include a necessary safety warning can change someone’s life in an instant. A recent case where 27 people unfortunately contracted E. Coli from a food product, highlights the importance of product liability cases in the life of the victims of defective products.
I.M. Healthy’s E.Coli Problem
A federal bankruptcy court in Illinois recently awarded 27 people a settlement of $11.5 million after they contracted E. Coli from I.M. Healthy’s Soy Nut Butter. One of the victims in the case was a Florida teen from Manatee County.
After the teen ate the product made by I.M. Healthy, she became ill and spent 23 days in the hospital due to the E. Coli infection. She also suffered hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is an E. Coli-related kidney failure that can be deadly. She was not the only one. Across the country, 26 other people contracted the same type of illness from eating the tainted food.
Due to the lawsuits filed, both I.M. Healthy and a third-party manufacturer filed for Chapter Seven bankruptcy. While the victims will only get about $470,000 each after the $11.5 million settlement, the court-appointed evaluator put the actual damages as over $69 million. The teen’s medical bills were $570,000, which is $100,000 more than she will receive.
Importance of Product Liability
It’s important that any product or food out in the market is safe for consumers. Manufacturers and designers can be held liable for product defects even if they fail to foresee potential risks associated with using the product they create. If a product does have inherent risks to its use, manufacturers have a duty to provide safety warnings on the label with clear instructions for safe use. If these warnings are not present, the manufacturer can be held liable for an injury caused by the product.
Product liability lawsuits are very important because not only is it possible for the victim to recover some or all of his or her financial losses, but these types of lawsuits can also force manufacturers and distributors to consider the actual costs of endangering consumers with faulty products. This can potentially force companies to work toward adhering to stricter safety measures for their products moving forward.
Keep Your Family Safe from Dangerous Products
Pay attention to recalls on a regular basis to ensure that you are not putting your family at risk by using a product that is unsafe. If products are recalled but parents are unaware, they could be inadvertently putting kids in danger by using the defective item. If you do own a product or food that has been recalled, it’s important that you stop using that item and follow the instructions of the recall. Oftentimes, you can return the item for a refund or compensation.
At Panter, Panter, and Sampedro, we are prepared to handle product liability cases, including cases that are similar to the one mentioned involving E. Coli contamination. If you or someone you know has been affected by a dangerous or defective product or tainted food, contact us at 305-662-6178.
References:
Neal, D. J. (n.d.). A peanut butter substitute gave them E. coli. A court just awarded them $11.25 million. Retrieved from https://miamiherald.com/news/business/article224263655.html
Miami Product Liability Attorney | FL Defective Products. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://panterlaw.com/personal-injury/product-liability/
