Pheonix, AZ: A woman who alleges she fell ill with a hepatitis A infection and was hospitalized after eating Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend frozen berry and pomegranate seed mix, has filed a lawsuit against Oregon-based Townsend Farms. Thursday in U.S. District Court in Arizona.
According to the food poisoning lawsuit, plaintiff Karen Echard purchased and consumed Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend in the Phoenix area in April of 2013. Attorneys allege that she fell ill with symptoms of hepatitis A infection including fever, chills, nausea, abdominal pains and jaundice during an illness that started on May 21.
The class action states that Karen sought medical treatment for her illness on more than one occasion and was hospitalized for 5 days. Her attorneys allege that Karen, a healthcare practitioner and student, fears she will lose her job and be forced to discontinue her schoolwork due to her illness, as she continues to experience the effects of her hepatitis A infection.
The lawsuit asks for damages including physical injury, medical and medical-related expenses, wage and lost earning capacity damages.
On June 6, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that at least 61 people from 7 states had fallen ill with hepatitis A infections in a "Multistate outbreak of Hepatitis A infections potentially associated with 'Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Blend' frozen berry and pomegranate mix."
The lawsuit is Case No. 2:13-cv-01146-MEA, filed in the US District Court of Arizona. Plaintiffs are represented by Bill Marler of Marler Clark, and Jonathan O'Steen of O'Steen and Harrison.
