Chicago, IL: A class action lawsuit will be filed September 15th, 2010, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago, against Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms a month following the largest recall of contaminated eggs in recent history.
Class members include all purchasers of eggs from Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms from April 9, 2010 (Julian date 99) to August 21 (Julian date 230). The FDA reports that at least 550 million eggs have been recalled so far. Purchasers are seeking reimbursement.
The lawsuit also seeks recoveries on behalf of all consumers who died or were injured from salmonella enteriditis contaminated eggs. The FDA reports that the salmonella infected eggs has sickened nearly 2,000 people. Lawyers representing the plaintiffs say there could be more than 76,000 class members in the suit, given that a recently enacted Egg Safety Rule states that for every case reported there may be 38 cases that go unreported.
The lawsuit also seeks to establish a medical monitoring program for class members who were injured or at risk for future injuries. Infections from salmonella enteriditis can spread into the bloodstream, then to other areas of the body, such as the bone marrow or the meningeal linings of the brain. The infections can lead to severe and fatal injuries, including endocarditis. In addition, class members who recovered from salmonellosis may later develop recurring joint pain, reactive arthritis, and Reiter's syndrome, lawyers for the plaintiffs state.
Immediately following the filing of the lawsuit, the lawyers for the plaintiffs will seek, on behalf of all class members, an order from the court to conduct an immediate inspection, survey, photography, videotaping, testing, and sampling of the premises on both farms.
