CDC just reported that the Hepatitis A outbreak has hit 136 – http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/Outbreaks/2013/A1b-03-31/ This is the largest Hepatitis A outbreak in US since the 2003 Chi-Chis Hepatitis A outbreak that sickened over 500, killing three and causing one fellow to require a liver transplant – http://vimeo.com/39019505

By combining information gained from FDA’s traceback and traceforward investigations and the CDC’s epidemiological investigation, FDA and CDC have determined that the most likely vehicle for the hepatitis A virus appears to be a common shipment of pomegranate seeds from a company in Turkey, Goknur Foodstuffs Import Export Trading.  The pomegranate seeds were purchased from Goknur by Purely Pomegranate, Inc., in Dana Point, California, which resold them to Townsend Farms and Scenic Fruit Co., in Gresham, Oregon.

We are adding Purely Pomegranate, Inc., in Dana Point, California, the importer of Goknur Foodstuffs Import Export Trading, as a defendant in the 17 lawsuits that we have already filed.

Seattle-based Marler Clark, the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of foodborne illness, has filed 17 lawsuits against Townsend Farms, the Oregon company whose frozen berry and pomegranate seed blend has been identified as the source of a hepatitis A outbreak among 100 residents of 7 states.

Individual Lawsuits

  • Arizona:
  1.  Maricopa County Superior Court Case No. CV2013-008589, and
  2. Pima County Superior Court Case No. 2:13-CV-001146-MEA
  • California:
  1.  San Diego County Superior Court Case No. 37-2013-00051417-CU-PL-CTL,
  2. San Diego County Superior Court Case No. 37-2013-00052490-CU-PL-NC,
  3. Yolo County Superior Court Case No. YOSU CVPO 130001067, and
  4. Los Angeles County Superior Court Case No. 8C512593
  • Colorado:  Arapahoe County District Court Case No. 13CV30211
  • Washington:  Snohomish County Superior Court Case No. 13-2-05597-8

Class Action Lawsuits

  • Arizona:  Pima County Superior Court Case No. C20133225
  • California:  Orange County Superior Court Case No. 30-2013-00654042-CU-MT-CXC
  • Colorado:  El Paso County District Court Case No. 68E33494AEB36
  • Hawaii:  Hawaii Circuit Court Case No. 13-1-1683-06-VLC
  • Idaho:  Ada County District Court Case No. CV 0C 1310499
  • Nevada: Clark County District Court Case No. A-13-683473-C
  • New Mexico: Bernalillo County District Court Case No. D-202-CV-2013-04991
  • Oregon:  Multnomah County Circuit Court Case No. 130608425
  • Washington: King County Superior Court Case No. 13-2-22482-8 SEA

William Marler and the attorneys at Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of hepatitis A and other foodborne illness outbreaks.  The law firm has recovered over $600 million in verdicts and settlements on behalf of victims of foodborne illness.