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Listeria and Listeriosis Wrongful Death

The following information on Listeria and listeriosis wrongful death is provided by the law firm of Pritzker | Ruohonen, a leading food safety litigation law firm.  The firm has successfully represented families in Listeria / listeriosis wrongful death lawsuits.  Contact the firm to learn more about these cases and for a free consultation regarding your case.  To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s free case consultation form.

Listeria Listeriosis is the illness caused by infection with Listeria monocytogenes, a foodborne pathogen. In the United States, an estimated 2,500 people become seriously ill with listeriosis each year. Of these, 500 die.  A listeriosis death may give rise to a wrongful death claim if evidence is found that associates the death with a food manufacturer, distributor, retailer, restaurant or another party.  A Listeria and listeriosis lawyer should be contacted immediately after a listeriosis death for purposes of gathering and preserving evidence.  Also, if a party has been linked to the Listeria contamination that led to the listeriosis death, that party may contact the family seeking to settle the case.  It is always best to have a Listeria and listeriosis lawyer involved in all communications with responsible parties and their insurance companies.

Listeria and Listeriosis Wrongful Death – Statutory Claim
When someone’s death is caused by a person, corporation, or other legal entity, the law allows the next of kin of the decedent (the person who died) to make a claim for money damages. This is called a "wrongful death claim."  Wrongful death claims are statutory, meaning they are created by state statutory laws.  Although state wrongful death statutes vary, there are some provisions that are similar from state to state.

Listeria and Listeriosis Wrongful Death – Appointment of a Wrongful Death Trustee
The person who brings a wrongful death lawsuit is usually called a "trustee." He or she is appointed by a judge to bring the wrongful death claim on behalf of all of the next of kin (spouse and blood relatives) of the person who died.  Any family member who is considered "next of kin" under the state statute can bring a wrongful death claim.  If you think you have the right to bring a wrongful death claim, please contact one of our lawyers.  Our law firm represents families in wrongful death cases throughout the United States.  If your family member died after eating food contaminated with Listeria, you deserve compensation for that loss.  

Listeria and Listeriosis Wrongful Death - Compensation for Loss
A listeriosis wrongful death lawsuit is not a criminal prosecution. Only state or federal prosecutors can bring criminal charges. The sole reason for a wrongful death claim is to compensate the next of kin of the decedent (the person who died) for their loss.
Each state has different laws about the type of losses for which wrongful death compensation is allowed.

  • All states allow for the recovery of lost income the decedent would have provided his loved ones.
  • Most states do not allow recovery for grief or anger suffered by the surviving heirs, but do allow money damages for the loss of advice, care, comfort and companionship the deceased would have provided had he or she lived.
  • Some states also allow money damages for the pain and suffering of the deceased person prior to death.

It is important to have an experienced listeriosis lawyer that knows how much your listeriosis wrongful death claim is worth.  It is also important for your listeriosis lawyer to be a top-notch negotiator because most listeriosis wrongful death cases are settled.  An inexperienced lawyer may not know how much compensation to seek or how to persuade the other side to settle for a fair amount.  This is particularly the case with foodborne illness cases like listeriosis wrongful death cases.  Most lawyers have no experience in this area.  Our founding partner, attorney Fred Pritzker, has a national reputation in this area and has been interviewed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and other publications. In recognition of his accomplishments, he has been named a "Super Lawyer" by Law & Politics magazine and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America.

Listeria and Listeriosis Wrongful Death Attorney and Free Consultation
Because so much is riding on it, a listeriosis wrongful death claim should only be handled by a wrongful death lawyer with the utmost skill and experience handling Listeria and listeriosis wrongful death claims. At Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P.A., we’ve helped families collect some of the largest recoveries in wrongful death claims involving Listeria and other foodborne illnesses.  To contact a Listeria and listeriosis lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohonen, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s free case consultation form.

Pritzker | Ruohonen is a nationally-recognized law firm and represents clients in foodborne illness and wrongful death cases throughout the United States.


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