Organic Peanut Butter Factory Shut Down After Numerous People Infected with Salmonella

The Food and Drug Administration has shut down a peanut butter factory in New Mexico due to production of unsafe food. The Sunland factory, located in Portales, New Mexico, is the largest organic peanut butter producer. The popular store, Trader Joe's obtains its peanut butter from this factory.

Fox News reported that people in 20 states across the country have contracted salmonella due to the peanut butter. An outbreak linked to Sunland's peanut butter occurred in September 2012 and the factory voluntarily shut down its New Mexico based factory. Sunland planned to reopen its factory today, but the Food and Drug Administration shut down the factory for unsafe food production.

The Food and Drug Administration gained the power to shut down companies for unsafe food production in 2011 through a food safety law. This is the first time the agency has exercised its power. The company now has the burden of showing that its food is safe, before it can reopen.

A hearing will be held and the company will be inspected to determine if it is safe. Previously the company was inspected and 28 different instances of salmonella were found in the factory. The agency also discovered improper handling of food, unclean equipment and peanuts that were stored outdoors without being covered so that the peanuts were exposed to insects and birds.

After the outbreak this year, the Food and Drug Administration released results of inspections conducted in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 stating that the company had unclean equipment and improper handling of food. Also, there is evidence - denied by the president of Sunland - that in the last three years, the company would send out products that had tested positive for salmonella through internal tests.

Very concerning now is that Sunland distributes not only to Trader Joe's, but also to Target, Safeway, Whole Foods and other national grocery store chains. When the outbreak of salmonella was reported, many of these grocery stores repackaged the Sunland products and sold them under their own company names. Thus, there is the potential that contaminated peanut butter and other nut products is still on the shelf.

People who have been injured by a dangerous product need the advice of an experienced products liability attorney.  If you or a loved one believe you have suffered adverse medical reactions as a result of tainted peanut butter or nut products, you may be entitled to compensation. Please do not hesitate to contact the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc today.  The attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc are licensed to practice law before all Nevada state and federal courts. We serve clients from all socioeconomic segments of our community and we will fight to ensure that you receive compensation for your injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured by a bad product, contact one of the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc as soon as possible for a consultation.  Any delay could negatively affect your legal rights.  You may contact the firm through email at info@connorpllc.com or by phone at (702) 430-4614 or visit www.connorpllc.com. You may also visit the firm's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/ConnorConnorPllc.

Energy Drinks Reportedly Linked to Deaths

It was recently reported by the Marquette Tribune that certain energy drinks have been linked to multiple hospitalizations and several deaths (the full article is available here).  According to a report released by the Food and Drug Administration, the popular energy shot known as "5-Hour Energy" has been linked to 33 hospitalizations and 13 deaths (the full report from the FDA is available here).  The FDA report also names Monster and Rockstar energy drinks (which are marketed to the public as dietary supplements) as being linked to health problems in numerous cases across the United States. Common side affects noted by patients were flushing, increased heart rate, vomiting, heart attack, cardiac arrest, convulsions and death.  The report was careful to note that the incident reports made to the FDA sometimes contain incomplete information such as whether the individuals suffered from other medical conditions such as heart disease.  

The reports of possible side affects relating to the use of energy drinks is disturbing for many reasons.  Foremost is that these products have been marketed to the public as being safe for consumption.  If it is true that these products are in fact dangerous, the companies who produce them could be held liable under a products liability lawsuit.  People who are injured by an unsafe product could be entitled to compensation for their injuries including past and future medical costs, pain and suffering, lost wages and potentially punitive damages (punitive damages are a monetary award intended to punish the at fault party and deter others from engaging in similar behavior.  In cases where people have died as a result of unsafe products a wrongful death lawsuit could be brought on their behalf by their surviving family members.  That said, it appears premature to declare that these energy drinks are unsafe until all the facts are in.  Nevertheless, people wishing to avoid any potentially adverse medical reactions may wish to avoid these types of products altogether.  

People who have been injured by a dangerous product need the advice of an experienced products liability attorney.  If you or a loved one believe you have suffered adverse medical reactions as a result of energy drinks or dietary supplements, you may be entitled to compensation. Please do not hesitate to contact the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc today.  The attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc are licensed to practice law before all Nevada state and federal courts. We serve clients from all socioeconomic segments of our community and we will fight to ensure that you receive compensation for your injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured by a bad product, contact one of the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc as soon as possible for a consultation.  Any delay could negatively affect your legal rights.  You may contact the firm through email at info@connorpllc.com or by phone at (702) 430-4614 or visit www.connorpllc.com. You may also visit the firm's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/ConnorConnorPllc.

Drunk Driver Injures Four Children in Weekend Crash

A drunk driver injured four children in Mesquite, Nevada over the weekend. According to Fox 5 News, police arrived at the scene of the accident where bystanders were forced to physically restrain the driver as he attempted to flee (the full article is available here).  Fox 5 reports that the man struck two vehicles that were parked along a curb.  The children who range in ages between 1 and 5 years old were transported from the scene for treatment. One child had to be airlifted to Las Vegas due to the severity of her injuries.  A 33 year old Mesquite resident has been detained on suspicion of drunk driving, child endangerment, child restraint and other various traffic violations.

Accidents caused by drunk drivers are inexcusable.  Fortunately the law recognizes that Drunk drivers are per se liable for the injuries that they cause. Unfortunately, many people who suffer injuries in alcohol related crashes never receive full compensation. Often times the at fault party has little to no insurance or the victim's Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM) is insufficient to fully compensate for their injuries.  This is especially true when a wrongful death or serious bodily injuries are involved. 

People who have been injured by drunk drivers need competent legal representation. Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney can be a victim's best chance to receive compensation for their injuries. Victims of drunk drivers could be entitled to compensation for their pain and suffering, permanent disability, property damage, lost wages, medical bills and even punitive damages. The attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc are ready to fight for Nevadans who have been injured by drunk drivers. Our former insurance defense attorneys gained valuable experience defending insurers from claims made against their policy holders. Our attorneys know what it takes to make sure you are fully compensated for your injuries. Our attorneys are licensed to practice law before all Nevada state and federal courts. If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver, contact one of the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc as soon as possible for a consultation. Any delay in contacting an attorney could negatively impact your legal rights. You may contact the firm through email at info@connorpllc.com or by phone at (702)430-4614 or visit www.connorpllc.com. You may also visit the firm's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/ConnorConnorPllc.