Hepatitis Outbreak Spawns Class Actions Seeking Compensation for Vaccination
An outbreak of hepatitis A linked to frozen berry and pomegranate mixes sold in eight states has reportedly sickened 87 consumers to date and spawned at least three putative class actions seeking compensation for hepatitis A testing and vaccination. According to media reports, residents in Arizona, California and Nevada filed lawsuits after the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment advised all consumers exposed to the allegedly contaminated berries to request hepatitis A vaccination or immune globulin injections to reduce their risk of contracting the disease. In addition to the costs of vaccination, the complaints against Townsend Farms Corp. are seeking compensation for time missed from work as well as other expenses related to the outbreak. See Law360, June 3, 2013; NBC News, June 11, 2013; KTAR, June 12, 2013; KRNV & MyNews4.com, June 13, 2013.