Plaintiff Claims Legal Malpractice in Product Liability Suit Against Townsend Farms

A California man has filed a legal malpractice claim against
lawyers who allegedly failed to represent him adequately in his
suit against fruit processor Townsend Farms, in which he claimed
he contracted hepatitis A after eating the company’s Organic
Antioxidant Blend. Durrell v. Taylor, Sullivan & Mondorf, No.
BC667419 (Cal. Sup. Ct., Los Angeles Cty., filed July 6, 2017). In
2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it
was working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
as well as state and local officials to investigate a multistate
outbreak of hepatitis A and confirmed that 162 people had
become ill after eating the product. In 2014, Durrell sued
Townsend Farms in Yolo County, California, and his case was
later consolidated with others in Los Angeles County. The
complaint alleges that his attorney failed to respond to discovery
requests or motions to compel, resulting in the levy of $2,700 in
sanctions and the dismissal of his claims with prejudice. The
plaintiff seeks compensatory and actual damages, including the
cost of his medical expenses.

Issue 640