A group of Rhode Island legislators has proposed a bill that would impose a statewide penny-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. More specifically, the tax would apply to “any nonalcoholic beverage, whether naturally or artificially flavored, whether carbonated or noncarbonated, sold for human consumption, containing sugar, corn syrup or any other high-calorie sweetener, including, but not limited to, cola and other flavored drinks, and all other drinks and beverages commonly referred to as ‘soft drinks,’ ‘sodas,’ ‘sports drinks’ or ‘energy drinks.’” Exemptions to the tax would include 100 percent fruit and vegetable juices, infant formula and milk products. Products intended by manufacturers for use as dietary supplements or for weight-reduction aids would be exempt as well. Meanwhile, Vermont lawmakers have proposed a similar bill that would impose a penny-per-ounce tax on the sale of beverages containing added sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. Fifty percent of the revenues generated would be directed…
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A company whose deli meat products were allegedly contaminated by the inclusion of the Salmonella-tainted red and black pepper sold to it by a supplier has sued the supplier’s insurance company to recover damages resulting from the products’ recall. Daniele Int’l, Inc. v. Penn-Star Ins. Co., No. 12-709 (D.R.I., filed October 9, 2012). According to the plaintiff, which was awarded a default judgment of $33.18 million in a suit against the supplier in September 2012, the defendant’s insurance policies extend to the supplier’s liability for the plaintiff’s losses and damages. The plaintiff also contends that the insurance carrier was notified about the underlying litigation.
A federal court in Rhode Island has reportedly agreed to enter a default judgment of $33 million against a spice company purportedly involved in a 2010 Salmonella outbreak affecting a salami product that sickened more than 250 people in 44 states. Daniele Int’l, Inc. v. Wholesome Spice & Seasonings, Inc., No. 10-155 (D.R.I., decided September 17, 2012). The court granted the request for default judgment filed by meat producer Daniele International, which was forced to recall in excess of 1.2 million pounds of meat. Health officials traced the contamination to the pepper supplied by the defendant, a company that was reportedly dissolved in April 2012. According to a news source, Daniele’s counsel is uncertain whether they will be able to collect the judgment. See The Wall Street Journal, September 17, 2012.
Daniele International, Inc. has requested that a federal court in Rhode Island enter a $33.1 million default judgment against a spice and seasonings company that allegedly supplied the Salmonella-tainted pepper which resulted in a recall of more than 1.2 million pounds of salami products in 2010. Daniele Int’l, Inc. v. Wholesome Spice & Seasonings, Inc., No. 10-1558 (D.R.I., motion filed July 30, 2012). The defendant has purportedly failed to respond to the complaint or to Daniele’s motion for entry of default. The plaintiff contends that its damages totaled $33,181,174.
A meat manufacturer that recalled more than 1 million pounds of meat products linked to a Salmonella outbreak that purportedly sickened more than 250 consumers in 44 states has reportedly sued the companies that supplied the red and black pepper allegedly identified as the source of the contamination. Daniele Int’l, Inc. v. Wholesome Spice & Seasonings, Inc., No. 10-155 (D.R.I., filed March 30, 2010). Seeking compensatory, punitive and exemplary damages, the plaintiff apparently alleges that it recalled more than 1.2 million pounds of meat, including salami, prosciutto and pancetta, refunded more than $1.5 million to customers, incurred transportation and shipping costs, and lost customers and future profits. The company reportedly purchased more than 50,000 pounds of pepper from one defendant and more than 40,000 pounds of pepper from the other in 2009. According to a news source, public health officials traced the Salmonella strain to the black and crushed red pepper…
