Attorney Fred Pritzker of Pritzker Hageman law firm is the lead lawyer in a lawsuit filed against Townsend Farms and Costco Wholesale Corporation on behalf of an Arizona man (Plaintiff). He allegedly contracted hepatitis A from Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend mixed berries with pomegranate seeds. The suit was filed in the United District Court for the District of Arizona (Case 2:13-cv-01181-ROS).
The Pritzker Hageman law firm is also representing hepatitis A victims in other states who are part of the multistate hepatitis A outbreak associated with Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend sold at Costco. To date, the CDC has confirmed outbreak cases in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Washington. “This morning the CDC updated its outbreak numbers to 99 cases of hepatitis,” said Pritzker. “People are still contacting me about recently diagnosed cases of hepatitis A, so we believe this outbreak will continue to grow for some time.”
In March and April of 2013, Plaintiff purchased Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend at a Costco store located at 19001 N 27th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona, according to the hepatitis A lawsuit. He purchased four bags of the product, none of them warning him about potential foodborne illness, which implied that the product was safe and wholesome.
From March 5, 2013, through early May, Plaintiff regularly consumed the fruit in the Townsend Farms Anti-Oxidant Blend. Some or all of this berry blend was contaminated with hepatitis A virus, according to the suit.
Beginning May 4, 2013, Plaintiff began experiencing significant abdominal pain and nausea. These symptoms soon developed to include vomiting, fatigue, loss of appetite, fever, muscle and joint aches and pain, headache, dark urine and yellowing of his skin.
On May 8, 2013, he went to an Urgent Care facility and was given an IV for dehydration. On approximately May 15, 2013, Plaintiff went to Arrowhead Hospital in Glendale, Arizona, and was diagnosed with and treated for hepatitis A.
The lawsuit alleges the hepatitis A infection caused (and will cause) Plaintiff pain, suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress. It also alleges he incurred and will continue to incur in the future substantial expenses for medical treatment, hospital stays and rehabilitation; and, in addition, a loss of wages.
