Tomato Lawsuit Settled
By Michelle Fabio
Avoiding what could have been a long trial, a lawsuit involving salmonella-tainted tomatoes has settled out of court in Blair County, Pennsylvania.
Max Christian Anslinger of Altoona sued Sheetz Inc. claiming he fell ill and was hospitalized after eating bad Roma tomatoes from one of the convenience store’s chains in July 2004.
Anslinger wasn’t alone in his complaint as hundreds across several states also suffered after eating tomatoes supplied to Sheetz mostly by Coronet Foods of Wheeling, West Virginia, who was also named in the suit.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that the tomatoes in question were indeed tainted with salmonella from July 3-9, 2004.
Even though the Anslinger case has settled for an undisclosed amount, the troubles for Sheetz and Coronet Foods aren’t over; other affected customers have filed similar lawsuits in nearby counties and those actions will continue through the court system until they are settled or go to trial.
In addition, there is still a lawsuit in Blair County that pits Sheetz v. Coronet, estimated to be tried in mid to late 2008.
