Maple Leaf Foods Class Action
July 24, 2009 - A proposed class action settlement has been reached, and in order to apply for compensation, we encourage you to visit the following website: www.mapleleafclaim.com. Please note that even if you have completed the below info table (at the end of this webpage), in order to apply for compensation you must fill out a separate Claim Form, a copy of which can be obtained at http://www.mapleleafclaim.com/claim.php?locale=en_CA&page=making_a_claim and mail (or otherwise send) it to the Settlement Administrator's Office in Ottawa, where your claim form must be received no later than November 2nd, 2009. The Settlement Administrator's Office is responsible for processing of claims and handling inquiries or questions about the settlement process. Please contact the Settlement Administrator’s Office at 1-800-801-2521 with any questions regarding the Claim process.
December 18, 2008 - A proposed settlement has initially been reached with regard to the Maple Leaf Foods class actions. The proposed settlement has not yet been approved by the courts, and the process to gain court approval will take a few months to complete. If the proposed settlement is approved by the courts, a compensation program will then be established and run by a Settlement Administrator Firm. The same compensation program would provide eligible class members with financial compensation based upon the injuries suffered by each individual. The compensation program process will involve the Settlement Administrator Firm (which will not be a law firm) assessing individual Claim Forms to determine the individual compensation entitlement of each class member. The Settlement Administrator Firm has not yet been appointed and the Claim Forms have not yet been set or approved by the courts. The compensation program has not begun and the Claims Forms are not yet available. The courts will ultimately set the criteria for determining who will be included as a class member and who will be entitled to compensation pursant to any final settlement. The proposed settlement includes a proposed compensation schedule, a copy of which can be viewed here: Schedule "A" of proposed settlement agreement, which is subject to court approval.
September 18, 2008 - Tony Merchant today condemned comments made by Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz at the height of the Listeria outbreak, stating: "Minister Ritz is responsible for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and made very insensitive comments. The families we represent will be very offended. These comments by the Minister raise new questions about whether the federal government reacted properly to the Listeria outbreak and realized the devastating consequences of this tragedy."
August 25, 2008 - Merchant Law Group has launched numerous lawsuits against Maple Leaf Foods for individuals and families affected by the recent contamination of meat products, which has led to various cases of listeriosis.
Symptoms of listeriosis can include nausea, vomiting, cramps and fever. If you are concerned you are experiencing symptoms of listeriosis, we recommend you contact a medical doctor without delay.
As reported by national newspapers, television, radio, and local media, Merchant Law Group filed the first class action lawsuits in Canada on behalf of listeriosis victims and recalled meat purchasers.
Our law firm has launched class action lawsuits in various provinces across Canada concerning the listeria outbreak, which has caused at least 20 deaths and numerous cases of serious illness by people who have ingested contaminated meat and other products.
One way to tell if meat products are on the recall list is to look for the Establishment number - look for a stamp that reads "Est. 97B" to determine if it is recalled meat from the Bartor Road Maple Leaf Foods facility. When in doubt about any meat product, we suggest you attempt to return it for a refund or throw it out. Any suspect products should be returned to the point of purchase for a full refund.
Listeria monocytogenes (commonly called Listeria) is a bacteria that may cause a potentially fatal infection called listeriosis. Listeria can have an incubation period of anywhere from a few days to three months. This means that a person might be carrying the bacteria, but might not display symptoms immediately. This infection is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, the elderly and individuals with weakened immune systems. In adults, particularly the elderly or those with compromised immune systems, the disease can lead to brain infection (meningitis), blood infection (septicemia), lung infection (pneumonia), heart infection (endocarditis) and even death. For more information on Listeria, please see the Health Canada website at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/food-aliment/listeria-eng.php.