Food & Beverage Litigation & Regulatory Update

Tag: criminal

  • Hearing on Pretrial Motions Scheduled in Parnell Criminal Action

    A December 6, 2013, hearing will be held before a Federal court in Georgia on pending pretrial motions in a criminal lawsuit filed against former Peanut Corp. of America officials and employees, including owner Stewart Parnell. United States v. Parnell, No. 13-CR-12 (M.D. Ga., November 5, 2013). The company was the source of a nationwide Salmonella…

  • Cantaloupe Growers Sue Safety-Audit Company over Listeria Outbreak

    Jensen Farms has filed a lawsuit against the company that hired the food-safety auditor who gave the cantaloupe grower a “superior” rating during a 2011 audit not long before the grower shipped fruit allegedly contaminated with Listeria to a distributor that required the cantaloupe to be certified by the auditor, giving rise to a nationwide…

  • Jensen Brothers to Enter Guilty Pleas in Cantaloupe-Linked Listeria Outbreak

    Eric and Ryan Jensen, who own the Colorado cantaloupe farm linked to a deadly 2011 Listeria outbreak have reportedly indicated to a federal court that they intend to plead guilty to the criminal misdemeanor charges brought against them. Additional information about the charges appears in Issue 498 of this Update. The six misdemeanor charges of…

  • Colorado Cantaloupe Farmers Charged in 2011 Listeria Outbreak

    Brothers Eric and Ryan Jensen who own the Colorado cantaloupe farm linked to a deadly 2011 Listeria outbreak have reportedly been arrested on six misdemeanor charges of introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce and aiding and abetting. According to court records, they purportedly changed their cantaloupe cleaning process in May 2011 and never used the…

  • Criminal Trial Against Peanut Corp. Officials and Staff Continued

    A federal court in Georgia has issued an order continuing the criminal trial against former Peanut Corp. of America officials and employees, including owner Stewart Parnell, until February 10, 2014. United States v. Parnell, No. 12-12 (M.D. Ga., order entered August 15, 2013). The company was the source of a nationwide Salmonella outbreak in 2009,…

  • Court Overrules U.S. Objections to Peanut Corp. Owner’s Attorney

    A federal court in Georgia has overruled the government’s objections to Stewart Parnell’s representation by attorney Kenneth Hodges in the defense of criminal charges arising from a Salmonella outbreak allegedly traced to Parnell’s former company, Peanut Corp. of America. United States v. Parnell, 13-12 (M.D. Ga., order entered May 30, 2013). Because the government’s motion…

  • Peanut Company Owner Fails in Bid to Reclaim Passport

    A federal court in Georgia considering the criminal charges filed against former Peanut Corp. of America owner Stewart Parnell has denied his request for the return of his passport “for purposes of employment-related international travel.” United States v. Parnell, No. 13-12 (M.D. Ga., order entered April 26, 2013). Parnell apparently surrendered his passport as a…

  • Peanut Company Execs Enter Pleas; Government Seeks Disqualification of Defense Counsel

    Since the federal government filed a 76-count indictment against the owner and managers of Peanut Corp. of America, the source of a nationwide Salmonella outbreak in 2009, the defendants have entered not guilty pleas and been released on bonds ranging from $25,000 to $100,000. United States v. Parnell, No. 13-12 (M.D. Ga., Albany Div., filed…