NORFOLK, Va. — A Smithfield man who was hospitalized for 14 days with a listeria infection has become the latest local resident to file a lawsuit against Boar’s Head after apparently becoming sickened by its lunchmeat.
Robert Reposa purchased Boar’s Head meat products from the Kroger in Smithfield in the “last few days of July,” according to a lawsuit filed Sept. 11 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. He later was hospitalized for 14 days.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced an investigation into a multi-state outbreak of listeria infections on July 19. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified Boar’s Head products from its facility in Jarratt, Virginia, as the source of the contamination and outbreak, according to the CDC website.
The lawsuit stated the man became “frighteningly ill” and went to a Velocity Urgent Care on Aug. 8 with severe stomach pain, vomiting, fever, chills, and extreme diarrhea. He was at that point unaware of his exposure to listeria.
Still unaware on Aug. 13, he went to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with the same complaints and was transferred to Sentara Heart Hospital on Aug. 16. Ultimately, it was determined that he did have listeria. Due to his previous heart issues, his exposure ultimately resulted in 14 days of hospitalization.
“Plaintiff continues to suffer to this day and likely has suffered permanent damage as a result of this exposure,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit asks for a total of more than $48.2 million in judgment and damages.
This is at least the third lawsuit filed on behalf of local people who were sickened or killed by Boar’s Head meat. Williamsburg’s Barbara Schmidt filed a lawsuit on Sept. 6 after a lengthy hospitalization, including six days in the ICU. In Newport News, the family of 88-year-old Gunter Garshon Morgenstein filed suit in August after he died from a listeria infection.
The CDC states that 57 people have been hospitalized in this outbreak, and nine deaths have been reported. This is the largest listeriosis outbreak since the 2011 outbreak linked to cantaloupe.
Everyone should check their homes for any remaining recalled Boar’s Head products and do not consume them. Look for “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels. Some have sell-by dates into October.
The problem was discovered when a Boar's Head liverwurst sample collected by health officials in Maryland tested positive for listeria. Further testing showed that the type of bacteria was the same strain causing illnesses in people. Boar’s Head announced on Sept. 13 that the Jarratt facility will close indefinitely.