By AMY CHUNG, SUN MEDIA
The Toronto Sun For John Stickland, every passing moment is a worry.
His mother, Rowena, 85, of Ottawa, was diagnosed with listeriosis last month, one of those who fell ill from bacteria in Maple Leafs Foods' ready-to-eat meat products.
"We didn't know what it was because she has dialysis three times a week and weren't sure if it was her weak immune system, instead," said Stickland, 46, of Kanata, Ont.
He finally put the pieces together after the nursing home she resides in put out a health alert notice two weeks ago.
Health officials yesterday reported two new cases of listeria and one new death -- in Timmins -- due to the outbreak which forced Maple Leaf to close its North York plant. There have been 13 deaths in Canada and 29 cases of listerosis connected to the outbreak. Another 30 cases and nine deaths are under investigation.
Stickland is among hundreds of Maple Leaf consumers who have signed up to a class-action lawsuit spearheaded by Merchant Law Group LLP.
The law firm filed suits in Ontario, Quebec, B.C. and Saskatchewan with more provinces to follow, said Tony Merchant, a Regina-based lawyer, who specializes in class-action lawsuits.
WORRY FOR FAMILIES
The claims fall under three categories: illness, financial loss or legitimate concern. Some fall under all three.
"I have spoken to people who bought a bunch of Maple Leaf products and had to dump it all out after they saw the recall on the news. Some couldn't sleep at night because they worry that they have killed their families by feeding them the meat for dinner," Merchant said.
The suit in Ontario is claiming damages of $350 million on behalf of plaintiff's Arthur Cole and Donna Hyland.
Hyland, 77, became violently ill in July and will find out out Friday if she tested positive for listeria.
"I'm a nervous wreck," said Hyland, of Arnprior, located in the Ottawa Valley area. "Something has to be done. Look at all the people who have died ... just awful."
Her husband, John, 66, said his wife was an avid Maple Leaf foods consumer and commonly purchased their baloney, cooked ham and roast for many years.
In Bowmanville, former Q107 personality Jeff Newfield -- a.k.a Scruff Connors -- has also signed up for the lawsuit, saying he has suffered from terrible diarrhea for the last few days. He is going to be tested for listeria as well.
Maple Leaf spokesman Linda Smith said the company's main focus was to get the problem fixed. The facility that was shut down last week to be sanitized is to re-open tomorrow. http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2008/08/27/6585211-sun.html What is Listeria?http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-listeria.htm Visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website for a list of recalled deli meat, cheese and other products For more background and the latest news on this story, go to cbcnews.ca.
The Toronto Sun For John Stickland, every passing moment is a worry.
His mother, Rowena, 85, of Ottawa, was diagnosed with listeriosis last month, one of those who fell ill from bacteria in Maple Leafs Foods' ready-to-eat meat products.
"We didn't know what it was because she has dialysis three times a week and weren't sure if it was her weak immune system, instead," said Stickland, 46, of Kanata, Ont.
He finally put the pieces together after the nursing home she resides in put out a health alert notice two weeks ago.
Health officials yesterday reported two new cases of listeria and one new death -- in Timmins -- due to the outbreak which forced Maple Leaf to close its North York plant. There have been 13 deaths in Canada and 29 cases of listerosis connected to the outbreak. Another 30 cases and nine deaths are under investigation.
Stickland is among hundreds of Maple Leaf consumers who have signed up to a class-action lawsuit spearheaded by Merchant Law Group LLP.
The law firm filed suits in Ontario, Quebec, B.C. and Saskatchewan with more provinces to follow, said Tony Merchant, a Regina-based lawyer, who specializes in class-action lawsuits.
WORRY FOR FAMILIES
The claims fall under three categories: illness, financial loss or legitimate concern. Some fall under all three.
"I have spoken to people who bought a bunch of Maple Leaf products and had to dump it all out after they saw the recall on the news. Some couldn't sleep at night because they worry that they have killed their families by feeding them the meat for dinner," Merchant said.
The suit in Ontario is claiming damages of $350 million on behalf of plaintiff's Arthur Cole and Donna Hyland.
Hyland, 77, became violently ill in July and will find out out Friday if she tested positive for listeria.
"I'm a nervous wreck," said Hyland, of Arnprior, located in the Ottawa Valley area. "Something has to be done. Look at all the people who have died ... just awful."
Her husband, John, 66, said his wife was an avid Maple Leaf foods consumer and commonly purchased their baloney, cooked ham and roast for many years.
In Bowmanville, former Q107 personality Jeff Newfield -- a.k.a Scruff Connors -- has also signed up for the lawsuit, saying he has suffered from terrible diarrhea for the last few days. He is going to be tested for listeria as well.
Maple Leaf spokesman Linda Smith said the company's main focus was to get the problem fixed. The facility that was shut down last week to be sanitized is to re-open tomorrow. http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2008/08/27/6585211-sun.html What is Listeria?http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-listeria.htm Visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website for a list of recalled deli meat, cheese and other products For more background and the latest news on this story, go to cbcnews.ca.
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