Spinach Lawsuits Reach Settlement
Lawsuits filed in connection with the deaths of three women who became ill and died after eating contaminated spinach have reached a settlement. The families of the three women (from Maryland, Nebraska, and Washington) reached an out-of-court agreement with California companies that processed and sold spinach that was later found to be tainted with e. Coli. Terms of the settlement were not made public. In September of 2006, several produce companies recalled their spinach products after testing revealed that fresh spinach was contaminated with e. Coli. Illnesses were reported in at least 25 states, and over 200 people were sickened.