We filed a lawsuit on Friday on behalf of the sons of Baton Rouge, Louisiana resident Elaine Babcock, who died as a result of a Listeria infection she contracted during last year’s outbreak linked to cantaloupes grown by Colorado-based Jensen Farms. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge against Frontera Produce, the company that distributed the Listeria-contaminated Jensen Farms cantaloupes, and Primus Labs, the company that performed a food safety inspection of the Jensen Farms facility prior to the Listeria outbreak.
Elaine Babcock was a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In August 2011 she purchased and consumed a Jensen Farms’ Rocky Ford brand cantaloupe. On September 5, 2011 Ms. Babcock’s son found her unresponsive on the floor of her home. She was taken to the hospital where she tested positive for Listeria. As her condition continued to deteriorate she was transferred to hospice care September 30, 2011 and passed away October 1, 2011. Medical bills were in excess of $50,000. She leaves behind sons, Lance Hayes and Thad Hayes.