Just over two years ago the CDC announced that a Listeria outbreak was linked to “Rocky Ford” cantaloupe grown in Colorado.

Mary Montour died over this past weekend.  She was 76 years old and had the dubious distinction of being one of the 147 people sickened in the 2011 cantaloupe Listeria outbreak.  The Montours were avid shoppers at Walmart stores located in Commerce City, Westminster and Broomfield, Colorado where they purchased “Rocky Ford” cantaloupes in August of 2011.  Ms. Montour was hospitalized for 5 days after falling ill with symptoms of listeriosis on August 15.  During her 5-day hospitalization, a blood sample collected from Ms. Montour tested positive for one of 5 strains of Listeria monocytogenes associated with the cantaloupe outbreak.  The total medical cost of treating Ms. Montour’s Listeria infection exceeded $40,000.  Despite receiving additional medical care, Ms. Montour suffered acute symptoms of her illness for several weeks and continued to suffer related to listeriosis for months afterwards.

Other Colorado Walmart and King Soopers shoppers who have died during the past year after surviving and recovering from the acute Listeria infection have been:

Rodney DeHerrera, Betty Mills, Dimas Nunez, Charles Palmer, Herbert Stevens and James Weathered.

In some states when someone dies the amount that their estate or their family can recover by way of financial compensation dies with them.  One can argue the fact that the strategy of the defendants in these actions – primarily the retailers – has been to extend these cases for past two years to drive the value of a claim down by waiting for the claimant to die.

But, perhaps I am just being a bit cynical?

Many more died acutely or never left hospital, rehabilitation of hospice.  Most of these are counted by the CDC in the over 33 officially killed by cantaloupe:

Colorado

Sandra Antle – King Soopers Shopper

Michael Hauser – Sunflower Shopper

Hazel Jacobs – City Market Shopper

Sharon Jones – Walmart and King Soopers Shopper

Michael Nimrod – Walmart and King Soopers Shopper

Michael Segatti – Walmart and King Soopers Shopper

Lois Tufly – City Market Shopper

Kansas

Weimer – Dillons Shopper

Louisiana

Ellaine Babcock (Unknown Location)

Gilbert – Kroger Shopper

Maryland

Clarence Wells (Unknown Location)

Missouri

Pumphrey – Dillons Shopper

Riffle – King Soopers (purchased by friend in Colorado)

Schwarz – First Watch Consumer

Montana

Onsager – Walmart (purchased by friend in Montana)

Nebraska

Drinkwalter – Walmart Shopper

New Mexico

Christiansen – Walmart Shopper

Gaxiola – Walmart Shopper

Wilcox – Walmart Shopper

Oklahoma

Beach – Homeland Shopper

Texas

Marie Jones – Kroger Shopper

Rest in Peace.