Photo courtesy FDA
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Wash. — A lawsuit was filed by Emman Wills on behalf of her deceased husband John against Lyons Magnus and Prairie Farms Dairy in connection to a Listeria outbreak that sickened 42, hospitalized 41 and killed 14. The Wills family is represented by Marler Clark.
"As I said last week, I informed the family that their husband/father died after suffering a Listeria infection,” said Bill Marler, attorney at Marler Clark. “Until then, the family did not know the source of his infection, despite that fact that it has been known by local, state and federal officials for over a year. Mr. Wills is genetically linked to this outbreak (PNUSAL022839) and linked to Listeria outbreak 1812MLGX6-1. He was in a hospital recovering from another illness when he drank a Listeria-tainted supplemental shake.”
Illnesses related to the outbreak were reported in 21 states: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and West Virginia. Illnesses started on dates ranging from Aug. 17, 2018, to March 13, 2025.
Fourteen deaths were reported from nine states: California, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, Tennessee, Texas and Washington.
Most people in the outbreak reported living in long-term care facilities or were hospitalized prior to becoming sick.
On Feb. 22, Lyons Magnus initiated a recall of 4 oz. Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental Shakes manufactured by Prairie Farms Dairy.
"The question is, why are victims of outbreaks’ blood and/or spinal fluid samples taken and analyzed, they and/or families interviewed about what they ate and where they were in the last three to 70 days, credit card and other receipts taken, but they are never told the source of the illness or death?” said Marler. “How many others of the 42 or their families remain in the dark as to why they or a loved one became sick, and in 14 instances, died?”