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Press Release: Consumers File Nationwide Class Action Lawsuit in Federal Court Against ConAgra, Inc., for Salmonella Poisoning from Contaminated Peanut Butter

March 1, 2007, Rome, Georgia -- Class counsel announced today that Grady and Francis Ware of Chatsworth, Georgia, and Ricky Bunn of Nashville, Tennessee, have filed a nationwide class action lawsuit against the international food conglomerate ConAgra, Inc., for manufacturing and selling peanut butter contaminated with Salmonella. With their complaint, plaintiffs also filed a motion seeking an order from the Court requiring ConAgra to preserve all evidence related to the contamination and recall.

The Wares and Mr. Bunn allege that they were infected with Salmonella Tennessee from eating Peter Pan brand peanut butter produced by ConAgra. The Center for Disease Control has reported that over 370 cases of Salmonella poisoning are known to have occurred from contaminated Peter Pan or Great Value peanut butter produced by ConAgra, with at least 51 people requiring hospitalization.

"My wife and I both were really sick from eating this peanut butter that we thought was fine to eat. We hope nobody ever has to go through anything like this," said Grady Ware. "We had diarrhea so bad that we both had to be in the hospital for two days and I still feel sick over a week later. I won't ever eat peanut butter again, but I hope this lawsuit will make ConAgra make sure that all of its food products are safe for others."

Kathryn E. Barnett, counsel for plaintiffs, advised: "If you have suffered symptoms of contaminated peanut butter, do not discard the evidence; instead mark the peanut butter with 'Do Not Eat' or 'Contaminated' and make certain the jar is stored in a safe place that is beyond the reach of children. The peanut butter can be tested for the presence of Salmonella."

"All the of contaminated peanut butter was manufactured and packaged in a single location, ConAgra's plant in Sylvester, Georgia, which is why we filed this lawsuit in Federal court in Georgia," stated Clay Jenkins, co-counsel for plaintiffs and the lawyer who filed the first suit in the country. "The same peanut butter from the same plant caused the harm. In proceeding with this class action we will strive to protect the individual rights of all consumers stricken by the Salmonella outbreak while resolving the claims in a more efficient and expeditious manner."

"Salmonella poisoning causes fever, diarrhea, severe stomach cramps and can be life-threatening to persons with weakened immune systems or seniors like the Wares," stated Robert Smalley of Dalton, Georgia, co-counsel for plaintiffs. "ConAgra should be a responsible corporate citizen and promptly agree to pay the medical expenses and compensate all people stricken by Salmonella poisoning after eating its peanut butter."

Representing plaintiffs are Kathryn E. Barnett of the Nashville, Tennessee office of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP; Clay Jenkins of Jenkins & Jenkins, PC, of Waxahachie, Texas; and Robert H. Smalley, III, of the Dalton, Georgia law firm of McCamy, Phillips, Tuggle & Fordham, LLP.

Consumers stricken by Salmonella poisoning who wish to learn more about the lawsuit and report their experiences to plaintiffs' counsel should visit http://www.personalinjurylawyeramerica.com or contact injury attorney Kathryn E. Barnett toll-free at 1-866-313-1973.

Members of the media who wish to receive a copy of the complaint should contact Brenda Parker at bparker@lchb.com.

Source/Contact:

Kathryn E. Barnett, Esq.
(866) 313-1973 (toll-free)

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Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP is a fifty-plus attorney law firm that has represented plaintiffs nationwide since 1972. We have offices in San Francisco, New York and Nashville. We represent plaintiffs in class and group actions and in individual lawsuits in cases involving substantial losses. For the last six years, the National Law Journal has selected Lieff Cabraser as one of the top plaintiffs' law firms in the nation.

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