WILLIAMBSBURG, Va. (WAVY) – A Williamsburg woman is suing Boar’s Head after she says she fell ill from eating contaminated deli meat she purchased at a local Harris Teeter.
According to court documents, the plaintiff had eaten Liverwurst purchased on July 12, and said she suffered a Listeria infection as a result.
The documents identify the plaintiff as Barbara Schmidt. They say she spent more than a week admitted to the hospital, including at least six days in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). She also claims the company concealed information.
She is accusing Boar’s Head of gross negligence and breach of warranty, among other counts. The lawsuit is seeking $1 million in compensatory damages plus $10 million in punitive damages. Her attorney is asking for a trial by jury.
Schmidt purchased the Liverwurst at the Lightfoot Market location in Williamsburg. The next day, she says she started to display symptoms, such as vomiting, fever, a headache, fatigue, chills and confusion, according to the lawsuit. The suit, which was filed on Sept. 6, says Schmidt is still recovering.
The company first issued a voluntary recall on July 25, 2024 after it was discovered that its Liverwurst product was contaminated with Listeria. The product was made at the company’s Jarratt, Virginia plant. Four days later, the recall expanded to every item produced at the Jarratt facility. As a result of an investigation, Boar’s Head has decided to permanently discontinue producing Liverwurst.
On Sept. 13, the company also announced its decision to close the Jarratt facility where the outbreak originated. The people who work at the plant have been offered transfers or severance packages.
As WAVY has reported, the Jarratt plant repeatedly violated federal regulations. Recently released documents show inspectors found mold, insects, liquid dripping from ceilings, and meat and fat residue on walls, floors and equipment. Government inspectors logged 69 instances of “noncompliance” with federal rules in the past year.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there have been at least 57 hospitalizations and nine deaths reported across 18 states associated with the deli meat Listeria outbreak.
Several lawsuits have been filed against Boar’s Head tied to the Listeria outbreak.
The family of a Newport News man who died after eating meat tied to the Boar’s Head recall filed a wrongful death lawsuit. 88-year-old Gunter Morgenstein died on July 18, ten days after being admitted to the hospital. His family says doctors diagnosed him with sepsis and listeriosis, which, according to the lawsuit, was traced back to Liverwurst bought on June 30 at a Newport News Harris Teeter.
The law firm handling the Morgenstein lawsuit has established a Boar’s Head Listeria Claim Center to help victims of the outbreak.
Listeria is especially harmful to people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or with weakened immune systems, according to the CDC. Symptoms usually appear within two weeks after eating the contaminated food, but can start much sooner or even as late as ten weeks after consumption.