The insurance company handling claims arising from the food
poisoning by Listeria monocytogenes in Maple Leaf cold cuts in 2008 has finally
mailed cheques to the victims.
Maple Leaf announced a $25-million settlement soon after the
disastrous outbreak that resulted in 23 deaths and hundreds of serious
illnesses.
The settlement cheques have been reduced to 93.4 per cent of
the amounts offered in the original settlement announcement; the reduction is
in line with a court order.
The payouts originally announced were $750 for people who
were ill for between 24 and 48 hours; $3,000 to $125,000 for those who were ill
for more than 48 hours and can furnish medical evidence;, and $2,000 to $17,500
for psychological trauma for those felled after Aug. 18.
Maple Leaf recalled 243 types of cold cuts and closed the
plant on Barton Road in Toronto for months while an investigation and thorough
cleaning and sanitation were done several times.
There were class-action lawsuits filed in Alberta,
Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec and the single settlement agreement covers all
of them.
