Feds mount evidence in salmonella outbreak probe (pressure grows for ciminal charges)

[UpInArms]

Source: Associated Press

ATLANTA – First, federal investigators said Stewart Parnell knowingly shipped salmonella-tainted foods even after internal tests showed they were contaminated. Then they revealed the evidence: e-mails Parnell sent to his employees urging them to ship out the products that authorities say ultimately sickened hundreds and may have caused the deaths of nine.

Federal authorities, who started an investigation last month, have remained tightlipped about possible charges against Parnell. So has the FBI, which raided the company's Georgia plant about a week ago.

<snip>

Parnell's e-mails, released this week by House investigators, depict a man driven by profits who instructed his employees to ship out products despite reports that salmonella was detected. "Turn them loose," he said in one e-mail.

<snip>

Food safety watchdogs have long argued that the FDA doesn't pursue criminal charges enough in tainted food cases, but they have little doubt that investigators are building a case as public outrage grows.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090214/ap_on_bi_ge/salmonella_outbreak_prosecution

[iandhr]

1. there should be criminal charges

If we can make a example of this guy selling tainted food = a few years in the slammer maybe stuff like this wouldn't happen

[Downwinder]

4. Fine; so what will the punishment be? n/t

[Ikonoklast]

7. Knowingly selling tainted food that caused death?

I think manslaughter charges would be in order.

[Baby Snooks]

12. Manslaughter?

He should be charged with murder. That's what it was. Premeditated if you ask me. He KNOWINGLY ordered tainted products to be shipped.

[Nikia]

20. Not to defend him

But he probably did not seriously believe that anyone would die eating his product. A lot of people ate his product and didn't die. Obviously though he was in the position to know that salmonella isn't something to mess around with. Ordering salmonella tainted product shipped is obviously worse than knowingly shipping product that has some minor defect, which is why he should be charged with something stronger than violating food standards laws. Manslaughter might be appropriate.

[Kool Kitty]

24. He was in a position to know that salmonella is

possibly lethal. Knowingly shipping a product tainted with a bacteria that could kill people is indefensible. He seriously didn't CARE that it could sicken and possibly kill people. That is also indefensible. People have sickened and died. He should get the maximum penalty. Too bad it can't be for murder.

[ShockediSay]

23. I'd say this is a slam dunk murder case

which his expensive criminal lawyers will plead down , but with full restitution to the victims.

But then if this is tried in Texas State Courts, the entreprenooer {rhymes with manure sewer}

won't have much to worry about.

[Thothmes]

15. The comany officers that knowingly directed the shipment

of contaminated products should be charged with recklss endangerment. In those cases where deaths occured, reckless homicide should do. If convicted, they should be sentenced to what ever the law allows for such felonies. Believe that is many years in prison.

[Downwinder]

16. How about the Directors

who were supposed to be supervising his actions?

and

the stock holders who financed and profited by his actions?

[sendero]

17. You're getting silly..

.... if you are against prosecuting these folks just say so.

If you are just confused, only those who knowingly authorized the shipment of tainted goods should be charged. I doubt anyone whose only relationship was "stockholder" would fit into that category.

[Thothmes]

18. The directors do not supervise the day to day operatios of a company

That is what they pay the CEO. to do. If you had legal proof that they speciffically directed the CEO to ship tainted product, then they should also be be prosecuted on the same charges as the Company officers. If not, then it would be a waste of effort. Hold the people that actually made the decisions responsible for their actions. JMO

[Nikia]

19. I think that the company is privately owned

Which means that he can do whatever he wants and remain president of the company. I'm not sure if he has other financial partners, but since he is primary owner, if they exist they have little say unless there are other factors like connections to the really big contracts. Mr. Parnell was essentially the company dictator, which made it harder for his employees to decide to the right thing and disobey him.
I also work at a privately owned food company and understand how it is to work under a company dictator who will tell you to do things that you know are completely wrong. Luckily our company dictator has taken cases like Mr. Parnell's to heart and we won't find us in such a situation.

[Nikia]

21. Although they aren't completely guiltless

It might send a stronger message to private food company owners if the worst penalties are reserved for Mr. Parnell. At such companies, the president is the dictator and the dictator in this case gave the order. Yes, the managers could have chosen to sacrafice their jobs and disobey him. That would have been the right thing to do, but their actions make them no worse than the majority of Americans who worry about losing their job. Ultimately though for their actions, they will probably be out of work and their involvement will make it hard for them to get another job.

[nickyt]

2. UpinArms, do you know who would be the best organization to write to regarding

this murderous Parnell criminal? The FDA? Or the AG of Georgia?
Can you imagine the agony of losing a beloved family member for no freaking reason, other than this man's pernicious actions?
Glad the heat's on him, I'd love to contribute to it via contact via the correct avenues -
Thanks!

[UpInArms]

6. nickyt, from the article -

Fred Pritzker, a food safety lawyer in Minneapolis who filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Peanut Corp., said investigators could charge Parnell with federal anti-conspiracy charges.

maybe these people would know where to direct your energies

:hi:

http://www.pritzkerlaw.com/

Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers

Our Minnesota accident and personal injury lawyers have decades of experience and a national reputation for excellence in the areas of personal injury and wrongful death.

Attorneys Fred Pritzker, Elliot Olsen, and Eric Hageman have been named Minnesota "Super Lawyers" by Law & Politics magazine in 2008. In addition, Fred Pritzker has been named a "Top 40 Personal Injury Super Lawyer" and a "Top 100 Super Lawyer" in MN by Law & Politics magazine. In addition, Fred Pritzker has been selected for inclusion in the 2008 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

[nickyt]

8. 10-4, I'll be writing them - many thanks!

[phaseolus]

3. Yep, those libertarians are right.

Given an unfettered free market, those Captains of Industry we're supposed to worship will always do what's right, because their enlightened self-interest will always work toward the common good.

:mad:

[MisterP]

14. they want lots of small entrepooneurs doing all the action

'coz people will buy the non-poisoned brands on the free market
Me: But we won't know which one's deadly until it's too late. They don't tell us beforehand. There's nobody to make them.
Libertarian: *stares for 5 sec.* But what about Prohibition?! All legislation has to fail!

[nc4bo]

5. More recalls - from the Texas plant

Food Lion's sending these out to their MVP members:

Dear Valued Customer,

As an MVP card holder and as one of our customers who has indicated a desire for e-mail messages from us, we are sending you this alert regarding additional peanut products recalled today by National Raisin, one of our suppliers. The recall is due to an inspection by the Texas Department of Health at the Peanut Corporation of America's plant in Plainview, Texas.

The following Food Lion and Bloom products are being recalled:

PRODUCT UPC/GTIN# Size

Food Lion Raisin and Nut Trail Mix 3582606484 6 oz.
Food Lion Fruit and Nut Trail Mix 3582606485 6 oz.
Food Lion Winter Blend Trail Mix 3582606486 6 oz.
Food Lion Nut Seed Bry Trail Mix 3582606487 6 oz.
Bloom Raisin and Nut Trail Mix 72543992166 6 oz.
Bloom Fruit and Nut Trail Mix 72543992167 6 oz.
Bloom Winter Blend Trail Mix 72543992168 6 oz.
Bloom Nut Seed Bry Trail Mix 72543992169 6 oz.

We are asking consumers to return these items to the store for a full refund.

At this time, a number of products containing peanut butter, peanut paste or peanuts have been recalled; however, peanut butter sold in jars at our stores is not affected.

JHC, what this turd did was criminal. SOB had the nerve and audacity to plead the fricking 5th amendment and is now going to file for bankrupcy! :wtf:

I hope they put murdering sack of shit under the jail and he never sees the light of day for the rest of his miserable life. Every dime he made should be taken away from him and his family.

[wroberts189]

9. The old corporate charter...profits before anything. nt

[antimatter98]

10. Why isn't this considered a terrorist act against Americans?

The Patriot Act can be applied here. Let's send
the perps to Gitmo for a while.

This is a terrorist act.

[4lbs]

11. Gee, maybe if Dubya hadn't stripped the FDA of most of it's funding the agency could have had a more

forceful response to the salmonella, one that had teeth, and saved hundreds of people from getting sick.

[NBachers]

13. Time for The China Solution

[LisaL]

25. Yea China doesn't mess around.

[Doctor_J]

22. I think the DoJ is back in business

Bush's cronies and other white collar criminals are in deep doo-doo