MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., May 23, 2008
Makers Of Tainted Pet Food To Pay $24M
Contaminated Food Linked To Thousands Of Animal Deaths Prompts Settlement
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Nearly 300 people sued about 30 companies in state and federal courts. They and perhaps thousands of other pet owners would be eligible for payments under the deal. (CBS/AP)
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In The Spotlight Pet Food Recall A complete list of products and answers to questions regarding the recall
The settlement is detailed in papers filed late Thursday in U.S. District Court in Camden. It still needs a judge's approval.
"The settlement attempts to reimburse pet owners for all of their economic damages," said Russell Paul, a lawyer for plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
The deal would affect people who incurred expenses directly related to the illness or death of a pet linked to the food, which was at the center of the biggest-ever U.S. pet food recall in 2007.
Nearly 300 people sued about 30 companies in state and federal courts. They and perhaps thousands of other pet owners would be eligible for payments under the deal.
Ontario-based Menu Foods Income Fund, which makes dog and cat food under about 90 brand names, and other firms that make or sell pet food announced April 1 that they were settling lawsuits with pet owners.
The pet food was discovered to contain wheat gluten imported from China that was contaminated with melamine, a chemical used to make plastics. Though Menu was the first company to issue recalls, four other companies eventually recalled pet foods, too.
Some of the companies have already paid out more than $8 million to people whose pets were sickened or killed after eating the contaminated food.
Under the terms of the deal announced Thursday, pet owners could be reimbursed for all reasonable expenditures, including veterinarian bills and burial or cremation costs.
Pet owners could also ask for the fair market value of their deceased pets, if that is higher than the costs incurred. Owners who do not have documentation of their expenses can get up to $900 each. All claims are subject to a review.
The companies say they will donate any money left in the fund after claims are paid out to animal welfare charities.
The settlement details were originally to have been filed in court about two weeks ago, but it took longer than expected to hash out the deal, partly because it had to be made to conform with both U.S. and Canadian law.
A court hearing on the settlement is scheduled for May 30.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
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See all 31 CommentsWell, I think that I will have to start eating dogfood since HUMAN food is **** ridden...this human food will kill ya.
Hit ''em where the most damage will be and they will be cognisant of issues pertaining to their money making and the AMERICAN public...
When an item of food poisons and kills those who eat it, it''''s a bit more than something going "a little wrong". You obviously have no regard for animals and your views are in the minority, so shut up.
Posted by cdfoxtrot
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Does he have regard for anybody, except for himself because he clearly doesn''t?
Posted by DaVicar2 (again)
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I apologize if I didn''t see it, but did you respond to my response to you?
Posted by DaVicar2 "
Last time I checked people dont normally eat DOG FOOD and Alpo doesn''t make your breakfast cereal, so they are not connected any more than my veterinarian''s expenses are connected to your hospital
Posted by DaVicar2
When an item of food poisons and kills those who eat it, it''s a bit more than something going "a little wrong". You obviously have no regard for animals and your views are in the minority, so shut up.
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"There is no fair market value on our pets"
Posted by msay3
Right, and "fair market" value for a dog someone obtained free from a newspaper ad or for $35 from a shelter is what the value would be.
If you bought a purebred for $1200 such as a Landseer Newfoundland or Mastiff which typically are OVER $1200 you are out some money, because all they will cover is the MEDICAL costs you already paid and "fair market value" which in the case of say, a 7 year old dog is not going to be very much.
$5,000 PER DOG is what they should be offering
There is no fair market value on our pets.....any more than there is fair market value of a human...Some people don''t seem to grasp that concept, but that is their loss. They are missing out on a lot....
Posted by DaVicar2 at 01:53 PM : May 23, 2008
Somebody has do do something....Here we have China poisoning our pets, endangering our children with lead paint, and now they have infiltrated the medical world with their deadly batches of heparin.....I''m almost afraid to buy any prescription medication anymore. I guess we''ll all be done in by the "China Syndrome" one way or the other......
To say just "go out and buy another one" is to ignore all the loving attachment that has grown between pets and their owners.
Eat less,
Don''t ask for money all the time,
Are easier to train,
Usually come when called,
Never drive your car,
Don''t hang out with drug-using friends,
Don''t smoke or drink,
Don''t worry about having to buy the latest fashions,
Don''t wear your clothes,
Don''t need a gazillion dollars for college,
And if they get pregnant, you can sell their children.
Posted by DaVicar2
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Where was their quality control?
There is a difference between an causing an accident and deliberately cutting corners.
And, yes, some people are greedy fools too (think the idiot who was in the car and spilled McDonalds coffee, the type that most people typically think is a HOT beverage and then blames McD for the problem...)
Now, which of the three scenarios seems most likely? "Cutting corners" is the most likely choice, but how can you prove it was an accident? And all the pets that died...
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Posted by SgtRDS-E4 at 03:24 PM : May 23, 2008
Randy,
I like Dogs better then other people. A Dog has never betrayed me!
"Scuse me, but I NEVER equated human life with dogs! YOU DID..."
That''s RIGHT, *I* did because I value dogs more than I would value you.
"My point is just the opposite...theyre JUST DOGS and CATS..."
Your point stinks, MY point is dogs deserve to live like any other living thing. As far as people goo- theres far too MANY, time to stop the growth rate with con.doms, birth control, education and abortion on demand for the accidents that dont get caught in time.
"get over it, and get on with your LIFE!"
Posted by DaVicar2"
Seems to me YOU are the one who needs to get over it, this story is about a dog, if you dislike animals that much go read a story about an infant in Nigeria or something and swoon there.
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