E. coli outbreak: spinach farmers to benefit from Iraq War bill
Two Marler Clark clients were interviewed for articles regarding today's vote on an Iraq War bill. The articles were both about the addition of $25 million of funding for spinach farmers who lost revenue during last year's spinach recall.
In an interview for ABC4 in Salt Lake, Marler Clark client Michelle Matthews spoke of her views on the spending bill:
"I understand this is the way our legislature works, but I think it's just sickening," Michelle Matthews of Eagle Mountain told ABC 4 News. She's upset because one of the earmarks reimburses California spinach farmers $25 million for losses they suffered. The losses came when they were unable to sell their crops last fall after Americans got sick and died from e-coli bacteria in a batch of tainted spinach.Some of that spinach found its way to the Matthew's dinner table. Michelle got sick, but her daughter, Arabella, almost died. Arabella was just two-years-old when she came down with e-coli. She spent nine days at Primary Children's Hospital, had an operation and was on kidney dialysis.
The Matthews have about $60,000 in medical bills now, mostly covered by insurance. She says the family has been assured the spinach grower's insurance company would pay the bills, but no money has arrived. Then Mrs. Matthews read that the spinach farmers stand to gain $25 million from the Iraq war spending bill.
In an article for USA Today, Marler Clark client Darryl Howard whose mother, Betty, died after becoming ill with an E. coli infection, said, "They killed my mother, and now they want me to pay for it."
More Marler Clark clients have commented about the issue on Bill Marler's blog.
