Morgan & Morgan Files Lawsuit Against Boar’s Head Over Florida Man’s Listeria Death

New wrongful death lawsuit first to allege a deadly infection contracted from a product other than the company’s liverwurst.

[Sarasota, FL] – Morgan & Morgan has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Boar’s Head Provision Co. (“Boar’s Head”) and Publix Supermarkets (“Publix”) on behalf of the family of Otis Adams, Jr., who died in May 2024 at age 79 after allegedly eating Boar’s Head ham purchased from a Tampa-area Publix grocery store. This is the first lawsuit to allege that a deadly infection was contracted from a product other than the company’s liverwurst. 

Mr. Adams’ wife Judith, 71, allegedly purchased Boar’s Head Tavern Ham and Boar’s Head Yellow American Cheese from a Publix store in Brooksville, FL on two separate occasions in April of this year. In late April, Mr. Adams allegedly became ill with diarrhea, fatigue and a fever. Having no reason to suspect he had a rare and serious infection, he waited for the symptoms to pass before eventually going to the hospital on May 2. He was diagnosed with listeriosis, which progressed over the next two days into meningitis and sepsis. Mr. Adams died on May 5, leaving behind his wife, sister, three sons, seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

“Mr. Adams, a man of faith and a deeply caring and supportive husband, was taken away from his wife and family too early,” said Morgan & Morgan attorneys John Morgan, Mike Morgan and Harris Yegelwel. “Unfortunately, he suffered severe pain as the infection spread to his blood, brain and nervous system before ultimately killing him. We allege that his painful, untimely death was completely preventable. Mrs. Adams is fighting to hold Boar’s Head accountable for the allegedly unsafe conditions at the Jarratt, VA facility that allegedly led to her husband’s death, and to make sure no one else has to go through the pain and loss she has experienced.”

On July 26, Boar’s Head initially announced a recall of more than 200,000 pounds of liverwurst processed at its Jarratt, VA facility before later releasing a statement on July 30 expanding the recall to include all products produced at that facility “out of an abundance of caution.” This lawsuit is the first to allege that an individual’s death is connected to Boar’s Head products other than liverwurst. 

Mr. Adams served his country in the United States Air Force before working at ExxonMobil Chemical for 30 years. He was the leader of the Exxon Retiree Club and a dedicated member of a Catholic fraternal organization and nonprofit.

The case was filed in the Circuit Court of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit in and for Sarasota County, FL.

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