Illinois meatpacking plant sued after COVID-19 death

[Sherman A1]

NORTH AURORA, Ill. — The family of a suburban Chicago woman who died of complications related to COVID-19 has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a meatpacking plant where her husband worked and contracted the virus. The family of Esperanza Ugalde alleges in their lawsuit that Aurora Packing Co. in North Aurora failed to take steps to limit the spread of the coronavirus, the Aurora Beacon-News reported.

They also said the company failed to warn employees after it became aware that other employees at the plant were infected. The lawsuit filed in Kane County Circuit Court contends that Ricardo Ugalde, who was a butcher at the plant for 35 years, contracted the virus in late April and that his wife contracted it a short time later and died May 2 at the age of 67. The company did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press on Friday but its website notes that it has “taken a proactive approach to minimize the health risk of spreading the virus.”

Meatpacking plants across the U.S. have been hit hard by the virus and the Kane County Health Department said it was called to investigate Aurora Packing. A health department spokeswoman declined to provide any details, including whether the plant was closed briefly after Ricardo Ugalde contracted the virus as the Ugalde family’s attorney contends.

https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/illinois-meatpacking-plant-sued-after-covid-19-death/article_be8cb48f-f80a-5867-ace0-6fe504cd5698.html

[Mike 03]

1. Been waiting for this.

We've seen lawsuits filed by business owners, pastors and disgruntled individuals AGAINST governors and mayors for enforcing lockdowns. Now the shoe's on the other foot.

I wonder if there are lawsuits like this that we're not hearing about: lawsuits against businesses and reckless governors for disregarding the CDC guidelines and putting lives in peril, leading to unnecessary deaths.

[SheltieLover]

3. Here is another wrongful death suit in IL - against Wal-Mart

https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/wrongful-death-suit-alleges-walmart-failed-to-protect-employee-who-died-from-covid-19

[3Hotdogs]

2. While the circumstantial evidence is strong, how do you prove

the virus came from the meatpacking plant and nowhere else? The virus is all around us.

If I was on a jury, I'd have a hard time awarding $ to the plaintiff.

Was the deceased at the local supermarket in the last 25 days? Was the self service gas pump handle touched? How about the screen on the credit card authenticating machine?

[lark]

4. Yep, knew this would happen and bet it's the repugs bottom line.

They want Dems to forgive all businesses for their killing cheapess and lack of caring and Dems are refusing. This is what he thinks he can get from Dems by threatening the mail. Only Dems are right to not fall for the ploy, because he'll do this whatever he says. Winning is the only thing he cares about because he knows otherwise he is in jail with no assets or in Russia - one of the 2.