JSE-listed fast-moving consumer goods manufacturer Tiger Brands on October 30 issued a statement confirming that it is engaging with the law firm handling claims on behalf of victims of a listeriosis outbreak in 2017/18 with a view to agreeing on relief to qualifying individuals who have urgent medical needs, regardless that liability has not yet been determined.

These engagements are part of an ongoing process that law firm Richard Spoor Incorporated Attorneys (RSI Attorneys) initiated in March 2018, representing more than 1 000 claimants in the matter.

“While these engagements are important in the overall effort to obtain relief for the victims of the listeriosis outbreak, no compensation for any person has been agreed to or received at this stage.

“Tiger Brands still denies liability to the victims of the outbreak and any settlement or interim relief discussions are on a ‘without prejudice’ basis and are parallel to the litigation process,” the law firm states.  

The claimants’ attorneys say they remain confident that they will establish Tiger Brands’ liability to all of the victims of the outbreak and, as such, are continuing with preparations for trial to ensure justice for persons who suffered harm as a result of consuming listeria-contaminated products.

Tiger Brands said in its statement that a trial date will be allocated by the court once all pre-trial preparations have been fully attended to, including a review of data received from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases early this year.

“The company is committed to working diligently to bring the listeriosis class action to a close as speedily as possible,” Tiger Brands stated.

Having commemorated the sixth anniversary since the listeriosis outbreak in September, RSI Attorneys reiterated that the listeriosis outbreak resulted in the death of 218 people, while hundreds more suffered health complications.

At the time, RSI founding director Richard Spoor estimated the compensation to be paid out to victims to be between R1.5-billion and R2.5-billion.