Food Liability Law Blog
Discussion of emerging legal threats to the food industry.
Author: Ken Odza is a principal at Stoel Rives in Seattle.
Blawg Related Categories: Tort Law • Product Liability Law • Partner • Private Defense
Recent Posts from Food Liability Law Blog
-
The Billable Hour - Reflections on the CLE
I had the privilege of participating as a speaker at the Billable Hour CLE held recently at Seattle University School of Law. As an “outside” counsel, here were some of the most significant things I…
-
More on Melamine . . .
I was interviewed recently by Food Innovation Weekly on “Melamine, Recalls and Crisis Management.” This question-and-answer article discusses how the waves of melamine issues circling the globe affect the way a company should think about…
-
Registration Still Open For The ACI Food-Borne Illness Litigation Conference in Scottsdale
December 4-5 is the American Conference Institute’s 2nd National Forum on Food-Borne Illness Litigation. The first forum turned out to be a very engaging and diverse forum (e.g. plaintiffs lawyers, industry lawyers, top state and…
-
Nitty-Gritty on Menu Labeling Regulations and What Can Be Done to Stem Consumer Litigation
As restaurant chains operating in King County, Washington are readying to comply with the new menu labeling law, serious questions arise. Does each menu item have to be sent to an expensive lab for testing?…
-
Breakthrough in Detection of BSE (a.k.a. "Mad Cow Disease")
No food-borne illness induces consumer fear like Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE a.k.a. "Mad Cow Disease"). The beef industry in particular has gone to great lengths to take preventative steps against the introduction of BSE into…
-
Preparation for Melamine Issues- Updating Crisis Management Plans and Insurance Coverage
While largely under the radar in the American press due to the compelling election cycle and historical meltdown in the financial markets, the news out of China concerning melamine has gone from bad to worse.…
-
Change You Can Expect: What President Obama May Do About Food-Borne Illness Surveillance
The Obama administration has promised sweeping changes in all corners of the federal government. We can expect the new President to push an ambitious legislative and administrative law agenda in 2009. What does this mean…
-
Another Reminder Why Indemnification and Insurance Requirements Are Important
Last month, a state judge in Minnesota awarded summary judgment to a lettuce supplier of restaurants associated with an E. coli outbreak in 2006. The restaurant supplier brought suit against its suppliers. The suit appears…
-
More on Supply Chain Verification and Crisis Management
Food Safety Magazine’s latest issue focuses on “Industry in Crisis Mode.” The issue includes an article by Shaun Kennedy, director of the National Center for Food Protection and Defense (NCFPD). Mr. Kennedy provides a good…
-
Court to Rule on Consumers' Expectations For Organic Cosmetics
Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps (“Dr. Bronner’s”) received a favorable ruling recently in its suit against competitors that it believes are misleading consumers by labeling cosmetic products as “Organic”. Part of Dr. Bronner’s claim appears to…