My brother-in-law died suddenly 2 weeks ago, from eating Peanut Butter

[Ghost in the Machine]

we think. He had gotten sick, with vomiting and diarrhea, and went to the E.R. The E.R. was crowded, so he came back home. Two days later, Feb 28th, he couldn't even get up, and was having problems breathing. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs and brain and admitted in serious condition. He died on March 3rd, as we were burying my grandfather, who had just passed away on the 28th from complications of pneumonia. My grandfather would have been 90 on the 22nd of this month.

Anyways, my sister and brother-in-law never watched the news, as they said it was "too depressing to watch". They knew nothing about the tainted peanut butter. David had eaten about a jar and a half of the Peter Pan peanut butter within a couple days, prior to his getting sick. My sister and the kids peferred JIF, so they were not affected by it. Last week, while helping my sister clean out their apartment so she could move back home with my folks because she is just a total basket case right now, we found the peanut butter and told her about it. It had the same UPC(?) Code as the tainted lot. We contacted the company, and were told to put the remainder of the jar inside a large ziplock baggie and keep it in the refrigerator. They were sending someone to the house to pick it up. We are also awaiting the test results from Erlanger hospital in Chattanooga from blood work, etc. They said it could take 6 to 8 weeks.

In the meantime, my sister is totally devastated. She was already manic depressive and bipolar, and all she can do now is cry and sleep and cry some more. They had only been married for about 4 months. She is totally unable to work right now, and has 2 kids to take care of. My folks are on a fixed income, as they are retired, and right now, all my money is tied up in my restaurant. AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependant Children) pays less than $200/month here, so that's really not much help. Does anyone know, or have any suggestions, for any other way we can get her some help?

Thank you,

Ghost

[ret5hd]

1. i wouldnt let them take it without contacting a lawyer

[Kagemusha]

6. That too, now that someone's died from it.

Consider it evidence and treat it with the care Gil Grissom would.

[wicket]

10. Agreed

Or at least keep a sample.

[Ghost in the Machine]

33. Good idea..

I just got off the phone with my mom, they are contacting a lawyer as I type this..

[wicket]

44. Good to hear

Again, so sorry for your loss :hug:

[AZBlue]

61. I'd let them photograph the jar and take a sample, but keep a good bit of it & the jar for yourself

Then go see a lawyer.

[Kagemusha]

2. That's terrible. This is why food safety is so important.

When I read the topic I thought, ok maybe it's an allergy. No, it'd be salmonella. I can only wish you and your family the best and give my sincerest condolances...

[wicket]

3. I am so sorry

Thoughts and prayers for you all :hug:

If you don't mind me asking - how old was he?

[Ghost in the Machine]

31. thank you

he was 39.... would have been 40 in june

[tk2kewl]

4. i'm not sure i would turn the jars over to the company.

i'd get the coroner's office involved

[Ian David]

5. Contact your local state universities. Some of them offer free counseling services for the needy.

Results 1 - 10 of about 1,020,000 for free psychological counseling services for the poor. (0.28 seconds)
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1B3GGGL_enUS212US212&q=free+psychological+counseling+services+for+the+poor&btnG=Search

[no_hypocrisy]

7. Contact a personal injury attorney who specializes in mass torts.

Maybe Consumer Reports has information as far as what your options are. I would not recommend asking the federal government at this point in time for advice.

DON'T GIVE THE JAR OF PEANUT BUTTER TO THE COMPANY. NOT EVEN A SAMPLE!!!

I'm sorry for your loss and the loss of your sister. I wish you peace.

[kirby]

8. Sorry for your loss

I'm sorry to hear about your loss.

[qanda]

9. Oh gracious

That is so sad. I have no suggestions, but I offer my condolences to your sister and your entire family.

[Roland99]

11. Damn. So sorry to hear.

:(

[DU9598]

12. DONT GIVE IT TO THE COMPANY

Immediately contact the state department of public health in the state or county in which you live. Also immediately contact an attorney to assist you with handling the jar of peanut butter. If there is any necessity to seek redress at a later date, it is vitally important that an attorney tell you how to preserve the evidence. You may have no reason to bring a claim later, but protect yourself. I would not give the jar to the company who later may have a wrongful death claim arise from this incident.

Sorry to give a short lecture, but want your family protected.

I am SO SORRY for your family's loss and the grief that you must be feeling. May your brother-in-law find peace.

[midnight]

75. This is so overwhelming. I 'm not sure how

our food industry, health industry can be so unreliable. This is so sad. I will be keeping you, your sister and children im my prayers.

[MissB]

13. Wouldn't she be eligible for Social Security Survivor's benefits?

Dh and I get statements each year from Social Security. On his statement, for example, are lines that details what the survivor benefits are if he should die.

If they were married, I'd check into that pronto.

[MissB]

20. Here is a link

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10084.html

[hang a left]

23. not to mention being bi-polar would qualify her for disability.

and in some cases ssi.

[aquart]

I think the marriage has to be at least 9 months.

[MissB]

It would be worth checking out, though.

I scanned their page for any sort of minimum requirement and didn't see one. Not saying it doesn't exist...

[Sydnie]

47. Survivors benefits are not what they used to be

I know of someone who is going through this right now and it is not what it used to be. The wife gets an allotment for each kid, but very little (if anything) for herself. Once the last child is 16, those benefits are cut completely now. They would consider the wife young enough to be employed and there won't be much help coming from them for her.

The OP doesn't say if the kids are his or not. If they are not and he hadn't legally adopted them, there may not be any support for them at all due to his death from SS.

Just another casualty of the gutted system.

edit - missing letter

[williesgirl]

71. They are eligible for SS from him if they lived w/him and he took them as dependents on

income tax. When my husband died, my daughter (not his) was eligible. We had been married for 12 years, all of which she lived with us. She's on disability herself now, and it's still coming from Bud's income record.

[robinlynne]

14. to begin with, I would hold on to that peanut butter jar and get a lawyer.

That will not help her emotionally, but may be worth thousands or millions of dollars to her later. A grief counselor or therapist is what you need right now. If she is bipolar, she probably has a doctor/psychiatrist?

[Xenotime]

15. I feel sorry for your loss. I hope you receive suitable compensation.

[EFerrari]

16. Have you thought of contacting Social Security? They might have

ideas. She might qualify for disability or some program I don't know about. You might contact your local NAMI chapter, too, for ideas. Also, some communities have emergency fund when families can't pay their rent. You might check with the Health Department and see if they have a social worker you can talk to.

If I think of anything else, I'll pm you, Ghost.

:hug:

[Beetwasher]

17. GET YOUR SISTER A LAWYER IMMEDIATELY

Like yesterday.

In the short run it will be tough financially for her, but she will eventually be taken care of. If it was the peanut butter, she's looking at a sizeable settlement.

This really stinks, I'm very sorry to hear this.

[itsrobert]

55. Yes, she may need to defend herself

Questions may come up why she let her husband eat that particular brand of peanut butter and the rest of the family was eating the other brand. I'm not implying anything, but law enforcement and the company's investigators will looking for reasons why no one else in the family was eating the 'tainted' peanut butter. I hope there was no rocky relationship in the marriage or other cause to make an investigator look at your sister as a suspect somehow.

Get her a lawyer ASAP!

[AndyA]

18. I'm so sorry to hear about your brother in law. That's so sad.

Sending good thoughts to your sister and her kids.

And I also agree with the others regarding the peanut butter. I wouldn't let the company take it. Local officials need to get involved, and I would even consider having an independent lab do an analysis of it to make sure you're getting good information.

Since this could have caused a death, the company will be more concerned about protecting itself than helping the victim's family.

[Dora]

19. For FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: www. modestneeds.org

http://www.modestneeds.org/


And for those who are interested in giving, Modest Needs is a charity designed exactly for these unexpected financial burdens.

Bless you and your family. My thoughts are with you all in this time of loss.

[monarch]

21. Do NOT give the PB to the company. GET A LAWYER

immediately!

I am so sorry for your sister and for you and your whole family. Something like this takes a toll on everyone. Take care of your self first and then your sister and everyone else.

I'm sure that DUers will be able to offer concrete suggestions for now but please get a lawyer right away.

[Goblinmonger]

41. And don't let them bully you or play nice to you.

They will try either or both to get the jar. Don't believe them when they tell you they will make the results known to you. That will be a lie. Then they will try to make you feel like shit for not giving it to them and that they have a right to it. That will also be a lie. You don't need to talk to them at all. Let them know, politely, that you are not going to turn over the jar and that you would like them to leave. If they don't leave, after telling them one more time let them know you will be calling the police to get them off your property. Don't be an ass about it, but let them know you are in control.

I worked for several years as an investigator for a personal injury law firm. You will get screwed on this if you give them the jar.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

22. How tragic!

You've gotten good advice up thread as to not turning the jars over to and retaining an attorney. I also wanted to point out that no one should be handling the jars at they may have salmonella contamination on the outside of them now too.


I'm very sorry for what you, your sister and all the family must be going through due to all of this.

[DesertRat]

24. Horrible. I am so sorry. n/t

[NMMNG]

25. I'm sorry for your loss

And as others have recommended, get a lawyer and don't let the company get that jar of peanut butter before you get the lawyer's advice.

[aquart]

26. Sending someone to the house?????

Treat that peanut butter like gold and put it in Fort Knox.

[hang a left]

27. And please please please please follow the very sound advise

of the posters in this thread and DO NOT cooperate with the company in any fashion what-so-ever. Seek counsel immediately.

I am so very sorry.

[Stargazer99]

28. This administration is the source of the problem

I'm 66 years old and when I was young you NEVER heard of food poisionings and deaths like you do now. This administration has loosened the safety rules not only for food but for air/water quality that you can expect more deaths and illnesses. When this culture stops worshipping business and money maybe our foods will finally be safe. Also when I was young no food was imported without THE ORGIN being noted on the label. When imported, especially from South America and Third World countries how do you know the food was grown in a safe manner. As far as that goes when corporations who produce food are not watched closely you get unsafe practices that produced the lettuce and spinach poisionings. This administration would just love for the food industry to police itself...Republican/Business/Money...believe it or not some Americans cannot put it together because they are Bush lemmings.

[loudsue]

48. THANK YOU!! You're correct:: Business over safety w/ republicans

Nothing we eat or drink (or breathe) is safe anymore. They've managed to sooo severely understaff the OSHA, EPA, etc., AND bush keeps appointing IDIOTS in the offices that regulate what goes into our food or drugs.

The entire world is unsafe under republicans!!

:kick:

[yankeeinlouisiana]

29. So, sorry for your loss.

I don't have any adivce regarding family services, but I would keep a little bit of that peanut butter before they pick it up. I really wouldn't trust their lab.

Peace and light be with your brother-in-law and I'll pray for your family.

Take care of each other.

edit: typo

[npincus]

30. Yes- don't lose custody of the tainted product!

And she needs to find a lawyer immediately. Contact the Legal Aid Society for your state-- they are non-profit and hopefully can give you direction and assistance.

So terrible- i'm sorry.

[npincus]

32. Link for Tennessee Legal Aid Society:

http://www.tennlegalaid.com/Home/PublicWeb

[Forrest Greene]

34. I Agree About The Lawyer

...also, please remove a couple of heaping tablespoons of the peanut butter & store them as described by the company. They will be useful to your scientists.

My sympathies to your family.

[elehhhhna]

58. No non o don't tamper w it at all. KEEP THE JAR. If it requires testing,

the attorneys will handle that.




SO sorry about your brother in law.

Please google your state and "peanut butter" attorney and find out who's out front on this, then get in touch ASAP. Also get ALL medical/hospital records, etc, immediately. You have a lot on your plate now but your sister and her kids will benefit greatly for your immediate help on this.

[Forrest Greene]

72. You're Right, My Mistake

An even better idea. Turn nothing over to the company.

[MilesColtrane]

35. I'm not sure where your family is, but maybe they can take advantage of...

Angel Food Ministries.

"Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing grocery relief and financial support to communities throughout the United States. The program began in 1994 with 34 families in Monroe, Georgia (between Atlanta and Athens), and has grown to serve hundreds of thousands of families every month across 32 states.

Angel Food's groceries are sold in a quantity that can fit into a medium-sized box at $25 per unit. Each month's menu is different than the previous month and consists of both fresh and frozen items with an average retail value of approximately $50.

Generally, one unit of food assists in feeding a family of four for about one week or a single senior citizen for almost a month. The food is all the same high quality one would purchase at a grocery store. There are no second-hand items, no damaged or out-dated goods, no dented cans without labels, no day-old breads and no produce that is almost too ripe.

Food sales and distribution are handled by church host sites. Orders and payments are collected by the host sites during the first part of each month.

Sample Menu

1 package chicken nuggets
4 8-oz hamburger steaks
4 6-oz pork chops
1.5 lb. thick bacon
1 dozen eggs
2-lb bag of frozen French fries
5 bagels
2-lb bag of onions
4 Delicious Apples
5 Bananas
1 Gourmet Pie"

Click here to see if there is a program near you.

http://www.angelfoodministries.com/hosts.asp

[Jonathan50]

36. How horrible, my condolences to you and your family.

I'm bipolar myself and I would like to point out that bipolar and manic depressive are two terms for the same condition with manic depressive being the older and now little used term.

Your sister sounds as if she could use some medication, do you know if she is already on medication for her bipolar condition?

When I had a really bad time with the bipolarity about three years ago, my doctor put me on Risperdal, which is on label as an antipsychotic but is used off label as a treatment for bipolar disorder also.

Sufficient Risperdal will definitely calm your sister down, but there is a danger of overmedicating and becoming somewhat zombielike. Zombiedom might be a good thing though if your sister remains as distraught as you say she is now.

The rest of the advice here seems sound. Definitely get a lawyer pronto and don't give up any of the peanut butter to anyone until your lawyer tells you to.

[PlanetBev]

37. I can relate to this, Ghost

Two years ago, my brother-in-law died of a blood clot after a routine angioplasty that only involved one artery. He had previously undergone an angioplasty eight years earlier without a hitch. No one could figure out why it happened, except my sister was suspicious of the new drug-eluting stent they tried out on him. When she suggested it might have been the stent, the doctor blew her off.

Turns out, there have been reports on CBS, NBC and ABC about at least 100 deaths caused by blood clots from these particular kind of stents.
We're looking around of a lawyer right now, so we can get my sister in on a class action suit.

It's so tragic when this kind of shit happens. I'm so sorry for your loss, Ghost.

[Ghost in the Machine]

38. I'd like to thank each and every one of you that has responded so far

with such great advice and insight. I've never dealt with anything like this, so wasn't sure where to turn. I'm just trying to help my sister some, and knew I could count on DU'ers for some solid advice.

My mom is talking to a lawyer right now, and we'll take it from there. I'd like to thank you each individually, but to me it seems that I would just be typing the same reply over and over, and I'm not that interested in running up my post count, but I DO Appreciate each and every one of you who has replied.

Thank you so much,

Doug.. aka Ghost

[hang a left]

49. Excellent!

I always check here first for advise.

[vireo]

68. You might want to check this firm out

They have an office in Nashville.
http://www.personalinjurylawyeramerica.com/peanut-butter-salmonella.htm

[Jonathan50]

69. You're welcome..

We understand that you have a lot on your mind right now and you need to be attending to your family rather than posting individual thanks.

Always glad to help. Pay it forward is my motto.

[Individualist]

39. Ghost, I'm so very sorry

about your brother-in-law. I hope your sister finds the help she needs.
:hug:

[Hamlette]

40. wasn't the problem Salmonella? Is that connected to blood clots?

while I think you should look into this, I don't see the connection. Did I miss something?

(Spoken by someone who suffers from blood clots and loves p-nut butter cookies)

[Lone_Star_Dem]

50. If there is a connection I would assume it was due to his illness and subsequent bed rest

Which can cause blood clots, rather than peanut butter as a whole. Of course that's only a guess and time will tell, but for the moment I wouldn't be afraid to eat peanut butter cookies that come from normal, salmonella free, peanut butter.

[Hamlette]

66. I'll be interested to know...let me know if it causes blood clots

I actually only eat peanut butter cookies once a year...and its that time.

blood clots can be very scary.

[lectrobyte]

42. So sorry for your loss.

[smoogatz]

43. He ate a jar and-a-half of peanut butter in two days?

Holy crap. That alone might be enough to kill you, seems to me. But seriously--I think you've got possible lawsuits against both the peanut butter manufacturer and the hospital, for not seeing your BIL in a timely manner, when he was obviously seriously ill. It'll take time, and it may not be easy to find a real bulldog of a personal injury lawyer in your neck of the woods--but that's what you want. A good lawfirm, if they think her case has merit, might even be able to help her out financially pending a settlement. It'd certainly be worth asking.

[hang a left]

46. I love peanut butter my whole family does.

It is a staple in my home. I have easily eaten that much peanut butter in one of my runs before.

[smoogatz]

51. Good Lord.

Better sign yourself up for a preventive angioplasty ASAP. Do you know how much hydrogenated vegetable oil is in that stuff?

[hang a left]

59. I eat the good stuff.

My cholesteral and heart are in perfect condition. 5'2" and 115 lbs. I am a brick house!

[smoogatz]

62. There you go.

Good on you.

[Ghost in the Machine]

63. Yes, he ate that much. He was a vegetarian, and worked out a lot.

He said the peanut butter was a good source of protein, and it filled him up....

We have a lawyer on it now, as of today.

Thanks again for all of the advice and responses and kicks..

Ghost

[Sydnie]

45. Good info at this link - 4 deaths linked to this so far

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/03/peanut_butter_recall15.html

I am sorry for your loss. It is so young to be taken by something so careless on the part of the manufacturers.

My thoughts are with your sister. May she find the strength to go through what she will have to to seek some justice and some help. :hug:

[Carni]

52. We just ate peanuts and all got sick yesterday!

First of all I am SO sorry to hear about your story and my best vibes go to you and your family. What a tragedy!

I want to say secondly that the other day at the market, I picked up some Planters dry roasted peanuts. I have eaten them on like three different occasions and got a very upset stomach each time (I didn't connect it with the peanuts at the time)

Yesterday my husband and daughter and I were all snacking on them and we all felt ill later in the day--my daughter was vomiting last night(she seems fine now, has ceased that activity and seems back to her normal self)

I know the recall was for peanut butter and not peanuts but should I be contacting someone about this planters nuts thing just in case?

I am really wondering if there is something wrong with them--unless it's just a coincidence that all three of us had stomach problems after eating them?

I swear with this regime running amuck and no oversight it makes a person not even want to eat :(

[SoCalDem]

70. You might want to read up on what's been happening to peanuts

Genetically modified peanuts

[RaleighNCDUer]

53. When they pick up the peanut butter be sure to get a signed

receipt.

[redacted]

60. That's bad advice. Don't give up the peanut butter jar

or cooperate with the corporation in ANY way. They'll probably just destroy it. Bag the peanut butter jar in a sealed Ziploc bag, put a "Biohazard" sticker on the outside of the bag, and keep it in a safe place away from anybody.

Make sure you're dealing with competent, experienced legal counsel. Just because they passed the bar exam in your state (on the 10th attempt?) doesn't mean you should necessarily work with them. You should be able to check into their education and background on the Internet. If you can't find detailed information about the quality of their law school, professional society memberships, similar cases litigated, etc., dig further or find somebody else. A good place to start is the Martindale site. A professional or bar association with may also present a fair amount of information on the web about trial lawyers or tort lawyers who are members.

But take it from me as the voice of experience. If you have ANY doubts about your attorney, find somebody else. You don't want your case thrown out because your counsel makes a stupid administrative blunder, like "forgetting" to sign a simple form filed with the court. It happens all the time. Even in big law firms, your case might end up in the hands of a young associate who may not have the kind of experience you need. Be extremely careful and triple-check their background before you sign with them.

[GreenPartyVoter]

54. I am SO sorry! *huge hugs and lots of prayers*

[NashVegas]

56. Get Some Photos of That Jar

Including the batch code.

All the best.

[wicket]

57. kick

:kick:

[windbreeze]

64. do not let them remove that from her possession

without witnesses, without pictures, and without a notarized receipt for the jar...it will disappear and you will have nothing...she most likely has a law suit that will take care of her and the kids imo...don't let it slip from her hands...and contact a lawyer pronto...
wb

[Ilsa]

65. I am so sorry for your sister. What a horrible thing to happen.

My husband's cousin's daughter was getting sick on Peter Pan and the doc thought it was a viral thing, but as soon as she stopped eating it, she got well. The news about it came out the following day.

I hope your sister can find a way to manage her life through this crisis. My condolences to you and all of your family as well.

[Morgana LaFey]

67. Contact United Way for referrals

to various charities that may be of some help. They often serve as a bit like a clearing house for referrals to charities.

And churches. Jewish, Catholic -- and no, you don't have to be a member. There are some very GOOD religious charities out there (St. Vincent de Paul, for example and a number of fine Jewish charities).

I am SO very sorry for your loss, but I'm so glad your sister has you t help a bit. Godspeed.

[in_cog_ni_to]

73. Don't let them have the peanut butter.

And get a LAWYER...IMMEDIATELY....a good attorney. SUE THEIR ASSES. Your sister is going to be a very wealthy woman after this lawsuit.

Try Catholic Charities? Salvation Army? Local churches or synagogue? Is she a member of a church or synagogue? Look in your local phone book under charities. Surely one of Bush's 'faith based' organizations can help?

edited to change title.

[bigwillq]

74. I am very sorry for your family's loss.

:hug:

[jwdeviant]

76. That's horrible, I'm sorry for your loss

Like so many others have said though, DON'T give them the peanut butter.

[LWolf]

77. I'm so sorry about your brother.

I never watch the news, either. I find the format and the presentation to be deliberately manipulating. I get my news from other sources. Mainly headlines, with whole articles read when I need more information.

My thoughts are with your family.

[wicket]

78. kick

:kick: