Listeriosis class action certified

An agreement between lawyers representing listeriosis survivors and the next kin of about 200 fatalities to combine the cases against Tiger Brands into one class-action suit was certified by the Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg) today (Monday), notes Business Day. Tiger Brands faces about 1 060 cases so far, and this may increase as it has agreed to share the costs of advertising the class-action suit and operating a toll-free number for people who want to join. The food producer said it is limiting its contribution to attracting more claimants to R1m. ‘Such contribution is made as a gesture of goodwill and without any admission of liability,’ Tiger Brands said. In August, two law firms representing listeriosis claimants, Richard Spoor and LHL Attorneys, agreed to combine their cases into a class-action suit, a move which required High Court certification.