Penalties for Foodborne Illness: Jury Decisions and Awards in Foodborne Illness Lawsuits

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dc.contributor.authorMahdu, Omchanden
dc.contributor.committeechairGeyer, L. Leonen
dc.contributor.committeememberBoys, Kathryn A.en
dc.contributor.committeememberOllinger, Michaelen
dc.contributor.departmentAgricultural and Applied Economicsen
dc.date.accessioned2015-07-29T08:00:16Zen
dc.date.available2015-07-29T08:00:16Zen
dc.date.issued2015-07-28en
dc.description.abstractThis study examined how case attributes impact plaintiff success and payouts in jury settled foodborne illness (FBI) lawsuits. Given the risk to firms in terms of potentially large payouts, future litigation, and lost reputation, the results may provide economic incentives for food firms and others in the supply chain to produce safer and better quality foods. Legal databases were systematically searched to identify cases of FBI, which were resolved through the U.S. court system. Reviewing the outcomes of 511 FBI jury trials between 1979 and 2014, plaintiffs won 34.8% of cases, and received a median award of $32,264. The Heckman two-step estimation procedure was used to examine the effects of various factors on plaintiff success rates and subsequent amounts awarded. Plaintiff chances of victory increased if lawsuits involved a child, foodborne pathogen was identified and pain and suffering was claimed, and decreased if defendants used of one or more expert witnesses or had 'deep pockets'. Cases involving a child, chronic complications, or defendants with 'deep pockets' resulted in higher awards. Corporate and policy implications of these findings are considered.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:4992en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/54935en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectfoodborne illnessen
dc.subjectfood safetyen
dc.subjectliabilityen
dc.subjectinjuryen
dc.subjectlawsuiten
dc.subjectjuryen
dc.subjectUnited Statesen
dc.titlePenalties for Foodborne Illness: Jury Decisions and Awards in Foodborne Illness Lawsuitsen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineAgricultural and Applied Economicsen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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