In 2008 several hundred people became ill and a number of them died as the result of an outbreak of the listeria bacteria. The illnesses were traced to the consumption of deli meats that were produced from a single processing plant operated by MegaMeats Inc.
Those most affected by the bacteria were the elderly, the very young, and those who were already ill. Is this an appropriate situation for a class action lawsuit? What do the victims have in common? How are their claims different? What process must be followed? How should MegaMeats deal with these claims?