Jensen Farms lawsuits close to settlement - lawyers

Lawsuits filed against Colorado-based Listeria-tainted cantaloupe producer Jensen Farms are close to settlement, a lawyer for the company has announced.

Dozens of lawsuits for personal injury and wrongful death have been filed by those sickened and who had a family member die as a result of the outbreak.

According to attorneys representing both Jensen Farms and the victims, deals could be finalised by autumn.

A total of 146 people across 28 states were infected with any of the outbreak-associated strains of Listeria monocytogenes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Of these 30 died, and several more deaths have unofficially been attributed to the contamination.

Earlier this year, Jensen Farms filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing a long list of lawsuits relating to the outbreak.