Parents Of Kids Who Drank Contaminated Milk In Camden File Lawsuit

CAMDEN, NJ —Some of the parents whose children were sent to the hospital after drinking contaminated milk last month at several Camden City Schools have filed suit against the company that processed the milk, the parents’ attorney told Patch.

"We want to make sure that number one, children and families are protected," Samuel D. Jackson, the parents’ attorney, continued. "Number two is so that huge corporations and other companies that provide food to people ensure that their food is safe and that they don't provide any food that is contaminated with chemicals."

"No parent should ever have to get a call from their school, saying that their child has consumed some contaminated substance when the food and drink offered by the school is supposed to be safe," Jackson said. "It must have been a shocking experience for the parents and for the children themselves, to have to feel that sense of betrayal."

The lawsuit blames Guida-Seibert Dairy Company after sanitizer-contaminated milk was served to preschool-aged children on March 30. Earlier reports had referred to the company that processed the milk as Guida’s Dairy.

The incident sent a staff member and more than 40 people from four Camden City schools to several Camden County hospitals, Camden County said at the time. All of the children were released from the hospital that same day, Camden County also said.

Three parents are currently involved in the lawsuit against Guida-Seibert Dairy Company, Jackson said. That number may increase in the future, he said, noting that the exact amount of monetary damages being sought in the lawsuit is not known at this time.

"It's very early in the lawsuit, but we are seeking to make the parents and the children whole for the damages that they suffered," he said, adding that one parent told him she lost her job to stay home to take care of her child who was sickened by the contaminated milk.

"If punitive damages or other or consequential damages are appropriate, we'll be seeking those as well," Jackson said.

Guida-Seibert Dairy Company/Guida's Dairy did not return multiple requests from Patch seeking comment.

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