In “Product Distributor Liability: Some Different Scenarios,” an article for ID Access, I address liability for product distributors by using examples to illustrate product distributor liability in practical scenarios such as in the case of when a distributor transports E. coli-contaminated lettuce or ground beef from a producer to a retailer. Central to this writing is the concept of a pass-through statute: What pass-through statutes do–when they work as intended–is help the plaintiff to find out the identity of the manufacturer in situations where that information might otherwise be hard to learn. The statute also protects non-manufacturing defendants avoid the cost and disruption of litigation, or at least most of it.
Denis Stearns, is of-counsel at Marler Clark, earned a BA in philosophy from Seattle University, and his law degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He graduated from both schools with high honors, and won numerous awards for service and
A poultry company in England has disclosed how a Salmonella contamination incident will likely cost it £2.1 million ($2.8 million).
Between March 23 and April 10 this year,
Almost half of companies think food safety and health are among their biggest risks, according to a recent survey.
A total of 45 percent named these topics as their main
Danone has confirmed earlier estimates on the cost of its infant formula recall.
In January 2026, Danone announced a recall of some infant formula batches. Most of them were sold
OPINION
In an article that will soon be published in the Seattle Law Review, I take a look at food safety through the lens of the “pink slime” controversy and
“Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?”
— from Robert Browning’s “Andrea del Sarto”
Part 2: Does case law support FDA’
