Texas Family Sues Over Alleged Listeria Death

A negligence lawsuit filed by the family of an 89-year-old North Texas woman says she died after eating cantaloupe allegedly tainted with listeria.

The lawsuit filed in Dallas against Jensen Farms of Holly, Colo., says Marie Jones died Sept. 23 at a hospital.

The Food and Drug Administration says Jensen Farms voluntarily recalled its whole cantaloupes Sept. 14. Federal health officials say 28 deaths have been linked to the listeria outbreak in a dozen states.

The lawsuit filed last week on behalf of the Dallas County woman’s children, Russell Jones and Terri Blackmon, also names Frontera Produce Ltd. of Edinburg. A Frontera spokesman declined comment on the lawsuit.

A message left Tuesday with Jensen Farms by The Associated Press was not immediately returned.