Judge Ok’s Schwan’s Settlement

A settlement that will give people who were sickened after eating tainted Schwan’s ice cream payments of up to $75,000 has been given final approval by a judge.

Thousands of people in at least 28 states became ill last fall after eating ice cream contaminated with the salmonella bacteria. The source was traced to tanker trucks that hauled ice cream mix to the Schwan’s plant. Investigators found that the trucks earlier had carried raw eggs.

Under the plan approved by Hennepin County District Judge Andrew Danielson on Monday, those who say they developed food poisoning because of the tainted ice cream will receive payments ranging from $80 to $75,000. The payments depend on the severity of a victim’s illness.

As of Aug. 1, more than 13,000 claims had been filed against Marshall-based Schwan’s Sales Enterprises as part of the class-action suit, said Mark Reinhardt, an attorney for the plaintiffs. He said he expected the number to increase to 20,000 by the Sept. 15 deadline to file claims.

In February, a Spokane family filed its own lawsuit saying their 14-year-old daughter, Courtney Burrill, became so ill she ended up having a kidney transplant.