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http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/21/us/salmonella-peanut-exec-sentenced/index.html



Well, that is pretty much a life sentence, given the perpetrator's age. And I have to say, the surprise for me is a good one that the sentence was so firm. Food safety is a huge issue, and the story leading up to it showed a pretty callous disregard for it.

Which peanut company?

Peanut Corporation of America

That's just nuts


...someone had to.

Seems like they could have slapped some murder charges on that guy.

Indeed, maybe he ducked it because he technically didn't make the nuts or something? I'm not certain.

Relapse wrote:
Seems like they could have slapped some murder charges on that guy.

Maybe, or at the very least manslaughter. Maybe he's old enough that 28 years is basically life, though after the lawyers have a field day with the whole thing I'm sure he'll be leaving prison in max 5 years.

The judge should have been more of a nutbuster.

There aren't many things I'd like the US to emulate from the Chinese system of justice, but I will say that when they found out that the equivalent of their FDA was taking bribes to look the other way as tainted milk entered the market, and they sentenced him to death - well, I'd be lying if I didn't say I read that story with some sense of satisfaction.

9 people died, FFS, and that's a wholly predictable outcome of what he did. It's in fact the most predictable outcome. So I say with some sadness that I agree with Nuggz that he'll probably be out in a few years, or get home detainment, or whatever other mediocre punishment that happens in Rich People Justice.

 motyak wrote:
That's just nuts

Truly, you are the hero this city needs.

Honestly, I posted that before I actually opened the spoiler, then I saw people died and felt like a dick, but figured it was dishonest to remove it.

Is it possible that families/loved ones of the people who died/got sick could follow up with civil stuff and at least get some satisfaction by taking a pound of flesh? Or does this case happen instead of that and now he's squared away law-wise.

I believe you can have both civil and criminal cases brought against you.

 motyak wrote:
Honestly, I posted that before I actually opened the spoiler, then I saw people died and felt like a dick, but figured it was dishonest to remove it.

I feel like it's always better to err on the side of comedy, but I've been told I'm an insensitive jerk so that may not be sage advice.

Relapse wrote:
Seems like they could have slapped some murder charges on that guy.

The more serious the crime, the stricter the burden of proof. It's much harder to prove guilt when someone's actions don't directly harm someone, and since there's no reason to send a 60 year old to prison for life without parole when you can easily get a lesser sentence that does essentially the same thing, you don't risk it by giving his lawyers room to weasel out of the charges.