Daniel Mercado has filed a lawsuit against multiple defendants for negligence and strict liability after suffering injuries from consuming defective lunch meat. The complaint was lodged in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, on February 3, 2025. The defendants named in the suit are Carl Buddig and Company, KRRT Partnership, and ALDI (Florida) L.L.C.
The case revolves around an incident that occurred on October 5, 2023, when Daniel Mercado consumed a sandwich made with lunch meat purchased from an ALDI store located at 1551 34th Street North, St. Petersburg, Florida. As he bit into the sandwich, Mercado felt a crack in his mouth and discovered a bone in the lunch meat. This unexpected encounter resulted in serious and permanent injuries to Mercado.
Mercado's lawsuit accuses Carl Buddig and Company and KRRT Partnership of negligence for their role in preparing and packaging the lunch meat. According to the complaint, these companies failed to exercise reasonable care by not properly manufacturing, inspecting, or warning consumers about potential defects in their product. The plaintiff argues that this oversight led to him sustaining severe injuries while using the product as intended.
In addition to negligence claims against Carl Buddig and Company and KRRT Partnership, Mercado also seeks damages under strict liability principles. He asserts that the lunch meat was sold in a defective condition that posed unreasonable dangers to consumers like himself. The lawsuit highlights that these defects existed when the product left the manufacturers' control.
ALDI (Florida) L.L.C., as a distributor of the lunch meat, is also facing allegations of negligence and strict liability. Mercado contends that ALDI breached its duty of care by failing to adequately inspect or warn about potential defects before selling the product. As a result of these alleged failures by all defendants involved, Mercado claims he has endured significant physical pain, mental anguish, loss of earnings capacity, and substantial medical expenses.
Mercado is seeking judgment against all defendants for compensatory damages exceeding $50,000 along with costs associated with pursuing legal action. He demands a jury trial on all issues presented within his complaint.
Representing Daniel Mercado are attorneys Tony Griffith Esq., Ryan Bresler Esq., and Justin Peterson Esq., from Tanney Griffith & Bresler P.A., based in Clearwater, Florida. The case is being presided over by Judge Ken Burke under Case Number: 25-000503-CI.