PREPARATIONS CONTINUE FOR THE TRIAL OF FORMER BLUE BELL PRESIDENT
Preparations continue for the upcoming trial of retired former Blue Bell Creameries President Paul Kruse.
Jury selection and the trial are scheduled to begin on August 1 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Judge Robert Pitman is presiding over the case.
Kruse was indicted in October 2020 for Federal Felony Fraud and Conspiracy charges in relation to 2015 listeria outbreak that led to the deaths of three people, and made ten others very sick.
Blue Bell pled guilty to two counts of distributing adulterated food products in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
They paid $19.35 million in fines, forfeitures, and civil settlement payments. That total was the second largest amount ever paid for the resolution of a food safety matter.
Judge Pitman gave the prosecution and defense a series of orders to get ready for the trial.
Any motions related to the potential exclusion of expert testimony were due by May 26, and the responses had to be turned in yesterday (Monday).
The Department of Justice had until June 2 to file witness and exhibit lists, provide the defense with so-called impeachment evidence, and a notice of evidence that it intends to pursue. Kruse’s defense team has until this Thursday to object.
The Defense has to turn in their list of witnesses and exhibits by this Friday.
Jury instructions are also going to be filed on Friday with the defense having until July 1st to object, and the DOJ has until July 18th to respond if there are any objections.
All pre-trial motions for the case are due next Wednesday, June 22.