Personal Injury Law

The Press Enterprise Goes After "Who Done It?"

Ever since the arrest warrants were issued for Daniel Navarro of Pomona, and Luis Sanchez of Chino on multiple charges of animal cruelty at the Chino slaughterhouse, we've said these individuals were perhaps guilty, but probably not the  ultimate decision-makers.

Navarro and Sanchez are the guys seen in the Humane Society video that led to closure of the Hallmark/Westland slaughterhouse and shortly thereafter to the largest beef recall in U.S. history.

They are the guys fired by the Hallmark/Westland owners, and charged by the county prosecuting attorney under California law.  Is anybody looking any higher up the food  chain?

Yes, the Riverside-based Press Enterprise is on the case.  Reporters Ben Goad and Janet Zimmerman today wrote this:

Irene Zamora, who said she worked as a Hallmark quality assurance inspector in 2004, blamed the problems on a manager at the plant. She spoke to a reporter Tuesday at her home in Riverside and was not part of the congressional hearing.

Zamora said the two men charged with animal abuse in the case, pen manager Daniel Ugarte Navarro, 48, and his assistant, Jose Luis Sanchez, 32, were acting on the other manager's orders.

According to Zamora, she was fired after six months because she was zealous about cleaning up the plant, making sure workers had new boots and gloves and were following procedures for cleanliness and safety.

Zamora, 41, said she went to Stan Mendell, the operations manager and brother of owner Steve Mendell, and complained about the manager, but Stan Mendell told her there was nothing he could do.

The plant's owners and top executives only visited the area called the kill floor once or twice a week, she said.

"I feel bad for Stan and the bosses. There's a lot of things Irene Zamora, who said she worked as a Hallmark quality assurance inspector in 2004, blamed the problems on a manager at the plant. She spoke to a reporter Tuesday at her home in Riverside and was not part of the congressional hearing.

Zamora said the two men charged with animal abuse in the case, pen manager Daniel Ugarte Navarro, 48, and his assistant, Jose Luis Sanchez, 32, were acting on the other manager's orders.

According to Zamora, she was fired after six months because she was zealous about cleaning up the plant, making sure workers had new boots and gloves and were following procedures for cleanliness and safety.

Zamora, 41, said she went to Stan Mendell, the operations manager and brother of owner Steve Mendell, and complained about the manager, but Stan Mendell told her there was nothing he could do.

The plant's owners and top executives only visited the area called the kill floor once or twice a week, she said.

"I feel bad for Stan and the bosses. There's a lot of things that man (the manager) did without anybody knowing. If you did not do what he said, you were out the door," said Zamora, who went to work for the city of Riverside's recreation program and also stocked shelves at a Food 4 Less after leaving Hallmark.

The Press-Enterprise is not naming the manager because he has not been formally accused of criminal wrongdoing or charged with any crimes.

that man (the manager) did without anybody knowing. If you did not do what he said, you were out the door," said Zamora, who went to work for the city of Riverside's recreation program and also stocked shelves at a Food 4 Less after leaving Hallmark.

The Press-Enterprise is not naming the manager because he has not been formally accused of criminal wrongdoing or charged with any crimes.

If true, the Westland/Hallmark empire was destroyed by not by the owners, but someone they hired to run their operations.  And, they did not listen to warnings about it.   This isn't all The Press Enterprise has to say.  Check it out here.

Full post as published by Mad Cow Blog on February 27, 2008 (boomark / email).