Woman convicted of food tampering sues Co-op for $8 million

CTV Calgary: Grocery store sued A Calgary woman convicted of food tampering is suing Co-op for defamation. Bill Macfarlane reports.

A Calgary woman who was found guilty of putting pins in food at a Calgary Co-op location is suing the grocery chain for defamation and is seeking $8 million in damages.

In 2012, Tatyana Granada was found guilty of mischief and trespassing in connection to the placing of pins, needles and other objects into bakery and dairy products at the Oakridge Co-op. The offences occurred in 2010.

Granada was sentenced to three years in prison and was released on March 6, 2014 after serving her time. The 47-year-old is currently on parole with the following conditions:

In court documents obtained by CTV Calgary, Granada has launched a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the grocery store. Granada says Co-op is responsible for the shame and loss of family honour her husband incurred which she says eventually led to his suicide.

The plaintiff, who is originally from Latvia, alleges Co-op is responsible for the fact she is unable to secure employment and the grocery chain has caused her emotional distress. Granada says she has no income and is a widow left to raise her two children on her own.

A representative with Co-op say the company has not been served and is not aware of a pending lawsuit involving Tatyana Granada.

The paperwork Granada filed does indicate she is 'ready to discuss an out-of-court settlement with a preliminary compensation for the caused harm. It could be based in a humanitarian principle without a public disclosure.'

Tatyana Granada plans to act as her own legal representation.