All News / Outbreaks /

Bill Marler Offers Assistance in Japan E. coli Outbreak

SEATTLE, WA (USA) – American attorney and food safety advocate William (Bill) Marler is offering assistance to Japanese lawyers of victims of the recent E. coli outbreak that was traced to raw ground beef served to restaurant customers in Japan. Marler’s Seattle based firm, Marler Clark, is the leading law firm dedicated to representing victims of E. coli and other food poisoning outbreaks in the U.S.

Four people died and 90 others became ill with E. coli O111 infections after eating a raw beef dish called yukhoe served at the Yakiniku-zakaya Ebisu chain of barbecue restaurants in Japan last month. According to Asahi Shimbun reports, Yasuhiro Kanzaka, president of Foods Forus Co., which runs the restaurant chain, acknowledged that for the past two years his company had not tested its raw meat for bacteria, as required by Japan’s health ministry.

“Testing and other food safety systems were created for a reason – to keep customers safe,” said Marler. “As someone who has dedicated his life to fighting for safer food, I would like to offer my expertise and assistance to litigators working on behalf of the people who have suffered in this outbreak as well as the victims and their families, who are trying to recover from this devastating illness.”

At least four restaurants owned by Foods Forus Co. appear to be directly linked to the E. coli outbreak. “It is unconscionable when peoples’ lives are forever changed, or even ended, simply because of something they ate,” added Marler. “Restaurants have a duty to the consumer to serve a product that is free of harmful pathogens.”

Marler’s career as a food safety advocate began when he won record settlements for seriously ill children injured during a 1993 E. coli outbreak that sickened over 500 and changed the face of the U.S. food industry. His work in the Jack in the Box E. coli case was recently profiled in the book “Poisoned” by best selling author Jeff Benedict.

Marler has litigated on behalf of thousands of other foodborne illness victims, representing victims in every major E. coli outbreak in the United States in the last two decades. In addition he advocates tirelessly around the globe for a safer food supply. He has spoken at conferences in China, England, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and United Arab Emirates. He has consulted with lawyers in China, England and Wales on E. coli outbreaks. In 2011 his work helped spur the passage of the first major American food safety law in over 60 years.

For more information visit www.marlerclark.com or contact Bill Marler at1-800-884-9840 or email at bmarler@marlerclark.com.

Get Help

Affected by an outbreak or recall?

The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more.

Get a free consultation
Related Resources
E. coli Food Poisoning

What is E. coli and how does it cause food poisoning? Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a highly studied, common species of bacteria that belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae, so...

E. coli O157:H7

E. coli O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen that causes food poisoning. E. coli O157:H7 is the most commonly identified and the most notorious Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) serotype in...

Non-O157 STEC

Non-O157 Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli can also cause food poisoning. E. coli O157:H7 may be the most notorious serotype of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), but there are at least...

Sources of E. coli

Where do E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) come from? The primary reservoirs, or ultimate sources, of E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 STEC in nature are...

Transmission of and Infection with E. coli

While many dairy cattle-associated foodborne disease outbreaks are linked to raw milk and other raw dairy products (e.g., cheeses, butter, ice cream), dairy cattle still represent a source of contamination...

Outbreak Database

Looking for a comprehensive list of outbreaks?

The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more.

View Outbreak Database