MADISON, WI – An E. coli lawsuit was filed today against Rochester Meat Company in Wisconsin Federal District Court. The lawsuit, which stems from an E. coli outbreak traced to Rochester Meat Company’s ground beef products in late 2007 and early 2008, was filed on behalf of Fitchburg, Wisconsin, residents Karen and James Evans and their two children. The family is represented by Marler Clark, the Seattle law firm nationally recognized for its efforts on behalf of victims of foodborne illness.
The lawsuit states that all four members of the Evans family became ill with symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 infection after consuming hamburgers purchased from a Fitchburg Tony Roma’s restaurant last December. Three of four family members required medical treatment, and Mrs. Evans had to be hospitalized from December 22 through December 31, 2007. Stool samples tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, and state health authorities subsequently determined that the positive samples matched the strain of E. coli O157:H7 linked to the Rochester Meat outbreak. On January 12, 2008, the company recalled 188,000 pounds of ground beef.
“This is just one of several recent ground beef outbreaks to hit the country,” said attorney R. Drew Falkenstein of Marler Clark, who represents the Evans family. “It seems that the meat industry has taken two steps backwards of late, and too many lives are being torn apart as a result. The industry better take note.”
BACKGROUND: Marler Clark has represented thousands of victims of foodborne illness outbreaks since 1993. The firm’s attorneys have litigated high-profile food poisoning cases against such companies as ConAgra, Wendy’s, Chili’s, Chi-Chi’s, and Jack in the Box. Marler Clark currently represents thousands of victims of outbreaks traced to ground beef, pot pies, spinach, and peanut butter, as well as other foods. Visit www.MarlerClark.com for more information.