The second lawsuit stemming from an E. coli outbreak in Rhode Island and Massachusetts was filed today in the Trial Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Superior Court, against Crocetti-Oakdale Packing, doing business as South Shore Meats, Inc., which recalled 1,039 pounds of E. coli-tainted beef linked to illnesses. Hamburger meat from the company was served at a camp in Massachusetts where more than 30 campers and adults were sickened.
The E. coli lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Santos family of Lincoln, Rhode Island, whose daughter was infected with the pathogenic E. coli strain O157:H7 while attending Camp Bournedale near Plymouth, MA. The family is represented by Marler Clark, a Seattle law firm dedicated to representing victims of foodborne illness, and by Steven Sabra of the Somerset, MA firm Sabra & Aspden.
The 11-year-old middle-schooler attended camp from October 13 through October 16. She fell ill on October 18 with severe symptoms, and was hospitalized for four days beginning October 19. She is still recovering from her illness.
A separate recall of almost 546,000 pounds of E. coli tainted meat by NY-based Fairbank Farms is tied to 25 illnesses in ten states, most of them in New England.
“The proximity of these two outbreaks—both in time and location—speaks to the unacceptable prevalence of E. coli in the American meat supply,” said Bill Marler, whose firm represents victims of both outbreaks. “The trend is definitely in the wrong direction, and families like this one are paying the price.”