On August 13, a lawsuit was filed by Marler Clark, the Food Safety Law Firm and Heisman, Nunes and Hull against Brix on the Beach, LLC, d/b/a Brixx & Barley in Nassau County Supreme Court on behalf of a bride who became violently ill during her wedding after eating at Brixx & Barley days earlier. Marler Clark represents 16 people in this outbreak.
On August 9, 2019, the Nassau County Department of Health (“DOH”) closed Brixx & Barley, located at 152, West Park Ave., Long Beach, New York, as it investigates multiple cases of Salmonella. According to the DOH, Brixx & Barley “will not be allowed to reopen until the source of the Salmonella is identified,” DOH spokeswoman Mary Ellen Laurain said Friday night. “That could take some time.”
A dozen cases of culture confirmed Salmonella had been determined among people who ate food and drank beverages at Brixx & Barley, potential exposures dated back to early July.
On July 13, 2019, the bride, purchased and consumed food and drink at Brixx & Barley. Her symptoms began in the days leading up to her wedding, with severe back pain, diarrhea and vomiting. On the day of her wedding, July 20, 2019, she experienced additional symptoms. With a high fever and reoccurring bouts of diarrhea, she missed family photos but was able to complete her vows.
At 12:15 a.m. the bride was rushed to the hospital where her Salmonella was confirmed, and she received treatment for the Salmonella infection and related injuries. Needless to say, the honeymoon was postponed.
“I have three daughters, I cannot imagine that this would happen on what should have been a day to remember for far other reasons than a Salmonella infection,” said William Marler, managing partner at Marler Clark. “We need to get to the bottom of why the Salmonella outbreak happened and to make sure something like this never happens again,” added Marler.
Salmonella is typically transmitted during warmer months and is usually food borne. Most people who contract Salmonella will experience mild symptoms of gastrointestinal illness such as cramping and diarrhea, and symptoms usually start 12-72 hours after exposure. The majority of cases resolve on their own, without treatment, typically within 4-7 days. In some people, the symptoms can be more severe, requiring hospitalization. This is more likely to occur in infants, the elderly, and those immune suppressed.
Salmonella also can be spread from animal waste, and also from people to people. NCDOH recommends washing hands after contact with animals, washing hands often during preparation of food, and also washing your hands after using the toilet, changing diapers, or helping someone with diarrhea clean up after using the toilet.
If you have a Salmonella infection, or symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, you should not prepare food or drinks for others until you no longer have diarrhea. Food handlers should avoid preparing food until their stool is clear of salmonella, which would be confirmed by the Department of Health.
Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of Salmonella outbreaks. The Salmonella lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of Salmonella and other foodborne illness outbreaks and have recovered over $650 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation. Our Salmonella lawyers have litigated Salmonella cases stemming from outbreaks traced to a variety of foods, such as cantaloupe, tomatoes, ground turkey, salami, sprouts, cereal, peanut butter, and food served in restaurants. The law firm has brought Salmonella lawsuits against such companies as Cargill, ConAgra, Peanut Corporation of America, Sheetz, Taco Bell, Subway and Wal-Mart.
If you or a family member became ill with a Salmonella infection, including Reactive Arthritis or Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark Salmonella attorneys for a free case evaluation.