In April of 1998, a child attending Danielsville Elementary School in Madison County, Georgia, became ill with an E. coli O157:H7 infection and hemolytic uremic syndrome after eating an E. coli-contaminated hamburger for school lunch. A type-one diabetic, the child suffered a particularly severe E. coli infection, and permanent kidney damage.
An epidemiologic investigation into the child’s illness led to the conclusion that ground beef supplied to the school by Bauer Meat Company of Ocala Florida, was the source of his E. coli infection. Federal officials closed down Bauer Meats and announced the recall of 38,000 pounds of ground beef that had been distributed to schools, military bases and other institutions in Georgia and North Carolina.
Marler Clark represented the child and his family in a claim against Bauer Meat Company.