SEATTLE, WA (USA) – American attorney and food safety advocate William (Bill) Marler is offering assistance to German lawyers representing victims of the recent E. coli outbreak that has sickened hundreds. 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.
The E. coli O104.140 outbreak has recently been linked to cucumbers imported from Spain and has sickened at least 600 people and killed 5. Additionally 140 have developed acute kidney failure, or Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS).
“It is unconscionable when peoples’ lives are forever changed, or even ended simply because of something they ate,” said Marler. “Companies that produce and distribute food have a duty to the consumer to deliver a product that is free of harmful pathogens."
In addition to those made ill in Germany, victims have emerged in Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Britain. “This appears to be a growing outbreak and something of this magnitude deserves immediate and serious attention,” added 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.”
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.