All News / Case News /

McDonald’s Hepatitis A Outbreak Lawsuits (Quad-Cities, Illinois)

At least 32 people in the Quad-Cities, Illinois, area became ill with hepatitis A infections after eating food purchased from the Milan, Illinois, McDonald’s restaurant in the summer of 2009. Most of the cases were among Rock Island County residents (18), but residents of Henry, Mercer, Warren, and Woodford counties also became ill with hepatitis A infections after eating at the restaurant. At least eleven people were hospitalized due to the severity of their hepatitis A symptoms.

After the hepatitis A outbreak was identified, and McDonald’s was determined to be the source of the outbreak, the Rock Island County Public Health Department held clinics to help prevent the further spread of hepatitis A in the Quad-City area. Individuals who were exposed to the hepatitis A virus after eating food or beverages at the McDonald’s restaurant in Milan, IL from July 6 through 10, 2009, and on July 13 and 14, 2009, received either hepatitis A vaccine or Immune globulin injections to prevent hepatitis A infection.

On July 21, 2009, Marler Clark filed a class action lawsuit against McDonald’s on behalf of all individuals who received hepatitis A vaccine or Immune Globulin as a result of their exposure to food purchased from the Milan, Illinois McDonald’s restaurant that was potentially contaminated with hepatitis A. Individuals eligible to join the class included those who received hepatitis A vaccination or Immune Globulin as a result of (1) their consumption of food that was manufactured and sold by the defendant at its restaurant; or (2) their exposure to, or close proximity with, persons who ate food at the restaurant or who became infected with HAV as a result of consuming contaminated food that was manufactured and sold by at the Mcdonald’s restaurant. The class action suit was recently settled and approved in court.

On July 23, 2009, Marler Clark filed an individual lawsuit on behalf of a 16-year-old boy who ate food purchased from the Milan McDonald’s restaurant in June and subsequently became ill with hepatitis A. The boy was hospitalized for four days. The law firm filed a second individual lawsuit on behalf of a mother and daughter who both became ill with hepatitis A infections on August 13, 2009.

In total, Marler Clark represented 9 people who contracted hepatitis A at the Milan, Illinois McDonald’s restaurant in summer 2009. In addition, Marler Clark represented all individuals who were part of the class action on behalf of people who received vaccination after exposure to the virus. All claims have been resolved.

PRESS RELEASES:

Hepatitis Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against McDonald’s

McDonald’s Patron Infected with Hepatitis A Files Lawsuit

Another Hepatitis Lawsuit Filed Against Illinois McDonald’s

Get Help

Affected by an outbreak or recall?

The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more.

Get a free consultation
Related Resources
Hepatitis A Food Poisoning

An Introduction to Hepatitis A Viral hepatitis is a major global public health problem affecting hundreds of millions of people and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Five biologically...

The Incidence of Hepatitis A Infection

How common is Hepatitis A infection? Hepatitis A incidence varies between regions and is much more common in countries with underdeveloped sanitation systems; thus, contracting hepatitis A is a risk...

Transmission of Hepatitis A

How does Hepatitis A spread? Hepatitis A is a communicable (or contagious) disease that is acquired primarily by the fecal oral route either from person to person or through contaminated...

Symptoms of Hepatitis A Infection

What are the symptoms of Hepatitis A infection? Hepatitis A may cause no symptoms at all when it is contracted, especially in children. Asymptomatic individuals may only know they were...

Complications of Hepatitis A Infection

Fulminant hepatitis A, or acute liver failure, can be a complication of hepatitis A infection. Fulminant hepatitis A is a rare but devastating complication of HAV infection. As many as...

Outbreak Database

Looking for a comprehensive list of outbreaks?

The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more.

View Outbreak Database