Aunt Mid's Lettuce E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits - Michigan, Illinois, and Ontario (2008)
At least 45 E. coli O157:H7 cases with an indistinguishable genetic fingerprint were identified in Michigan, Illinois, and Ontario, Canada in September of 2008. The outbreak was first identified among Michigan State University students, and later grew to include students at the University of Michigan and inmates at the Lenawee County Jail before residents of Illinois and Ontario, Canada were determined to be suffering from the same strain of E. coli.
The E. coli outbreak was ultimately determined to have been caused by the consumption of iceberg lettuce distributed in industrial-sized bags by Aunt Mid's Produce Company of Detroit, Michigan. Further trace-back revealed that the lettuce was grown in California.
On October 3, Marler Clark called for Aunt Mid's produce to disclose their supplier to ensure supply chain safety. The law firm filed the first lawsuit stemming from the E. coli outbreak on behalf of a Michigan State University student on October 9, and the second lawsuit against Aunt Mid's on behalf of a University of Michigan senior who was sickened by the contaminated lettuce on October 20, 2008.
The firm has resolved all E. coli claims associated with the E. coli outbreak.
Additional Case News
- Aunt Mid's faces second lawsuit in E. coli outbreak
- E. coli in Michigan lettuce traced to California
- MSU student sues Detroit produce supplier following E. coli illness
- Aunt Mid’s to resume processing after outbreak
- Lettuce tied to latest E. coli cases
- E. coli strain at MSU linked to 8 cases around state
- Officials focus on delivered food as cause of E.coli outbreak at MSU
- MSU E. coli strain revealed