An identical strain of E. coli O157:H7 was isolated from victims' stool and from samples of raw chunky taco meat and sirloin tri-tips found at one Sizzler restaurant.
The Wisconsin Department of Health concluded that the outbreak was caused when employees cross-contaminated fresh watermelon with raw meat products, “and the raw sirloin tri-tip were the source of the E. coli O157:H7 organism in this outbreak.”
Marler Clark represented 18 clients in claims against Sizzler and Excel. The firm resolved the Sizzler E. coli outbreak cases in 2005, after several years of complex litigation and appeals.