--- title: Sizzler E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits date: 2007-10-04T00:00:55-07:00 author: Bill Marler canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/sizzler-e-coli-outbreak-litigation" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / [Case News](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news) / # Sizzler E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits The City of Milwaukee Health Department was contacted by Children’s Hospital on July 24, 2000 regarding a cluster of *E. coli* O157:H7 cases. Eventually, sixty-four confirmed cases were discovered – 62 linked to the Layton, Wisconsin, Sizzler and two linked to the Mayfair, Wisconsin, Sizzler. Dozens of these individuals were hospitalized; four developed HUS and one died. In addition to the confirmed cases, the State noted that there were reports of 551 probable cases, and another 122 possible cases. Sixty-two of the laboratory-confirmed cases were found to be genetically indistinguishable – proving that all of the cases had a common source. An identical strain of *E. coli* O157:H7 was isolated from samples of raw chunky taco meat and sirloin tri-tips found at the Layton restaurant. This meat was manufactured by the Excel Corporation, and then remanufactured at the local Sizzler franchisee according to procedures defined by Sizzler USA. The Wisconsin State Department of Health determined the outbreak’s source to be fresh watermelon that had been cross-contaminated with raw meat products. Sirloin tri-tips were the source of the *E. coli* bacteria, and the Department of Health concluded that employees at Sizzler restaurants may have contributed to the outbreak. Marler Clark represented seventeen individuals in lawsuits against Sizzler USA, and Excel Corp., who supplied the contaminated tri-tips to Sizzler. The last of the cases were resolved in March, 2006. > PRESS RELEASES:[Food-borne illness attorney offers Milwaukee his "Top Ten Tips" for dining out during an *E. coli* outbreak](http://www.marlerclark.com/news/firm16.htm "Food-borne illness attorney offers Milwaukee his") > > [Local law firm teams with nationally known foodsafety advocates to investigate Sizzler *E. coli* outbreak](http://www.marlerclark.com/news/firm17.htm "Local law firm teams with nationally known foodsafety advocates to investigate Sizzler E. coli outbreak") > > [Lawsuit Filed Against Sizzler on Behalf of Injured Milwaukee Man](http://www.marlerclark.com/news/sizzler1.htm "Lawsuit Filed Against Sizzler on Behalf of Injured Milwaukee Man") > > [A Second Lawsuit Filed Against Sizzler by Local Law firm](http://www.marlerclark.com/news/sizzler18.htm "A Second Lawsuit Filed Against Sizzler by Local Law firm") > > [Lawsuit Seeks Damages for Daughter Infected with the Deadly *E. coli* Bacteria While Caring for Sick Mother](http://www.marlerclark.com/news/sizzler19.htm "Lawsuit Seeks Damages for Daughter Infected with the Deadly E. coli Bacteria While Caring for Sick Mother") > > [Same Meat Supplier Reportedly Implicated in 1993 and 2000 Sizzler Outbreaks](http://www.marlerclark.com/news/sizzler20.htm "Same Meat Supplier Reportedly Implicated in 1993 and 2000 Sizzler Outbreaks") > > [Another *E. coli* Lawsuit Filed Against Sizzler](http://www.marlerclark.com/news/sizzler21.htm "Another E. coli Lawsuit Filed Against Sizzler") > > [Fifteenth *E. coli* Lawsuit Filed Against Sizzler](http://www.marlerclark.com/news/sizzler22.htm "Fifteenth E. coli Lawsuit Filed Against Sizzler") > > [Sizzler *E. coli* Lawsuits Settled](http://www.marlerclark.com/news/sizzler23.htm "Sizzler E. coli Lawsuits Settled") > > [Twenty *E. coli* Lawsuits Settled](http://www.marlerclark.com/news/sizzler24.htm "Twenty E. coli Lawsuits Settled") > > [Court of Appeals decision ensures that the doors of the courthouse will remain open for Wisconsin citizens injured by adulterated meat](http://www.marlerclark.com/news/sizzler8.htm "Court of Appeals decision ensures that the doors of the courthouse will remain open for Wisconsin citizens injured by adulterated meat") > > [More *E. coli* lawsuits brought against Excel in Sizzler case](http://www.marlerclark.com/news/sizzler25.htm "More E. coli lawsuits brought against Excel in Sizzler case") > > [Supreme Court Ruling Upholds Court of Appeals allowing Wisconsin citizens to sue when injured by adulterated meat](http://www.marlerclark.com/news/sizzler13.htm "Supreme Court Ruling Upholds Court of Appeals allowing Wisconsin citizens to sue when injured by adulterated meat") > > [*E. coli* lawsuits re-filed against Excel in Sizzler case](http://www.marlerclark.com/news/sizzler26.htm "E. coli lawsuits re-filed against Excel in Sizzler case") You can read more about the [Sizzler *E. coli* outbreak](http://www.about-ecoli.com/news/sizzler.htm "Sizzler E. coli outbreak") on the Marler Clark-sponsored site about *E. coli*. ### Other E. coli Lawsuits [Raw Farms linked to another Raw Milk Cheese E.coli Outbreak - 9 People sickened - Company refuses to recall product](https://marlerclark.com/raw-farms-linked-to-another-raw-milk-cheese-e-coli-outbreak-7-people-sickened) [10 with E. coli linked to Cheese](https://marlerclark.com/3-with-e-coli-linked-to-cheese) [Sycamore Pool in Chico California Contaminated with E.coli - Two teens in ICU](https://marlerclark.com/sycamore-pool-in-chico-california-contaminated-with-e-coli-two-teens-in-icu) [Deadly Nationwide E.coli Outbreak Linked to Grimmway Farms Organic Baby and Whole Carrots sickens 48](https://marlerclark.com/nationwide-e-coli-outbreak-linked-to-grimmway-farms-organic-baby-and-whole-carrots) [E. coli Outbreak tied to Red Cow and Hen House Restaurants](https://marlerclark.com/e-coli-outbreak-tied-to-red-cow-and-hen-house-restaurants) [Rockwood Summit High School E. coli 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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 ](https://marlerclark.com/contact) ##### Related Resources ###### [E. coli Food Poisoning](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-food-poisoning) What is E. coli and how does it cause food poisoning? Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a highly studied, common species of bacteria that belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae, so... ###### [E. coli O157:H7](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-o157h7) E. coli O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen that causes food poisoning. E. coli O157:H7 is the most commonly identified and the most notorious Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) serotype in... ###### [Non-O157 STEC](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/non-o157-stec) Non-O157 Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli can also cause food poisoning. E. coli O157:H7 may be the most notorious serotype of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), but there are at least... ###### [Sources of E. coli](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/sources-of-e-coli) Where do E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) come from? The primary reservoirs, or ultimate sources, of E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 STEC in nature are... ###### [Transmission of and Infection with E. coli](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/transmission-of-and-infection-with-e-coli) While many dairy cattle-associated foodborne disease outbreaks are linked to raw milk and other raw dairy products (e.g., cheeses, butter, ice cream), dairy cattle still represent a source of contamination... ##### 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. 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