--- title: Sodexho E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits date: 2007-10-04T00:23:35-07:00 author: Bill Marler canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/sodexho-e-coli-outbreak-litigation" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / [Case News](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news) / # Sodexho E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits At the Sequoias retirement facility in Portola Valley, San Mateo County, California, employees are not involved in food service and kitchen management. Instead, The Sequoias contracts with Sodexho, an outside vendor, to perform those functions. Sodexho employees prepare and serve meals to Sequoias residents.On Monday, October 13, 2003, the San Matero County Health Services Agency (SMCHSA) commenced an investigation based on information that a resident of the Sequoias in Portola Valley had cultured positive for *E. coli* O157:H7. The resident had become symptomatic on October 9, and had been hospitalized at Stanford Hospital the next day. Several more Sequoias residents reported symptoms consistent with *E. coli* O157:H7 over the next few days. Sixteen confirmed and probable cases of *E. coli* were identified. Of these, thirteen were culture-confirmed. All had onset between October 9 and 17, with 75 percent experiencing onset by October 12, and all cases were residents of “independent living” and “skilled nursing.” Analysis done of the sixteen “case” food histories identified only one food item that was associated with illness: raw spinach. The contaminated spinach was served between October 3 and 5; it had been prewashed and pre-packaged, but not washed again by Sodexho staff in the kitchen prior to serving. Marler Clark represented the family of Alice McWalter, who died after suffering from *E. coli* infection and Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) as a result of *E. coli* infection, and Sarah Ish, a woman who became ill with *E. coli* infection after eating the contaminated spinach, in *E. coli* litigation. The firm successfully resolved the cases after filing two lawsuits. > PRESS RELEASES:[*E. coli* outbreak at nursing home puts seniors at severe risk](http://www.marlerclark.com/news/sequoias1.htm "E. coli outbreak at nursing home puts seniors at severe risk") > > [Lawsuit filed against food supplier by family of Sequoias resident who died from *E. coli* infection](http://www.marlerclark.com/news/sequoias6.htm "Lawsuit filed against food supplier by family of Sequoias resident who died from E. coli infection") > > [Second lawsuit filed against Sodexho in connection with Sequoias Retirement Village *E. coli* Outbreak](http://www.marlerclark.com/news/sequoias9.htm "Second lawsuit filed against Sodexho in connection with Sequoias Retirement Village E. coli Outbreak") More about the [Sequoias/Sodexho *E. coli* outbreak](http://www.about-ecoli.com/news/sequoias.htm "Sequoias/Sodexho E. coli outbreak") can be found on the Marler Clark-sponsored site about *E. coli*. ### Other E. coli Lawsuits 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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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