--- title: "Two people file lawsuits against Chi-Chi’s over hepatitis A outbreak" date: 2005-04-18T09:13:10-07:00 author: Bill Marler canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/two-people-file-lawsuits-against-chichis-over-hepatitis-a-outbreak" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / # Two people file lawsuits against Chi-Chi’s over hepatitis A outbreak 04/16/2005 PITTSBURGH (AP) – Two people have filed lawsuits alleging that they were among the more than 600 people who became ill from hepatitis A-tainted green onions served at a Center Township restaurant in 2003. Martha Funkhouser of Beaver Falls and Reginald Woods of Lake Milton, Ohio, sued bankrupt Louisville, Ky.-based restaurant chain Chi-Chi’s in Allegheny County Court, alleging that they suffered liver damage from hepatitis A after eating at the Beaver Valley Mall restaurant in October 2003. According to the lawsuits, Funkhouser and Woods decided to sue after court-approved mediation hearings didn’t resolve their claims. Chi-Chi’s attorney David Ernst said efforts to resolve the case were made, “but it’s their right to sue.” Ernst said Chi-Chi’s settled more than 550 other claims stemming from the outbreak, and only one federal lawsuit is still pending. The restaurant chain sold its 76 remaining restaurants to Outback Steakhouse Inc. of Tampa, Fla., in September for $42.5 million. ### Other Hepatitis A Lawsuits [La Serranita Concha Negra Frozen Clam Hepatitis A Outbreak Lawsuits](https://marlerclark.com/la-serranita-concha-negra-frozen-clam-hepatitis-a-outbreak-lawsuits) [Washington and California Hepatitis A Outbreak linked to Imported Strawberries](https://marlerclark.com/washington-hepatitis-a-outbreak-linked-to-imported-strawberries) [Hepatitis A outbreak - Strawberries sicken 27 in Canada and United States](https://marlerclark.com/hepatitis-a-outbreak-strawberries-sicken-27-in-canada-and-united-states) [Gino's Ristorante & Pizzeria linked to Hepatitis A Outbreak](https://marlerclark.com/ginos-ristorante-pizzeria-linked-to-hepatitis-a-outbreak) [Famous Anthony's Hepatitis A Outbreak; 52 sick, 36 hospitalized and 4 deaths](https://marlerclark.com/hepatitis-a-outbreak-linked-to-roanoke-famous-anthonys-restaurants) [Los Angelos 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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 ###### [Hepatitis A Food Poisoning](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hepatitis-a/about-hepatitis) 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](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hepatitis-a/how-common-is-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](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hepatitis-a/how-does-hepatitis-a-spread) 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](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hepatitis-a/hepatitis-symptoms-risks) 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](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hepatitis-a/hepatitis-complications) 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 ](https://outbreakdatabase.com)