Campylobacteriosis Legal Recourse
Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLLC
In 2009, more than 10 people in Minnesota became sick with violent diarrhea and fever after dining at a Chipotle Mexican Grill in Apple Valley. Nine persons were subsequently diagnosed with campylobacteriosis ─ a food-borne illness caused by the Campylobacter jejuni bacteria. Campylobacter, which can be transmitted through contaminated food, tainted water and close contact with infected pets, sickens about 2.4 million people in the United States every year.
In many cases, negligent food manufacturers, handlers and servers are responsible for infecting unsuspecting consumers due to inadequate sanitation and safety control measures. If it can be proven that the affected individuals suffered serious injury as a result of contracting campylobacteriosis, the responsible parties might be compelled to provide compensation.
Chipotle Campylobacteriosis Outbreak
One of the largest recent campylobacteriosis outbreaks occurred in 2009 in Minnesota. In the month of February, more than 10 people developed campylobacteriosis symptoms, including severe diarrhea, abdominal cramps, high fever and vomiting. The initial investigation revealed that all of the campylobacteriosis victims had eaten at an Apple Valley Chipotle Mexican Grill within a week of becoming ill. The Minnesota Department of Health subsequently conducted an environmental health inspection at the Chipotle restaurant, discovering that the eatery occasionally served undercooked chicken. Since infected poultry is the main campylobacter transmission mechanism, it is likely that the improperly prepared chicken dishes caused the Chipotle campylobacteriosis outbreak. If the plaintiffs of Chipotle lawsuits can prove that they suffered financial, physical and/or psychological damages due to campylobacteriosis, they might be entitled to sizeable compensation.
Salt Creek Grille Campylobacteriosis Lawsuit
In 2006, a young woman in Orange County, California, became sick with violent diarrhea, vomiting and fever within days after eating at the Salt Creek Grille restaurant. As her condition rapidly deteriorated, the 21-year-old developed Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare form of nerve damage causing muscle paralysis. Within weeks after the ill-fated meal, she was paralyzed and confined to a hospital bed. After lengthy treatments, her condition improved; however, she was left with 40 percent muscle paralysis. In order to hold the Salt Creek Grille responsible for her immense physical and emotional suffering, the woman filed a personal injury lawsuit against the restaurant. Her claim was subsequently settled for $3.2 million.
Kinkin Corner Dairy Campylobacteriosis Outbreak
In addition to undercooked poultry and meat, another major source of campylobacter infection is raw milk. One of the latest raw-milk-related campylobacteriosis outbreaks occurred in April 2009, as 11 people became sick after drinking raw milk supplied by the Kinkin Corner Dairy in western Colorado. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment promptly shut down the dairy to fully investigate the Kinkin campylobacteriosis outbreak. According to the initial report, the most likely culprit of the epidemic was a campylobacter-infected cow that passed the bacteria into the milk. Since the dairy did not pasteurize the milk, campylobacter was easily transmitted to the dairy's customers.
Campylobacteriosis Legal Help
The lawyers of Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz have many years' experience helping victims of food poisoning hold those responsible for their suffering financially liable. If you suspect that your campylobacteriosis or the illness of a loved one was caused by a campylobacter-infected product, contact the offices of AWKO Law today at (888) 255-2956. The attorneys of AWKO Law will carefully review your case to determine if filing a personal injury lawsuit might be beneficial. In addition to negotiating and litigating campylobacter food poisoning cases, they can help you resolve legal issues arising from cholera, salmonella, botulism and E. coli food poisoning.
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Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz
803 North Palafox St.
Pensacola, Florida 32501
55 Baybridge Dr.
Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561
