Robert Peirce & Associates, P.C. has filed a lawsuit on behalf of an Allegheny County man who was among the victims who suffered severe symptoms after eating romaine lettuce contaminated by a particular strain of E. coli bacteria. The lawsuit was filed in Federal Court in Pittsburgh on May 1st against Freshway Foods Inc. of Sidney, Ohio.
As stated in the lawsuit, our client, a resident of Bethel Park, was served contaminated romaine in a salad at a Peters Township restaurant in March. The romaine lettuce used in the salad was distributed by the defendant Freshway Foods Inc., and came from Yuma, Arizona.
Several days after eating the salad, our client began feeling ill, and experienced a fever, chills, painful abdominal cramps, and diarrhea which contained blood. He was admitted to a local hospital on March 29, tested positive for E. coli, was released on April 2, and is continuing to recover. Our attorneys, along with co-counsel, are seeking more than $75,000 in damages.
Romaine Lettuce Contaminated with E. Coli Affects Victims Throughout U.S.
Our firm’s lawsuit, which has been reported on by several media outlets, stems from a multi-state outbreak involving contaminated romaine lettuce. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been over 120 confirmed illnesses in 25 states related to the contaminated romaine, including at least 20 victims in Pennsylvania and one reported death in California.
Of the victims who experienced illness after consuming the tainted lettuce between March 13th and April 20th, nearly 50 were hospitalized, and 10 experienced hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition involving kidney failure. Most victim reported eating romaine in salads served at restaurants.
As a personal injury law firm that fights for victims who have suffered harm through no fault of their own, Robert Peirce & Associates, P.C. is intent on protecting the rights of our client and any other local victims and families who have suffered preventable illnesses and damages as a result of eating potentially contaminated romaine lettuce. Distributors, including the distributor named in our lawsuit, have legal obligations to ensure the foods they make available to the public are safe for consumption, and they can be held liable when they fail to do so.
If you have questions about a potential case involving food poisoning or E. Coli contaminated romaine lettuce, contact our firm for a free consultation.