Melanie Dunstan became the third California resident to file a lawsuit against Glass Onion Catering this week.  The lawsuit alleges that the plaintiff fell ill with an E. coli O157:H7 infection after eating a salad made by Glass Onion Catering and sold by Trader Joe’s in early November of 2013.  Ms. Dunstan is represented by Seattle-based Marler Clark and San Diego-based Gordon & Holmes.  This is the third lawsuit filed against Glass Onion Catering by the two firms.

In a complaint filed in Santa Cruz County Superior Court (Case No. CV178260), Ms. Dunstan alleges that she purchased and consumed a Glass Onion catering salad from a Trader Joe’s retail outlet on November 4, 2013.  Court documents state that she fell ill with symptoms of E. coli infection, including bloody diarrhea, on November 7 and sought medical treatment on November 11.  The plaintiff alleges that she later learned she had tested positive for E. coli and that she continues to suffer from the symptoms of her E. coli infection.

“Through this case, we intend to show that the salad my client purchased was contaminated with a harmful pathogen,” said attorney Bill Marler, managing partner of Marler Clark.

Glass Onion Catering voluntarily recalled numerous ready-to-eat salads and sandwich wrap products for potential E. coli contamination [1] after public health officials had identified the products as the source of an E. coli outbreak among residents of several states, including California.[2]

“E. coli infections are not pretty,” Marler continued.  “Most people who have had one say they wouldn’t wish one on their worst enemy.”

1. See, “California Firm Recalls Grilled Chicken Salad Products Due To Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination.”  United States Department of Agriculture.  November 10, 2013.
And “Atherstone Foods Voluntarily Recalls Salads and Wraps Because of Possible Health Risk.”  U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  November 9, 2013.

2. See, “Multistate Outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Ready-to-Eat Salads”.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  November 21, 2013.