As a result of eating food at a picnic at Neff’s Lawn Care in Germantown, at least 68 individuals have become ill. Of those, 14 have been hospitalized. Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County is continuing an investigation into the cause of the foodborne outbreak. Estimates are that as many as 300 people may have attended an annual customer appreciation picnic held by Neff’s Lawn Care, 9400 Ekhart Road, on July 3. Of the ill, 16 have been confirmed as being infected by E. coli O157. Three individuals are experiencing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a disease that destroys red blood cells, and can cause sudden, short-term-acute-kidney failure. Those affected include a 4-year old female, a 14-year old male, and a 73-year old male. All three are in serious medical condition.

One secondary case of E. coli O157 was reported on July 16. This infection was likely passed from an older sister to a younger sister. This case emphasizes the importance of hand washing to prevent the spread of the organism within the family unit.

Symptoms experienced by those who became ill include stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea. If someone attended the picnic and later became ill, they should call 937-225-4460 and report their illness.

Public Health is continuing to gather information through interviews with those who became ill and those who prepared the food. Investigators are also looking at food sources, food handling and storage practices, food temperature controls, and the potential of cross contamination of the food.

As a result of eating food at a picnic at Neff’s Lawn Care in Germantown, at least 61 individuals have become ill and 11 have been hospitalized. Of the ill, 11 have been confirmed to be infected by E. coli O157.

Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of E. coli outbreaks and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The E. coli lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness infections and have recovered over $600 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation.  Our E. coli lawyers have litigated E. coli and HUS cases stemming from outbreaks traced to ground beef, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and other food products.  The law firm has brought E. coli lawsuits against such companies as Jack in the Box, Dole, ConAgra, Cargill, and Jimmy John’s.  We have proudly represented such victims as Brianne Kiner, Stephanie Smith and Linda Rivera.  Cases that have involved residents of Ohio over the last decades include:

ConAgra Ground Beef E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Nationwide (2002)

Cuyahoga County E. coli outbreak – Ohio (2009)

Dole Spinach E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Nationwide (2006)

Freshway Lettuce E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Multistate (2010)

JBS Swift E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Nationwide (2009)

Jimmy John’s Clover Sprouts E. coli O26 Outbreak Lawsuits – Multistate (2012)

KFC E. coli Outbreak Lawsuit – Ohio (1999)

Nebraska Beef E. coli Outbreak – Nationwide (2008)

Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Nationwide (2009)

Tyson Fresh Meats E. coli Lawsuit – Ohio (2011)

Valley Meats E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania (2009)

If you or a family member became ill with an E. coli infection or HUS after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark E. coli attorneys for a free case evaluation.

As a result of eating food at a picnic at Neff’s Lawn Care in Germantown, at least 36 individuals have become ill. Of those, 9 have been hospitalized. Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County is continuing an investigation into the cause of the foodborne outbreak. Estimates are that as many as 200-300 people may have attended an annual customer appreciation picnic held by Neff’s Lawn Care, 9400 Ekhart Road, on July 3. Of the ill, 5 have been confirmed to be infected by E. coli O157:H7.

Symptoms experienced by those who became ill include stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea. If someone attended the picnic and ate contaminated food, they might still become ill up through July 11. Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County is asking that anyone who became ill after attending the event call 937-225-4460 and report their illness.

Public Health is continuing to gather information through interviews with those who became ill and those who prepared the food. Investigators are also looking at food sources, food handling and storage practices, food temperature controls, and the potential of cross contamination of the food.

E. coli:  Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of E. coli outbreaks and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The E. coli lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness infections and have recovered over $600 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation.  Our E. coli lawyers have litigated E. coli and HUS cases stemming from outbreaks traced to ground beef, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and other food products.  The law firm has brought E. coli lawsuits against such companies as Jack in the Box, Dole, ConAgra, Cargill, and Jimmy John’s.  We have proudly represented such victims as Brianne Kiner, Stephanie Smith and Linda Rivera.

If you or a family member became ill with an E. coli infection or HUS after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark E. coli attorneys for a free case evaluation.

WHIO reports that Dayton & Montgomery County Health Department is looking into a possible foodborne outbreak stemming from a carry-in picnic in Germantown, Ohio whose victims suffered from E. coli-like symptoms.  Bill Wharton, a spokesman for the local health department said between 200 and 300 people attended an annual employee appreciation picnic at Neff’s Lawn Care, and about 10 of them became ill.  Roughly six were hospitalized.

E. coli:  Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of E. coli outbreaks and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The E. coli lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness infections and have recovered over $600 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation.  Our E. coli lawyers have litigated E. coli and HUS cases stemming from outbreaks traced to ground beef, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and other food products.  The law firm has brought E. coli lawsuits against such companies as Jack in the Box, Dole, ConAgra, Cargill, and Jimmy John’s.  We have proudly represented such victims as Brianne Kiner, Stephanie Smith and Linda Rivera.

If you or a family member became ill with an E. coli infection or HUS after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark E. coli attorneys for a free case evaluation.

ecoli-lawyer-ecoli-attorney-bill-marler264x188.jpegOver the last 20 years Bill Marler has become recognized as the most experienced and prominent E. coli lawyer in the United States. He is the managing partner of Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, the nation’s only law firm with a practice focused exclusively on representing victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness outbreaks.

Bill and the other E. coli attorneys at Marler Clark have successfully represented thousands of victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness outbreaks, including hundreds who suffered hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), mostly children.

E. coli Lawyer Bill Marler Fights on Behalf of Victims

E. coli lawyer Bill Marler began fighting for the victims of foodborne illness in 1993, when he represented Brianne Kiner, the most seriously injured survivor of the Jack in the Box E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, in her landmark $15.6 million settlement with the company. The 2011 book, Poisoned: The True Story of the Deadly E. coli Outbreak that Changed the Way Americans Eat, chronicles the Jack in the Box outbreak and Bill’s role in a case that would change history. Since 1993, the E. coli lawyer has fought for victims both in the courtroom and in the halls of Congress, advocating for a safer food supply.

E. coli Lawyers Get Results

The E. coli lawyers at Marler Clark have recovered over $600 million for clients and have brought E. coli and HUS lawsuits stemming from outbreaks traced to ground beef, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and dozens of other food products. Our attorneys have brought E. coli lawsuits nationwide against such major companies as Jack in the Box, Dole, ConAgra, Cargill, Walmart, Kroger, KFC, Taco Bell, Sizzler, Nestle and Wendy’s.

E. coli Lawyer with Experience and Integrity

E. coli lawyer Bill Marler has been interviewed and profiled by many major newspapers and magazines and is a frequent guest on many television shows. His peers and clients have voted Bill as one of the “Best Lawyers in America,” a “Super Lawyer” and a “Top 100 Trial Lawyer.” He has also been consistently ranked as an “A” with the American Bar Association and a “10” at Avvo. In 2010 Bill was awarded the NSF Food Safety Leadership Award for Education and in 2008 earned both the Outstanding Lawyer Award by the King County Bar Association and the Public Justice Award from the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association.

In March 2009, the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) through routine surveillance identified six cases of laboratory-confirmed E. coli O157:H7 with identical pulsed-field gel electrophoresis pattern (PFGE) among employees of the same company, Aetna. See Connecticut Department of Public Health Investigation Report, Attachment No. 1. Kirk Lusk was one of the employees identified as part of the outbreak.

DPH staff conducted an investigation and learned that all six employees consumed at least one meal purchased at the company cafeteria operated by Flik International Corp. in the week before their illness onset dates. The cafeteria was inspected by DPH environmental health staff. The sanitarian observed that:

A sheet pan of uncovered, fully roasted chicken tenders was stored overnight in a cooler directly underneath a sheet pan of uncovered, partially cooked, grill-marked hamburger patties.

According to the investigation report by DPH, several findings from the investigation indicate that consumption of chicken tenders was the most likely cause of this outbreak:

• The odds of developing illness was consistently greater from consumption of chicken tenders than from romaine lettuce on all dates of interest

• Consumption of chicken tenders from the salad bar on Wednesday was independently associated with illness

• Consumption of any chicken tenders on Thursday by employees who did not eat on Wednesday was associated with illness

• One confirmed case-patient had a meal on Thursday that contained chicken tenders but not romaine lettuce.

Based on these findings, the DPH concluded that, although chicken has historically not been a source of E. coli O157:H7, “the chicken tenders were most likely cross-contaminated, which could have occurred in several different ways.” Specifically, health officials noted:

One source of cross-contamination could be undercooked ground beef that might contain E. coli O157:H7. The close proximity of the roasted chicken tenders to undercooked beef patties during storage overnight could have exposed the chicken to drippings from the beef. (Connecticut regulations require food establishments to not store raw or partially-cooked potentially hazardous foods above ready-to-eat foods. Also, a kitchen utensil used to handle undercooked ground beef could have been used to serve or handle chicken tenders.

E. coli:  Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of E. coli outbreaks and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The E. coli lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness infections and have recovered over $600 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation.  Our E. coli lawyers have litigated E. coli and HUS cases stemming from outbreaks traced to ground beef, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and other food products.  The law firm has brought E. coli lawsuits against such companies as Jack in the Box, Dole, ConAgra, Cargill, and Jimmy John’s.  We have proudly represented such victims as Brianne Kiner, Stephanie Smith and Linda Rivera.

If you or a family member became ill with an E. coli infection or HUS after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark E. coli attorneys for a free case evaluation.

A total of 15 persons infected with the outbreak strain of STEC O145 infection have been identified in 6 states.

The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Alabama (2), California (1), Florida (1), Georgia (5), Louisiana (5), and Tennessee (1).

Four ill persons have been hospitalized. One death has been reported in Louisiana.

Based on interviews conducted to date, a source for these infections has not been identified. If a specific source is identified, public health officials will advise the public and take steps to prevent additional illnesses.

Dates for patients’ onset of illness range from April 15, 2012 to May 12, 2012. It has been approximately 6 weeks since the last illness onset among reported cases. Although this indicates that this outbreak could be over, CDC continues to work with state public health officials to identify additional cases and the source of these STEC O145 infections.

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Darrel J. Aubertine today warned consumers in and around Chautauqua County to not consume “unpasteurized” raw farm milk from Castle Farms due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination.

Castle Farms, located at 1051 Route 249 in Irving, New York, holds a Department permit to legally sell raw milk at the farm. Samples of the milk are routinely tested by the New York State Food Laboratory to determine if the raw milk is free of pathogenic bacteria.

A routine sample of the milk was taken on June 4, 2012 by an inspector from the Department’s Division of Milk Control and Dairy Services and subsequently tested and discovered to be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. On June 7, 2012, the producer was notified of a preliminary positive test result and who volunteered to suspend raw milk sales until the sample results were confirmed. Test results were confirmed on June 12, 2012 and the producer is now prohibited from selling raw milk until subsequent sampling indicates that the product is free of harmful pathogens.

E. coli O157:H7 causes a diarrheal illness often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people can develop a form of kidney failure called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). HUS is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly. The condition can lead to serious kidney damage and even death.

It is important to note that raw milk does not provide the protection of pasteurization, which eliminates all pathogenic bacteria, including E. coli O157:H7. Producers who sell raw milk to consumers must have a permit to do so from the Department, must sell directly to consumers on the farm where the milk is produced and must post a notice at the point of sale indicating that raw milk does not provide the protection of pasteurization. Farms with permits to sell raw milk are inspected by the Department monthly.

To date, no illnesses are known by the Department to be associated with product from Castle Farms.

Local and national reporters like MSNBC’s Jonel Aleccia, CNN’s Miriam Falco, The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Christopher Seward, New Orleans WWLTV’s Meg Farris and Food Safety News’s James Andrews have done a magnificent job piecing together a mysterious and deadly E. coli O145 outbreak that health officials are racing to solve.  Though the number keeps rising and no source has yet been found, and while questions abound, we do know the following:

There have been E. coli O145 Outbreaks in the past.

As of June 8, 2012 there have been 14 victims, 3 hospitalizations and 1 death from hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in the following states:

  • Georgia has 5 cases that have been confirmed primarily in the Atlanta-area. Case breakdown by county is Cobb (2 illnesses), Cherokee, Coweta, and Forsyth (1 illness each).
  • Louisiana 4 cases are all in the New Orleans-area and include the tragic death of a 21-month old toddler.
  • Alabama state health officials in Montgomery have confirmed 2 victims in the state. No cities or counties are known at this time.
  • Florida state public health officials have confirmed that a 22-year-old woman in the Tallahassee-area (Leon County) has been linked to the E. coli outbreak.
  • California has identified 1 victim. No further details are known.
  • The CDC has confirmed one case in Tennessee.

The dates when those persons became ill range from April 15 to May 12, 2012, though the most recent report of a potential illness was on June 4.

Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of E. coli outbreaks and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The coli E. coli lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness infections and have recovered over $600 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation.  Our E. coli lawyers have litigated E. coli and HUS cases stemming from outbreaks traced to ground beef, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and other food products.  The law firm has brought E. coli lawsuits against such companies as Jack in the Box, Dole, ConAgra, Cargill, and Jimmy John’s.  We have proudly represented such victims as Brianne Kiner, Stephanie Smith and Linda Rivera. 

Bill Marler, Marler Clark’s managing partner was recently profiled in the book “Poisoned,” The True Story of the 1993 Jack in the Box E. coli Outbreak.