A 14-year old Utah boy is the center of a new lawsuit filed last Thursday against National Steak and Poultry after the unnamed boy became ill and was hospitalized after eating meat tainted with E. coli. The Oklahoma-based meat-manufacturer was the subject of a Christmas Eve recall of more than 248,000 beef products after at least 21 people in 16 states became ill.
According to the boy’s attorney – Dustin Lance of Salt Lake City – this lawsuit, filed in the Third District Court of Utah, is the first as a result of the outbreak. The boy was hospitalized at the Primary Children’s Medical Center for two days after being diagnosed with gastrointestinal bleeding at Columbia Lakeview Hospital. While the lawsuit is primarily directed at National Steak and Poultry, the boy’s family and attorney have also recognized “John Doe” companies that have yet to be named, but were involved in the distribution of the contaminated meat.
The majority of the beef was distributed to restaurants, and cases of illness as a result have been reported in California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, and, of course, Utah. The majority of illnesses were reported between October and November in 2009. Nine of the people reporting illnesses were hospitalized. This is the first known case of E. coli contamination being reported against National Steak and Poultry.
E. coli is a bacterium that exists in the lower intestine of warm-blooded animals. While most forms of E. coli are actually harmless, serotype O157:H7 is the form most commonly associated with food poisoning and contamination illnesses.
If you or a loved one has experienced illness because of possible E. coli contamination, contact Newsome Law Firm and fill out a case evaluation form today. Our team of attorneys has experience specific to complications associated with food product recalls and contamination. Not only can they give you the legal guidance you need, they can help you get the compensation you deserve.