Outbreak News
Lawsuit filed against food supplier by family of Sequoias resident who died from E. coli infection
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJanuary 14, 2003
REDWOOD CITY—Marler Clark, the Seattle law firm nationally recognized for its successful representation of victims of foodborne illness, filed a lawsuit today in San Mateo Superior Court on behalf of the family of Alice McWalter, a Sequoias resident who died after eating E. coli O157:H7-contaminated spinach at the Sequoias Portola Valley retirement facility in October, 2003. The lawsuit was filed against Sodexho, Inc., the food provider for the Sequoias’ residents.
Mrs. McWalter, who was an 85-year-old in good health prior to this illness, began suffering from symptoms of E. coli infection, and was hospitalized at the Stanford University Hospital on October 12, 2003. While in the hospital, Mrs. McWalter’s infection worsened, and she suffered from Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP), complications of E. coli infection that damage the kidneys and affect the central nervous system. After fourteen days of nausea, diarrhea, and eventual renal failure, loss of consciousness, inability to speak, high fever, and seizures, Mrs. McWalter passed away.
“Mrs. McWalter’s family brought this suit before the Court because we feel that her illness was preventable,” said William Marler, managing partner of Marler Clark. “Senior citizens don’t have the same immune systems they did when they were in their 20s or 30s. They are less able to fight off foodborne illness. Being in the business of supplying meals to Seniors, Sodexho should have known this and made sure the food being served at the Sequoias was safe.”
Continue reading Lawsuit filed against food supplier by family of Sequoias resident who died from E. coli infection on the Marler Clark website
More on this outbreak: Sodexho (Sequoias Retirement Center) E. coli Outbreak
