Outbreaks
Robinswood Pointe E. coli Outbreak
In September of 2005, eleven residents and four employees at Robinswood Pointe Senior Living Facility in Bellevue, Washington, became ill during an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. The Pubic Health of Seattle and King County (PHSKC) and State of Washington Department of Health (WDOH) joint investigation into the outbreak revealed that all individuals who had become ill with E. coli infection lived in or dined at the Robinswood Pointe facility.A case-control study was conducted, and PHSKC and WDOH determined that the likely source of the E. coli outbreak was ready-to-eat food prepared in the Robinswood Pointe kitchen. Multiple food-handling errors were noted during an inspection of the facility, and investigators concluded that ready-to-eat foods had been cross-contaminated with raw meat products.
The Department of Social and Health Services Aging and Disability Services Administration conducted an independent investigation into the E. coli outbreak, and arrived at the same conclusion as PHSKC and WDOH: “a food borne illness outbreak occurred at the [Robinswood Pointe] facility.”
Marler Clark represented the family of an elderly woman who became ill with E. coli during the outbreak and died. Her family’s claim was resolved in July of 2006.
