Lawsuits continue against Wendy's restaurants in Michigan
GRAND RAPIDS — Lawsuits are continuing to hit courtrooms across Michigan, filed against the owners and suppliers of various Wendy's restaurants over an E. coli outbreak potentially linked to the franchise's lettuce.
More:Lawsuits filed against Wendy's following E. coli outbreak, including one in Grandville
Ron Simon and Associates — a national food poisoning law firm — along with The Failey Law Firm filed a lawsuit Friday, Sept. 2, against Meritage Hospitality Group Inc. on behalf of Holland resident Shane Meyers, who seeks more than $25,000 in damages.
Meyers allegedly became ill after consuming a Dave's Double with fries at one of the company's restaurants in Grandville, experiencing severe abdominal pain, nausea and bloody diarrhea. Meyers was forced to seek medical treatment at Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital, according to a statement.
An additional lawsuit was filed in Kent County’s 17th Circuit Court on behalf of West Michigan resident Zachary Nitz, who alleges he consumed a Big Bacon Classic at a restaurant in Grand Rapids off 28th Street in early August before falling extremely ill.
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Nitz alleges he was hospitalized and developed hemolytic uremic syndrome. The lawsuit was filed by Marler Clark — a Seattle-based food-safety law firm.
Attorney Bill Marler told The Sentinel he expects to see over 100 total cases, with Michigan "probably being the worst hit, for whatever reason."
"And when we figure out who the lettuce supplier is, it's going to be interesting to see why Michigan got whacked worse than everybody else," he said.
The Centers for Disease Control last week updated the number of victims in the recent outbreak to 97 confirmed cases, most in the Midwest, including 43 hospitalizations and 10 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome. Michigan had the greatest number of confirmed cases.
The outbreak was announced by the CDC in mid-August. E. coli is a bacteria usually transmitted through human feces. Despite the lawsuits, the CDC has yet to confirm the outbreak began at Wendy's restaurants.
"A specific food has not yet been confirmed as the source of this outbreak, but many sick people reported eating burgers and sandwiches with romaine lettuce at Wendy's restaurants before getting sick," the report said.
The report added, of 67 infected people who provided a detailed food history, 81 percent said they'd eaten at Wendy's in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio or Pennsylvania in the week before their illness started. Wendy's has "taken the precautionary measure" of removing romaine lettuce being used in sandwiches from restaurants in the region.
The CDC isn't advising the public to avoid Wendy's or romaine lettuce.
— Contact reporter Cassandra Lybrink at cassandra.lybrink@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on Instagram @BizHolland.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Lawsuits continue against Wendy's restaurants in Michigan
