E. coli Lawsuits Filed Against R & S Meats
Two separate lawsuits were filed against R & S Meats, Inc. in New York State today: one in Brooklyn, at the U. S. District Court, Eastern District, and the second in Riverhead, at the New York State Supreme Court. The lawsuits were filed on behalf of children infected with E. coli O157:H7 after consuming meat from the Huntington, NY business. The families are represented by Marler Clark, a Seattle food borne illness law firm, and by Paul Nunes of the Rochester, New York firm Underberg & Kessler.
In July 2008, the Dalbo family traveled from North Carolina and attended a July 3 event at the Bay Club in Huntington, NY. Event organizers had purchased hamburger patties from R & S Meats, which were later consumed by the Dablo’s young daughter. The child began to feel ill on July 6. The family returned home to North Carolina, and on July 8, the child was rushed to the hospital with fever, cramps, and frequent, violent bouts of bloody diarrhea. A stool culture revealed that she was infected with E. coli O157:H7.
The child’s health continued to deteriorate. She developed HUS (Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome), total kidney failure, hemolytic anemia, and thrombocytophenia (a dangerously low blood platelet level). She received multiple blood transfusions and had to be fed through a tube. As the illness developed, she was moved to Duke University Medical Center for dialysis. She was discharged from the hospital after more than a month, but continued to struggle with the illness. It took months for her body to regain its natural functions. She has sustained permanent damage from the infection, and will require many years of follow-up care.
“What this child—and family—went through is almost indescribable,” said attorney William Marler. “Even under high-level medical care, E. coli ravages the body, especially in children. There are interventions that help deal with the cascading illnesses, but there is no pill or treatment to make it better. The only real cure is to rid our food supply of this highly toxic pathogen.” The Purcell family of Huntington, NY also attended the July 3 barbecue at the Bay Club. One of their children consumed hamburgers at the function, and fell ill several days later with gastric distress, abdominal cramps, and bloody diarrhea. After being collected from summer camp, she was admitted to the hospital and found to be infected with E. coli O157:H7. She was treated for several days, and continues to recover from her illness.
