Jimmy Johns Sprouts Lawsuit: Michigan E coli Victim Count Grows
Clover sprouts are the source of the Jimmy Johns E. coli O26 outbreak.
Our E. coli lawyers have been contacted by victims of the Jimmy Johns sprouts E. coli O26 outbreak that has sickened people in 8 states, including Michigan. Fred Pritzker, lead lawyer for our E. coli cases, is heading up our investigation of this outbreak. To contact Fred and his E. coli litigation team for a free consultation, call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our free consultation form.
To date, 9 Michigan residents have been sickened in this outbreak. Initially, the Michigan Department of Health reported 7 cases, 2 confirmed and 5 suspected. Illness onset dates for the outbreak range from December 25, 2011 to February 15, 2012. There may be additional cases in Michigan and elsewhere that have not yet been reported or investigated.
Results of the epidemiologic and traceback investigations indicate eating raw clover sprouts at Jimmy John’s restaurants is the likely cause of this outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of the 24 ill persons with available information, 21 reported consuming sprouts at Jimmy John’s restaurants in the 7 days preceding illness.
Jimmy Johns Sprouts Recall and E. coli Lawsuit: Free Consultation with Attorney
Our law firm has been contacted by victims of the Jimmy Johns sprouts E. coli O26 outbreak, which has grown to 25 confirmed cases. Fred Pritzker, lead attorney for our E. coli cases, is heading up our investigation of this outbreak. To contact Fred for a free consultation regarding a lawsuit for money damages against Jimmy Johns and others, call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our free consultation form.
People from 8 states have confirmed cases of E. coli O26: Alabama (1), Iowa (5), Missouri (3), Kansas (2), Michigan (9), Arkansas (1), Ohio (3), and Wisconsin (1). Six of the E. coli victims have been hospitalized.
Results of the epidemiologic and traceback investigations indicate eating raw clover sprouts at Jimmy John’s restaurants is the likely cause of this outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of the 24 ill persons with available information, 21 (87%) reported consuming sprouts at Jimmy John’s restaurants in the 7 days preceding illness.
Illness onset dates ranged from December 25, 2011 to February 15, 2012. Illnesses that occurred after February 19, 2012, might not be reported yet due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported.
Neither Jimmy Johns nor any of its raw sprouts suppliers initiated a sprouts recall. Part of our Jimmy Johns lawsuit investigation will involve determining when Jimmy Johns first knew about the illnesses.
Jimmy Johns Lawsuit: Compensation for E coli Victims
Contact us regarding a lawsuit against Jimmy Johns and others.
You or your loved one has been sickened in the Jimmy Johns E. coli O26 outbreak linked to clover sprouts. No one likes to sue, but there are medical expenses and time taken off of work. In addition, the pain associated with an E. coli infection is severe, and every E. coli victim, even those with mild cases, face the possibility of future kidney problems. Victims of this outbreak deserve compensation.
E. coli lawsuits generally make claims for compensation based on the following, any one of which is sufficient to win the case:
- Strict Liability: The person being sued (called the defendant) does not have to have acted negligently. For example, Jimmy Johns is responsible for harm caused by the food it serves even if the specific food product that caused the outbreak was contaminated before it was delivered to them. In this case it was most likely clover sprouts, and it was probably the seeds that were initially contaminated.
- Negligence: If a company is negligent, it means it is careless. If a company is extremely negligent, there may be a claim for punitive damages.
- Breach of Contract: Every time you buy something, you are entering into a contract with the seller. Under the law, a seller guarantees that what is sold is fit for the purpose for which it is sold. For example, a seller of food guarantees that it is fit to eat. Food contaminated with E. coli O26 is not fit to eat.
As attorneys who handle these cases all of the time, we know what E. coli cases are worth. We have seen the same defense attorneys (the attorneys who represent restaurants, food manufacturers, etc.) time and time again. If you are going to sue, it makes sense to choose attorneys who have experience.
Fred Pritzker is a food safety attorney who represents E. coli victims nationwide and actively advocates for food safety (most recently at a Harvard Law School debate). He and his team of E. coli attorneys are available for a free consultation regarding a lawsuit against Jimmy Johns and others.
Jimmy Johns E. coli O26 Linked to Clover Sprouts: Seeds Likely to Blame but No Formal Recall
The Jimmy Johns E. coli O26 outbreak linked to clover sprouts has sickened people in 6 states: Arkansas (1 confirmed), Iowa (5 confirmed), Michigan (2 confirmed and 5 suspected) , Missouri (3 confirmed), Kansas (2 confirmed) and Wisconsin (1 confirmed).
Victims of this outbreak and their families should contact food safety attorney Fred Pritzker for a free consultation.
Clover Sprouts Probable Source of Jimmy Johns E. coli Outbreak
Clover sprouts are the likely cause of the Jimmy Johns E. coli O26 outbreak.
The federal and state investigation into the outbreak has found that the likely source of the outbreak was contaminated clover seeds that were used to grow clover sprouts served at Jimmy John’s restaurant locations where ill persons ate. The traceback investigation identified two separate sprouting facilities, both used the same lot of seed to grow clover sprouts served at these Jimmy John’s restaurant locations.
Why Wasn’t There a Recall of Clover Sprouts?
On February 10, 2012, the seed supplier initiated notification of sprouting facilities that received this lot of clover seed to stop using it. This is a “recall” of the clover seeds but not a formal one, and the sprouts grown from these seeds have not been recalled by either “sprouting facility.”
The victims of this outbreak experienced the initial symptoms of E. coli from December 25, 2011 (Christmas day) to January 15, 2012, which is a long period of time given how perishable sprouts are and another reason to suspect that the contamination started with the seeds. If the lot of contaminated seeds was used prior to the discovery that they were the source of an outbreak, one could argue that there was no need for a recall because any sprouts grown from those seeds would have been eaten. However, given how dangerous E. coli is and the possibility of cross contamination, the sprouts should have been recalled.
Recall or not, the grower of the seeds, the owners of the growing facilities and Jimmy Johns need to be held accountable for the harm done to the victims of this outbreak. All of the victims are female and range in age from 9 years to 49 years old, with a median age of 25 years old. Among the 14 confirmed victims of this outbreak, 2 (14%) were hospitalized.
Food safety attorney Fred Pritzker represents E. coli victims throughout the United States and has won millions for his clients. He and his team of E. coli attorneys are available for a free consultation regarding a lawsuit against Jimmy Johns and others.
McNees Beef Recall in Michigan Linked to 5 Confirmed Cases of E. coli O157
Our attorneys are investigating an E. coli O157 outbreak in Michigan that has been linked to ground beef processed and distributed by McNees Meats and Wholesale LLC., a North Branch, Michigan, company. A total of five confirmed Shiga-toxin producing E. coli cases and four probable cases have been reported in Lapeer, Genesee, Isabella, and Sanilac counties. Illness onset dates range from July 18-30. Those affected range in age from 15-88. Both microbiological and epidemiological evidence links these cases of E. coli to McNees ground beef. Those sickened have reported consuming ground beef either at local restaurants supplied by McNees or by purchasing beef directly from the company.
In response to this outbreak, McNees Meats recalled approximately 360 pounds of ground beef product products.
The McNees beef recall includes 36 – 10 lb. Bags of “McNees Ground Beef Bulk.” Each clear plastic bag bears establish number “EST. 33971” within the USDA mark of inspection. The products subject to recall were produced on July 15, and July 21, 2011, and sold to restaurants in Armada, Lapeer and North Branch, Mich. The products were also sold from a retail establishment owned by McNees Meats and Wholesale, LLC.
E. coli O157 can cause serious illness, including severe dehydration, colitis, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). E. coli food poisoning can also result in death.
