Almost a year ago, a little boy became extremely sick with an E. coli infection and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) a few days after visiting a petting zoo at a county fair. The E. coli-associated HUS caused his kidneys to fail. After struggling with illness for 9 days, he died. His parents are our clients. The lawsuit filed on their behalf is meant to hold those responsible for this death accountable and send a message that petting zoos need to take more measures to prevent E. coli outbreaks.
Fred Pritzker, a national E. coli lawyer, filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of a family whose young son died from hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe complication of an E. coli infection that causes kidney failure and other serious health problems. The lawsuit was filed against Cleveland County Fair, Inc., Circle G Ranch: Wild Animal Park and Camel Safari, Inc.
On September 30, 2012, the two-year-old son of our clients attended the Cleveland County Fair with his family. While at the fair, he went to the petting zoo, which was owned and run by Circle G Ranch. He fed the animals with feed sold for that purpose. He also touched animals and straw bedding. He also had contact with other surfaces and food that could have been contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.
After exiting the petting zoo exhibit, his father attempted to wash his hands with soap and water, but the wash basin at the exit of the exhibit was out of soap. On October 3, 3012, our clients’ son began to suffer from gastroenteritis with diarrhea and other flu-like symptoms. His parents took him to the hospital, where he suffered from bloody diarrhea, but he was not admitted. On October 8, 2012, he was admitted to Levine Children’s Hospital, where he was diagnosed with an E. coli O157:H7 infection and resulting hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
Over the next several days, he received intensive medical treatment, including dialysis. Despite the doctors’ best efforts, he died on October 12, 2012.
You can contact attorney Fred Pritzker for a free consultation here.
