The Maricopa County Departments of Public Health and Environmental Services in collaboration with the Arizona Department of Health Services is investigating an E. coli outbreak that appears to be linked to the Frederico’s Mexican Restaurant located at 13132 W Camelback, Litchfield Park, AZ, a suburb of Phoenix. This is the only Frederico’s restaurant involved in this investigation.
The bacteria causing the illness is E. coli O157, an extremely dangerous pathogen that can lead to severe, life-threatening hemorrhagic colitis. We have had patients who needed a colectomy, surgery to remove all or part of the colon.
E. coli O157 can also lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe complication of E. coli O157 that causes kidney failure, stroke, blindness, pancreatitis, heart failure and a host of other serious health problems. E. coli-HUS can be fatal.
E. coli Victims Can Sue for Compensation Even if the Specific Food Source is Never Determined
Our E. coli lawyers, led by attorney Fred Pritzker, have won money for people who contracted E. coli from a restaurant in cases where the specific food source was not found. If most of the people sickened in an outbreak ate at a specific restaurant, that restaurant is legally responsible for the illnesses and can be sued by victims of the outbreak for compensation. Compensation in these cases can include amounts for hospital and other medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional distress and other lawful damages.
In this outbreak linked to Frederico’s in Litchfield Park, Arizona, it is not yet clear what specific food item caused the illnesses. Maricopa health officials have inspected the restaurant and taken food samples to be tested. If a food source can be found, health officials will try determine how the food was contaminated.