Lawyer Wins Water E. coli Settlement Just as Fitness Center Outbreak Occurs
E. coli lawyer Elliot Olsen has reached a confidential six-figure settlement for a two-year-old E. coli victim who was sickened by E. coli in well water at her family's rented home in rural Iowa.
For Olsen, the case highlights the need for well owners to frequently test for dangerous pathogens, especially when providing water to others.
The water E. coli settlement in Iowa coincides with a water E. coli outbreak at a fitness center in Jackson, Missouri.
According to Cape Girardeau County Public Health, there are 7 laboratory-confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7, all children. In addition, there are 11 other probable infections. The gym in question is the Class Act Family Fitness Center, 2336 County Road 307 in Jackson, which has agreed to cease providing water to its users.
Water from the well used by Class Act Family Fitness has tested positive for E. coli, and further testing is being done to determine if it is E. coli O157:H7.
In the Iowa case, the little girl developed classic E. coli symptoms and tested positive for E. coli 0157:H7. Health officials confirmed that the tap water at the home contained E. coli but could not confirm that it was the E. coli O157:H7 strain.
The child was hospitalized for a month and put on kidney dialysis as part of the treatment she received for hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Although her condition has improved she will have lifelong kidney damage and is at risk for needing a kidney transplant in the future.
HUS can develop in any person with an E. coli O157:H7 infection, but children are the most prone to this life-threatening disease. In Missouri, at least four of the well water E. coli victims were hospitalized.
The owner of the well in the Iowa case denied that his well was contaminated and argued that the girl contracted the bacteria directly from nearby cattle.
Mr. Olsen retained world-class expert witnesses, including an environmental engineer and a microbiologist, both from major universities, to examine the terrain, water flow and bacterial testing. They concluded that the bacteria seeped into the well through rainwater runoff contaminated by cattle manure.
In Iowa and Missouri, Olsen says the well water E. coli illnesses were preventable. He recommends the following testing requirements for well owners who supply water for a business or rental property.
- Mandatory yearly testing of water for E. coli and other pathogens.
- Mandatory testing of water if the well has been overtopped by flood water or compromised.
- Required posting of well water risks near water fountains and water taps.
Attorney Elliot Olsen represents E. coli victims nationwide. He can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE) or by completing the contact form on the side of this Web page.
