Food Poisoning Attorney Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Attorney Elliot Olsen of our law firm recently settled a wrongful death lawsuit involving an Ohio man who died after eating raw oysters.
In July 2009, while vacationing in Florida, our client dined at an oyster bar and contracted a Vibrio vulnificus bacterial infection. He began suffering common food poisoning symptoms the following day, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The day after that, his condition worsened. He was hospitalized and put into a medically induced coma. It was just days before his wedding.
As the infection spread, his fiancé had no choice but to allow doctors to amputate both his legs in order to save his life. After several months of learning to live his life in a wheelchair and fighting the infection, the client died in December 2009. His family set up a fund after his death to help other families struggling with a tragic health problem.
“There are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of Vibrio vulnificus to consumers,” Attorney Elliot Olsen says. “For example, California has banned the sale of raw, untreated Gulf oysters during the warmest months, when they are most likely to carry the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria. There are also ways of sanitizing the oysters so they remain raw when served in restaurants, but are free of this dangerous pathogen.”
Vibrio vulnificus bacteria are found commonly in oysters harvested from coastal waters during the warmest months, according to the CDC:
Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium in the same family as those that cause cholera. It normally lives in warm seawater where it can contaminate seafood, including mussels, clams, scallops and oysters. Oysters are especially likely to contain this bacterium.
Symptoms of Vibrio vulnificus infection include vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. The bacteria can infect the blood stream, causing septicemia, a severe and life-threatening illness.
In November 2009—just a month before the client’s death—the Food and Drug Administration indefinitely delayed a proposed ban on the sale of raw oysters, and the debate continues between food safety advocates and Gulf Coast oyster suppliers.
Attorney Elliot Olsen represents food poisoning victims nationwide. He can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or by submitting our free consultation form.
