Family Acted Quickly in Memphis BBQ Salmonella
When an outbreak of Salmonella hit the Harston Family Reunion this summer in Memphis, Tennessee, organizers Toby and Shandalin Taylor called Fred Pritzker, founder and president of national food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen attorneys..jpg)
More than 150 family members from throughout the South and various other parts of the country had attended the three-day reunion, which included a family picnic catered by A&R Bar-B-Q of Hickory Hill Road in Memphis. Within days, Toby and other attendees began exhibiting symptoms of Salmonella poisoning consisting of diarrhea, painful stomach cramps, chills and fever. In some cases, the individuals sought hospital treatment. The picnic menu included pork shoulder, BBQ spaghetti, chicken, coleslaw and bread.
Fred began to investigate and his communication with attendees and the Tennessee Department of Health was followed by a discovery of leftover food from the picnic that tested positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella, a potentially deadly pathogen. The restaurant closed for deep cleaning and its staff received intensive training on how to prevent the spread of foodborne illness.
Within just a couple of weeks of being contacted, Fred moved to protect the rights of Toby and Shandalin and their relatives by filing an A&R Bar-B-Q lawsuit in Shelby County Circuit Court in Tennessee. Among other things, the suit alleges a violation of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Law. Fred chose local Memphis counsel Jason Whitworth to initiate the action. The dramatic events led to intense news coverage by Memphis area television stations and the region's largest newspaper, the Commercial Appeal.
Fred, who has been representing injured people in civil litigation for the past 30 years, was quoted as saying that the food poisoning infections were regrettable for everyone.
"This case points to the tragedy of foodborne illness - a joyful event marred by sickness and a business facing significant loss because of failure to comply with basic sanitation,'' he said. "There are no winners, only losers.''
PritzkerOlsen is one of the few law firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. The firm is a leading national advocate for victims in practically every major outbreak of food poisoning, including the massive peanut butter Salmonella outbreak that killed nine people and sickened more than 700 late last year and early this year. In that outbreak, Fred is representing many individuals, including the families of three women who died from eating contaminated peanut butter. In the national media, Fred is recognized as a leading expert on food poisoning and the firm has gained a reputation as a steadfast voice for improved protection of our nation's food supply from harmful bacteria that we know can be prevented through safe handling practices, persistent cleanliness of facilities and elementary hygiene.
Contact us at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our online form for a free case consultation.
