Class-action lawsuit filed against McDonald’s for E. coli outbreak
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against McDonald’s following an E. coli outbreak earlier this year, affecting customers nationwide. Attorney Roy Willey, who represents a Florida man, is leading the charge with claims of personal injury cases related to the outbreak. Since the initial filing, more cases are being reported daily.
The outbreak in October led McDonald’s to remove the Quarter Pounder from its menus across the country temporarily. With over 100 reported cases of E. coli in 14 states, including one fatality and four severe illnesses, the impact has been significant. One of Willey’s clients, William Kraft from Davie, FL, experienced symptoms consistent with E. coli infection after consuming a Quarter Pounder, leading to damages sought exceeding $5 million and alleging that McDonald’s failed to disclose contamination risks.
Food safety concerns have been heightened by several high-profile cases recently. University of Florida’s Dr. Keith Schneider notes that while foodborne illnesses are not uncommon, trust in the food supply chain is crucial, especially with raw produce consumption. Investigations by the CDC are ongoing, and McDonald’s aims to cooperate fully to restore consumer trust.
In addition to McDonald’s, a class-action lawsuit has been filed against Taylor Fresh Foods, the supplier of tainted onions linked to the outbreak. Willey emphasizes the importance of financial consequences to drive corporate change, pointing out that impacting a company’s bottom line is a key strategy for driving improvements in conduct.
