Marler Clark signSince 1993, Marler Clark has represented thousands of clients in litigation against restaurants and food companies whose food was identified as the source of illness. We strive to obtain full and fair compensation for our clients’ injuries by ensuring that our clients are compensated for their physical and emotional injuries, as well as for medical expenses and missed time from work. We often represent children who will require medical monitoring and surgical procedures throughout their lives, and we work to secure settlements or verdicts that will provide for their long-term medical needs.
Food poisoning lawyers at Marler Clark are currently involved in investigations, or have represented clients, in the following food poisoning outbreaks:


Salmonella Litigation
Old South Restaurant Salmonella Litigation – Marler Clark has been contacted by several victims of what is now South Carolina’s largest Salmonella outbreak. At 293 cases, 50 hospitalized and one death, the Salmonella outbreak tied to the Old South Restaurant in Camden may also prove to be one of the largest this year in the Untied States. Marler Clark began Salmonella litigation against Old South on June 1, 2005, when the firm filed a lawsuit on behalf of an Ohio man who became ill with Salmonella after eating at Old South.
Cafe Santa Fe Salmonella Litigation – The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) announced that an outbreak of Salmonellosis had been traced to the Caf� Santa Fe in Benton, Arkansas on May 1, 2005. At least nine illnesses were confirmed as part of an outbreak by ADH. Marler Clark filed a lawsuit against the Caf� Santa Fe on May 12, 2005, and amended the complaint to add three other persons who became ill with Salmonella infections after eating at Cafe Santa Fe on June 9, 2005.
Sheetz Salmonella Litigation – Salmonella Litigation against Coronet Foods commenced on July 19, when Marler Clark filed a Salmonella lawsuit against Coronet Foods in Federal District Court in Pittsburgh. Coronet Foods supplied Salmonella-contaminated Roma tomatoes to Sheetz, which was linked to an outbreak that sickened over 400 consumers who had eaten sandwiches and salads prepared at Sheetz convenience stores. Coronet Foods subsequently filed for Bankruptcy Court protection. Marler Clark successfully argued that the Bankruptcy Court allow claimants to proceed.
Paramount Farms Salmonella Litigation – Marler Clark represents several victims in Salmonella litigation against Paramount Farms. The firm filed a lawsuit on behalf of a family who became ill in April 2004 after consuming raw almonds produced by Paramount Farms and sold by Costco. Over two dozen illnesses had been reported by June 1, and Paramount Farms expanded an earlier recall to include the global distribution of its almonds. Marler Clark filed an additional lawsuit on behalf of seven other claimants in March, 2005.
Golden Corral Salmonella Litigation — Food served at the Golden Corral restaurant in Kennesaw, Georgia, was determined to be the source of a Salmonella outbreak in the summer of 2003. The Georgia Division of Public Health investigated the outbreak, and found several environmental factors that could have led to the spread of Salmonella bacteria within the restaurant. Marler Clark represents seven individuals in Salmonella litigation against Golden Corral. Several of the cases have been resolved.
Harmony Farms Salmonella Litigation — Harmony Farms alfalfa sprouts were linked to a Salmonella outbreak in Oregon and Washington in March of 2003. Marler Clark represented two individuals against Harmony Farms in claims that settled in April, 2004. A second outbreak linked to Harmony farms occurred in November, 2003. Marler Clark currently represents three victims of the second outbreak in Salmonella claims against Harmony Farms. Two of those cases were recently settled. Salmonella litigation continues.
Hepatitis A Litigation
Maple Lawn Dairy Family Restaurant Hepatitis A Litigation – Marler Clark filed a hepatitis A lawsuit against the Maple Lawn Dairy on behalf of the estate of Donald Rockwell, a Chemung County, NY man who suffered a hepatitis A infection and subsequent organ failure after eating contaminated food at the Maple Lawn Dairy and died after a five month hospitalization.
Quizno’s Hepatitis A Litigation – Marler Clark began hepatitis A litigation against Quizno’s by filing a Class Action lawsuit on behalf of all individuals who required inoculation against hepatitis A to following exposure to the virus at a Boston Quizno’s on July 9, 2004.
Friendly’s Hepatitis A Litigation – On Friday June 25, 2004, Marler Clark filed a Class Action lawsuit against Friendly’s International on behalf of more than 1,500 persons who were required to get hepatitis A vaccinations following possible exposure to the virus at a Friendly’s restaurant in Arlington, Mass. Marler Clark has reached a settlement with Friendly’s. The settlement was recently approved by the Court. Checks in the amount of $200 per person will be mailed shortly to those who opted into the Class Action lawsuit.
Chi-Chi’s hepatitis A Litigation – Marler Clark represented 80 individuals sickened by the hepatitis A virus. The firm has settled the cases of all but two clients who contracted the hepatitis A virus after eating at the Beaver Valley Mall Chi-Chi’s restaurant. Marler Clark also represents people who were exposed to the virus, and were forced to receive an Immune Globulin (Ig) shot as protection against hepatitis A infection. Chi Chi’s and Marler Clark recently agreed to a settlement on behalf of people who received Ig shots, and are waiting approval by the Bankruptcy Court.
E. coli Litigation
AgVenture Farms Petting Zoo E. coli Litigation – Marler Clark filed three E. coli lawsuits on behalf of victims of an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak traced to petting zoo animals. The lawsuits were filed on behalf of Florida residents who had attended the Central Florida State Fair and the Florida Strawberry Festival in April, 2005. Marler Clark has been contacted by other families, and plans to file future lawsuits.
Crossroads Farm Petting Zoo E. coli Litigation – Marler Clark filed a lawsuit on behalf of the families of four children who became ill with E. coli O157:H7 infections after attending the Crossroads Farm Petting Zoo at the North Carolina State Fair in October, 2004. Two of the children developed hemolytic uremic syndrome. Marler Clark will be adding several other victims to the lawsuit.
Kids Korner Daycare E. coli Litigation – A lawsuit was brought against Kids Korner on September 28, 2004 on behalf of the parents of a two-year-old child who became ill with E. coli infection during an E. coli outbreak at his day care center. The child suffered from Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS).
BJ’s Wholesale Club E. coli Litigation – Marler Clark brought three lawsuits against BJ’s Wholesale Club on behalf of children who became ill with E. coli O157:H7 infections which were traced to the consumption of ground beef sold at BJ’s Wholesale Club stores in New York and New Jersey. Two of the children developed Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). Marler Clark has resolved two of the suits by way of settlement. One case is still pending in New Jersey Federal Court.
Excel / Sizzler E. coli Litigation – In 2000, E. coli-tainted tri-tips were cross-contaminated with watermelon, which was determined to be the source of over 65 culture-confirmed E. coli O157:H7 infections among Sizzler customers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Marler Clark represents seventeen individuals in E. coli litigation against Sizzler and Excel, the beef producer who sold the tri-tips to Sizzler.
Spokane Produce E. coli Litigation – In July 2002, the Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) traced an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak to contaminated lettuce sold by Spokane Produce. Marler Clark represents eight people who ate contaminated lettuce and became ill with E. coli infections in E. coli litigation against Spokane Produce.
Shigella Litigation
Gate Gourmet Shigella Litigation – Marler Clark commenced Shigella litigation against Gate Gourmet, a catering company that supplied Shigella-contaminated food to several airlines with flights departing from the Honolulu, Hawaii airport. The firm filed a lawsuit on behalf of a man who became ill in September 2004 after consuming a meal on board a return flight from Hawaii. Several hundred illnesses have been reported in over 22 States and at least three foreign countries. Marler Clark filed a second lawsuit on behalf of seven more ill individuals on June 22, 2005.
Doubletree Shigella Litigation — Marler Clark represents three clients in Shigella litigation against the Doubletree Inn in Westminster, Colorado. Colorado health officials traced the Shigella outbreak to food served at the Doubletree Hotel conference center in September, 2003. Marler Clark is pursuing settlements on behalf of the three clients.