The first lawsuits related to a deadly outbreak of E. coli in the fast food giant’s hamburgers have been filed in Cook County, Illinois. One suit was filed on Thursday on behalf of Colorado resident Eric Stelly, who was one of dozens of customers across the country who have been exposed to the bacteria .
“I’ve eaten at McDonald’s for years . Never did I expect to suffer like this from eating a burger,” Stelly said in a statement provided to The Independent on Thursday. “I hope my lawsuit can shed light on how this happened, so that McDonald’s can fix the problems and prevent them from happening again.
” Another suit was filed – also by law firm Ron Simon & Associates and Meyers & Flowers, LLC – on behalf of Nebraska resident Clarissa DeBock. Chicago-based McDonald’s did not respond to The Independent’s multiple requests for comment on Thursday. Earlier this month, Stelly purchased and consumed the burger from his local McDonald’s in Breely, Colorado.
Two days later, he began to experience gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, stomach cramps, dehydration, and as bloody stool – which is the most common symptom of E. coli poisoning. Four days later, he sought medical attention at the UCHealth Greeley Hospital.
There, his doctor performed a lab test of his stool, which came back positive for E. coli. Stelly’s doctor referred him to specialists to determine the extent of his illness and, a few days later, the county’s Department of Public Heal.
