Lawsuit, Vaccinations in Wake of Hep Scare
20 cases of Hepatitis A confirmed in 5 Illinois counties
Tuesday, Jul 28, 2009 | Updated 1:18 PM CDT
An attorney who specializes in food safety on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against McDonald's following a hepatitis A outbreak in northwestern Illinois.
The lawsuit was filed in Rock Island County Circuit Court on behalf of Cody Patterson, a 33-year-old from Milan.
The lawsuit claims a McDonald's in Milan allowed one or more employees to work while infected and that Patterson ate there during that time.
Seattle attorney Bill Marler represents Patterson and is seeking class action status for the action. Marler said the lawsuit is a way to compensate people for the time, wage losses and expense of getting preventive treatment.
A spokeswoman for Oak Brook-based McDonald's says she's seeking comment from company officials.
For a second day, hepatitis A vaccinations were administered at no charge in Rock Island for anyone who may have consumed food or beverages at the restaurant.
At least 20 cases have been confirmed in five Illinois counties: Rock Island, Mercer, Henry, Warren and Woodford, according to Rock Island County Health Department spokeswoman Theresa Foes.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Chicago
Top Stories
