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Michigan girl's contaminated Wendy's meal left her with permanent brain damage....
Posted on 4/19/24 at 9:28 am
Posted on 4/19/24 at 9:28 am
This poor little girl.
LINK
LINK
quote:
The Wendy's location closed twice after being cited for health code violations as the 11-year-old girl was hospitalized for an E. coli infection
quote:
A Michigan girl has allegedly suffered permanent brain damage and a slew of other medical injuries after eating a contaminated Wendy's meal from a Jenison franchise location.
Aspen Lamfers' mother, Joy Lamfers, is suing the operator, Meritage Hospitality Group, for allegedly failing to ensure proper food safety protocols were practiced at the Jenison location, leading to an E. coli outbreak in July 2022 that caused her 11-year-old daughter's health to deteriorate.
"To see the drop-off in her abilities … and the damage that's done to her brain that's irreversible, it's really, really hard on everybody," Thomas Worsfold, an attorney representing Joy Lamfers, told Fox News Digital. "It hit me so hard imagining what I would do and how I would feel if this were my child, who went from reading above her grade level to two grades below from one year to the next and going from a 70th percentile score … in math to the 9th percentile."
Aspen went to Wendy's for dinner on the evening of Aug. 1, 2022, after softball practice and ordered a "Biggie Bag" meal, which included a hamburger, chicken nuggets and french fries, according to the lawsuit.
Days prior, a shipment of romaine lettuce contaminated with E. coli was shipped to various Wendy's locations across the Midwest, including the location in Jenison. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) traced 109 E. coli infections in six states — 67 in Michigan — from the contaminated lettuce shipment.
On July 27, 2022 — days before Aspen ordered her Biggie Bag meal — Ottawa County Health Department (OCHD) officials visited the Jenison Wendy's and conducted an inspection that resulted in 17 health code violations at the franchise location, according to the lawsuit. The store closed temporarily to address the violations and clean the restaurant.
On Aug. 4, 2022, Aspen, who did not eat any lettuce in her meal, fell ill with nausea, abdominal pain, fever and diarrhea. Her mother took her to urgent care two days later when the 11-year-old's symptoms started getting worse. Medical professionals at Holland Hospital determined Aspen was suffering from a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infection.
"We take the health and safety of our customers very seriously," the Meritage Hospitality Group told FOX 17 in a statement. The group denied "any wrongdoing or failure" of its "food safety practices in these cases" and declined to comment further due to pending litigation. Wendy's did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital.
It was later determined the food Aspen ate from the Jenison Wendy's was tainted with E. coli.
"There's a misconception as far as the incubation period for this kind of bacteria," Worsfold explained. "It's important to know that [Aspen's infection] was a particular part of this outbreak. Hers was included … by the CDC as part of this E. coli outbreak. Even though she didn't eat the lettuce, she still got sick because of the unsanitary [conditions] and blatant disregard for basic safety practices at this restaurant."
Worsfold added that if workers at the Jenison Wendy's had followed state safety protocols, Aspen would never have suffered the E. coli infection that has allegedly led to other health conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, paralysis on the left side of her body, seizures and brain damage.
On Aug. 11 — the same day Aspen was transferred to DeVos Children's Hospital as her infection continued to worsen — the Jenison Wendy's temporarily closed for a second time after OCHD officials returned and cited more health code violations at the location.
The violations cited between July 27 and Aug. 11 included moldy and spoiled food, dirty cooking tools and utensils, diluted sanitizer, dirty non-contact food surfaces, undated produce and generally dirty premises.
Officials also noted an employee who touched their face and dirty surfaces in the establishment without washing their hands before working, employees who did not change gloves, an employee who went straight to sanitizing dishes before rinsing them, blood from ground beef dripped across a clean food surface, an un-stocked hand-washing station near the drive-thru window and multiple other violations.
Many … violations cited along with repeated violations from the previous routine inspection were observed at the time of the inspection," health officials wrote after the Aug. 11 inspection. "The large number of violations indicate that food safety is at risk, as they are cited throughout the facility and relate to most aspects of food preparation and service."
Aspen's infection eventually became critical, causing her to become nonverbal and experience paralysis on the left side of her body, according to the lawsuit.
But before she lost verbal abilities, Apsen allegedly cried, "Why am I so sick? Why? And it's so bad!"
To this day, Aspen has to take medication for her hypertension and seizures. She experiences blood sugar spikes due to her diabetes and difficulties learning at the level she once did in school. Aspen's mother works in a lab in a hospital, and her father is an engineer, Worsfold noted.
"The loss of potential in her life that was caused by this infection, to me, is the most significant component of the non-economic side of damages that we are including," the attorney said.
Aspen's family is seeking $20 million in damages for the lasting impacts of the E. coli infection that has altered the 13-year-old's life. She faces "tremendous health complications" in her future, the lawsuit states.
This post was edited on 4/19/24 at 9:56 am
Posted on 4/19/24 at 9:31 am to SteelerBravesDawg
I wish I could be on the jury... I would give Joy Lamfers so much money she couldn't spend it all in one lifetime.
Posted on 4/19/24 at 9:31 am to SteelerBravesDawg
quote:
seeking $20 million in damages
not enough, especially when attorney's will get their part and then minus all the medicals of her life.
Posted on 4/19/24 at 9:31 am to SteelerBravesDawg
There are few times where I agree with government intervention. This is one of those times. I get it's fast food and we shouldn't be eating it, but no one should end up like this.
We need more stringent inspections of these places, and they need to bring down the hammer on them.
We need more stringent inspections of these places, and they need to bring down the hammer on them.
Posted on 4/19/24 at 9:33 am to thecoconuttiger
I know that we are an overly litigious society, but in this case, it is more than warranted.
Give Joy Lamfers as much money as she wants.
This whole situation is heartbreaking.
Give Joy Lamfers as much money as she wants.
This whole situation is heartbreaking.
Posted on 4/19/24 at 9:34 am to Oates Mustache
surprised not more of this at all the fast food locations across country
if driving by them on the outside is any indication I can't imagine what the inside looks like
if driving by them on the outside is any indication I can't imagine what the inside looks like
Posted on 4/19/24 at 9:34 am to Chad504boy
Yeah you wonder how much of that $20 MIL is punitive.
Posted on 4/19/24 at 9:36 am to SteelerBravesDawg
quote:That's redundant...
contaminated Wendy's meal
Posted on 4/19/24 at 9:37 am to SteelerBravesDawg
quote:
Worsfold added that if workers at the Jenison Wendy's had followed state safety protocols.
This post was edited on 4/19/24 at 9:41 am
Posted on 4/19/24 at 9:43 am to SteelerBravesDawg
Might never eat fast food again...
Posted on 4/19/24 at 9:45 am to Oates Mustache
quote:
There are few times where I agree with government intervention. This is one of those times. I get it's fast food and we shouldn't be eating it, but no one should end up like this.
We need more stringent inspections of these places, and they need to bring down the hammer on them.
The inspections are fine, it's what follows that needs to change. Fail once, get it corrected and put on close monitoring probation for a while. Fail on the follow up inspection shortly after, pull the license for that store, put the local franchise owner and all associated restaurants under a hot list for in depth repeated inspections for the next year and give some type of serious civil penalty. Follow with a probation period for the next several years.
Posted on 4/19/24 at 9:52 am to SteelerBravesDawg
quote:
A Michigan girl has allegedly suffered permanent brain damage
You'd have to convince me of this. The "drop off in her abilities" claim sounds pretty darn vague. Plenty of kids got better grades in elementary school than middle school. And who did the testing for these percentiles they're claiming? It's not like the girl is bedridden or in a wheelchair.
On Aug. 4, 2022, Aspen, who did not eat any lettuce in her meal, fell ill with nausea, abdominal pain, fever and diarrhea. Her mother took her to urgent care two days later when the 11-year-old's symptoms started getting worse. Medical professionals at Holland Hospital determined Aspen was suffering from a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infection.
She got food poisoning. Sure, that's clear, compensate her for that. How many of you or your kids have gotten a stomach bug with diarrhea and fever? I'd venture just about everyone. What is the mechanism by which this supposedly caused "brain damage." Don't let scary words like E. coli or Shiga toxin frighten you - this is one of many causes of food poisoning that is typically self-limited. I see no mention of hospitalization or ICU stay. Sorry, but I'm skeptical. People tend to believe everything plaintiff lawyers say. Don't.
Posted on 4/19/24 at 9:55 am to SteelerBravesDawg
The worst food poisoning I ever got was likely from a Wendy's, from a fricking salad
I was in a rush and I didn't want a burger or anything so I decided to try one of their salads (this is well over 5 years ago).
I got so violently ill I was out of work for a couple of days. Just coming out of both ends for 48 hours
I was in a rush and I didn't want a burger or anything so I decided to try one of their salads (this is well over 5 years ago).
I got so violently ill I was out of work for a couple of days. Just coming out of both ends for 48 hours
Posted on 4/19/24 at 9:58 am to dcw7g
quote:
You'd have to convince me of this.
She went from this:
To this:
Convinced now?
ETA: I guess so. He exited the thread w/o answering.
This post was edited on 4/19/24 at 10:30 am
Posted on 4/19/24 at 10:01 am to Fun Bunch
quote:
Just coming out of both ends for 48 hours
Food poisoning is the absolute worst.
Posted on 4/19/24 at 10:11 am to SteelerBravesDawg
quote:
The group denied "any wrongdoing or failure" of its "food safety practices in these cases"
quote:
It was later determined the food Aspen ate from the Jenison Wendy's was tainted with E. coli.
The franchisee better go ahead and get familiar with their insurance policy
Posted on 4/19/24 at 10:12 am to SteelerBravesDawg
quote:
The violations cited between July 27 and Aug. 11 included moldy and spoiled food, dirty cooking tools and utensils, diluted sanitizer, dirty non-contact food surfaces, undated produce and generally dirty premises.
ecoli contamination was our #1 boogyman when i worked at the TCBY on highland road for 3 years in college.
but we took pride in our work and disassembled both yogurt machines religiously every single night into the 3 part sink and we didn't dare leave even a trace of taylor-grease on any part.
i also made $3.15/hr and finally got a raise to $3.30 after 2 years.
our golden days as a society are long past. people just don't give a shite anymore.
ETA YOU'RE WELCOME to every HEALTHY 50-something TD user on here who was at LSU in the late 1980s and that includes yogurt addicts Arsnsparger, Mike Archer, Bitch-face band director and my favorite, detective Cantu of the BR police department.
This post was edited on 4/19/24 at 10:17 am
Posted on 4/19/24 at 10:17 am to SteelerBravesDawg
They just had a lawsuit in Louisiana against Wendy's last year
LINK
LINK
quote:
“The double cheeseburger consumed by Mrs. Vogt contained a preformed toxin and that resulted in a food-borne contamination,” alleges the lawsuit filed in the Eastern District of Louisiana federal court in New Orleans. “Alternatively, the double cheeseburger consumed by Mrs. Vogt became contaminated via improper food maintenance, such as poor handwashing procedures resulting in food contamination.”
Posted on 4/19/24 at 10:18 am to TheDeathValley
didnt both chipotle and jack in the box kill a few dozen people over the years?
i dont understand how any company who KILLS people from mismanagement of food is allowed to keep doing business.
i dont understand how any company who KILLS people from mismanagement of food is allowed to keep doing business.
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