Two more Snohomish County residents filed lawsuits yesterday against the Ixtapa Family Mexican Restaurant in Lake Stevens, Washington.
According to lawsuits filed by Laurie Bunney and Amanda Vest, both women ate at Ixtapa on October 9, 2008 and became ill with E. coli O157:H7 infections in the following days. Both women incurred medical expenses and wage loss as a result of their E. coli infections. They are represented by the Seattle law firm Marler Clark.
In October of 2008, Snohomish County Health Department (SCHD) epidemiologists investigated the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak among Ixtapa patrons. Dates of illness onset ranged from October 7-17, 2008.
SCHD ultimately identified twenty-three confirmed and probable cases, and forty-one suspect cases of E. coli linked to the consumption of food at Ixtapa restaurant. Four confirmed cases were hospitalized, and one developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a severe complication of E. coli infection that can lead to kidney failure.
Marler Clark has filed five lawsuits against the restaurant since the 2008 E. coli outbreak. The firm filed two E. coli lawsuits against Ixtapa on November 16.
