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E. coli Suit Filed Against King Garden Buffet

Wooster, OH — A lawsuit has been filed against the King Garden Restaurant located at 2241 Benden Drive on behalf of Alex and Christine Conway of Wooster, whose 2-year-old daughter, Lillian, developed an E. coli O157:H7 infection after eating at the restaurant on September 15. The Conways are represented by Marler Clark, the Seattle law firm known nation-wide for its representation of victims of food-borne illnesses.

Lillian Conway is one of seven confirmed victims in this E. coli outbreak, and the Wayne County Health Department is running lab tests to determine whether five more people are also victims. No single food source has been determined to be the cause of this outbreak.

“The restaurant appears to have been negligent in enforcing safety standards,” said attorney William Marler. “If that many people are sick, and a single source hasn’t been pinpointed, restaurant employees must have cross-contaminated food. What we know is that Lillian’s condition was serious and she and her parents deserve compensation for what they went through.”

Lillian Conway fell ill on September 18, three days after eating at the King Garden Restaurant. The Conways kept in constant contact with Lillian’s pediatrician, kept her hydrated and cared for her at home until September 22, when she developed bloody diarrhea and they took her to the emergency room at Wooster Community Hospital. There, a stool culture returned positive for E. coli O157:H7. She was later sent home for further care and observation, and is slowly recovering.

“This is something no parent should have to go through, yet I’ve seen it time and again.” Marler said. “To watch your child suffer because of someone else’s negligence and not be able to do anything about it is sheer agony. Restaurant owners and managers must do a better job of protecting their customers.”

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Background: Marler Clark has extensive experience representing victims of bacterial illnesses. William Marler represented Brianne Kiner in her $15.6 million settlement with Jack in the Box in 1993. In 1998, Marler Clark resolved the Odwalla Juice E. coli outbreak for the five families whose children developed HUS and were severely injured after consuming contaminated apple juice for a reported $12 million. Marler Clark recently secured a verdict of $4.75 million against a School District in Eastern Washington for sickening children with E. coli-contaminated food. Marler Clark has represented individuals and families in E. coli outbreaks tied to fairs in Ohio, Wisconsin and New York.

More about the King Garden restaurant E. coli outbreak can be found in the Case News area of this site.

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