Two Ohio lawsuits accuse Taco Bell of major Cyclospora outbreak
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - The first two lawsuits have been filed today accusing Taco Bell for making people sick with the Cyclospora parasite.
This morning a lawsuit was filed on behalf of a Texas man who claims to have contracted Cyclosporiasis just days after eating at a fast food restaurant in Youngstown, Ohio.
According to the complaint filed by Ron Simon & Associates, David Ott, who is an Army veteran, got extremely sick after eating at a Taco Bell in Youngstown on two occasions in June.
Ott was in Youngstown on business and stayed at a hotel next to a Taco Bell.
RELATED: Health officials investigate multiple cases of cyclosporiasis in Cuyahoga County
According to the lawsuit, Ott ate Taco Supremes on June 18 and June 20, and by June 22, he was showing symptoms of the parasite sickness.
The illness as described in the complaint was “excruciating abdominal pain, severe gas and bloating, diarrhea, a constant urge to vomit, low-grade fever, dizziness, nausea, and headaches.”
Ultimately, Ott was taken to the hospital, where he was given a colonoscopy, a CT scan, and extensive blood and stool studies, which confirmed he was positive for Cyclospora, the lawsuit alleges.
RELATED: Cyclosporiasis outbreak: Ohio cases surge as CDC works to identify source
“David Ott gave twenty-seven years of his life to this country. He should not have had to spend his summer vacation in a hospital bed,” a statement from attorney Ron Simon said in part.
Ott was hospitalized for two days and sent home on an antibiotic treatment.
As for Taco Bell, its media page posted this message yesterday:
“Based on ongoing conversations with public health officials, and out of an abundance of caution, Taco Bell has taken immediate action to voluntarily remove potentially impacted lettuce from a supplier in select states. The affected ingredient from our supplier is being indefinitely removed from our supply chain nationwide and will be replaced within 24 hours in select states.”
19 News has reached out to Taco Bell for a comment on the lawsuit that has been filed.
A second lawsuit was filed yesterday on behalf of a Mohammed R. Ayyad against Pacific Bells, LLC which owns and operates the Taco Bell on Lorain Road in North Olmsted.
That lawsuit claims Ayyad ate at the Taco Bell twice on June 14 when he ate five orders of Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes, and four Avocado Ranch Chicken Stackers.
The lawsuit claims he ate there again on June 21 when he ate three Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes and three Avocado Ranch Chicken Stackers.
In the filed court records Ayyad was sick through July 2, and was told on July 9 by the Cleveland Clinic he was positive for Cyclospora and was given antibiotics.
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