Ron Simon & Associates Files First Salmonella Cucumber Lawsuit in California

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Sep 11, 2015, 12:23 ET

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the national food safety law firm of Ron Simon & Associates, along with Gomez Trial Attorneys of San Diego, filed the first California lawsuit stemming from Salmonella-contaminated cucumbers. The cucumbers were imported from Mexico and distributed to numerous retail outlets and restaurants in the United States by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce (A&W) under the Limited Edition label. CDC health officials have linked the tainted cucumbers to a nationwide Salmonella Poona outbreak.

The lawsuit was filed against A&W in San Diego County on behalf of Doris Zieman. A&W is headquartered in San Diego. A copy of the lawsuit is attached.

On the evening of August 13^th, Doris Zieman was celebrating her 49^th wedding anniversary at a Red Lobster restaurant with her husband. She consumed a salad made with A&W Limited Edition cucumbers, while her husband opted for a salad made without cucumbers.

Within 48 hours, Doris began to experience abdominal cramps, diarrhea, headaches, fever, body aches, and chills. She was taken to the hospital and admitted for food poisoning.

Stool cultures taken at the hospital revealed that she had tested positive for Salmonella Poona matching the outbreak strain linked to tainted A&W Limited Edition cucumbers.

Doris is still recovering from her Salmonella illness.

Andrew & Williamson Recalls Tainted Limited Edition Cucumbers

In August of 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state and local health agencies became aware of a growing number of Salmonella Poona cases nationwide. Within a matter of weeks, the CDC identified 341 victims in 30 states. The outbreak had hospitalized at least 70 and caused the deaths of 2 individuals.

Federal investigators identified A&W Limited Edition cucumbers imported from Mexico as the likely source of the outbreak. Testing of leftover A&W cucumbers from restaurants and grocery stores where victims had eaten subsequently tested positive for Salmonella. San Diego health officials also collected cucumbers from the A&W facility which tested positive for Salmonella.

On September 4^th, A&W recalled its Limited Edition cucumbers, referred to as a "slicer" or "American" cucumbers. They are dark green in color, typically measure 7 to 10 inches in length, and are traditionally sold in bulk displays without any individual packaging or plastic wrapping.

Food Safety Attorney Ron Simon Issues Statement for Victims and Establishes Salmonella Claim Center

National food safety attorney Ron Simon, who represents Doris Zieman and several other victims of the outbreak, issued the following statement today: "Americans are relying more and more on imported foods, including produce from Mexico. Unfortunately, when importers like A&W don't properly screen the products they import, outbreaks can and do happen. In these lawsuits, we will examine how A&W failed and make sure that it takes the steps necessary to insure that this does not happen again."

Mr. Simon and his law firm have established a Salmonella Claim Center to assist victims in the outbreak. The Salmonella Claim Center can be reached toll-free at 1-888-335-4901.

About Food Safety Attorney Ron Simon

Over the last 20 years, Ron Simon and his colleagues have prosecuted thousands of food poisoning cases for victims across the United States. His work has resulted in numerous upgrades to food safety procedures in Fortune 500 companies and in legislation designed to protect consumers from dangerous food-borne pathogens.

Mr. Simon and his clients have been featured on NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX and virtually all other major television networks and print media. Mr. Simon has collected over $600,000,000 for his clients. He regularly publishes articles about food safety and litigation at www.foodpoisoningnews.com which are read by viewers in over 180 countries.

Through litigation, media commentary, and his food poisoning publications, Mr. Simon relentlessly challenges food manufacturers, distributors, and restaurants to do a better job in making our food safe.

For media inquiries or more information on the salmonella outbreak and ongoing litigation, please contact Ron Simon directly at (713) 819-8116 or [email protected].

SOURCE Ron Simon & Associates