Recently, you might have seen Wendy’s facing a lawsuit, and it is a pretty serious one. Today, we now know it as the famous Wendy’s Lawsuit Michigan which turned things quite a bit in the fast food industry in the United States. But what happened and how did all this start? Well, it was August 1, 2022, when an 11-year-old girl named Aspen Lamfers went to Wendy’s and ordered a “Biggie Bag” meal which consisted of a hamburger, chicken nuggets, and french fries. At this time, an E. coli outbreak was linked to romaine lettuce shipped to several Wendy’s locations in the Midwest, including the Jenison branch, and a health inspection conducted just days previously found 17 infractions at this Wendy’s, leading to a temporary closure for cleanup.
What Is E. Coli?
It is a nasty bacterium that can cause major sickness. Among the symptoms include nausea, stomach ache, fever, and diarrhea. Aspen developed these symptoms following having that meal at Wendy’s. Doctors in urgent care diagnosed her with a possibly fatal Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infection.
Holding Wendy’s Accountable
Joy Lamfers, Aspen’s mother, has sued Meritage Hospitality Group because of all this. She says Aspen’s disease resulted from their carelessness and disregard of food safety standards. The lawsuit specifics the several health code infractions discovered in the establishment. Aspen avoided lettuce, but the filthy surroundings are claimed to have caused her illness. Previous health inspections have revealed major infractions, therefore underlining the restaurant’s neglect of safe and clean surroundings.
What Was Found In Health Inspections?
Among the other infractions discovered by the health inspections at Wendy’s in Jenison were rotting food, filthy cooking utensils, diluted sanitizer, and undated fruit. Workers were also observed engaging in inadequate hygienic practices like improper hand washing and neglect of gloves changing. These problems seriously jeopardized food safety, hence the restaurant closed temporarily in July and August 2022 for extensive cleaning.
Aspen’s Battle with Severe Health Issues
Aspen’s E. coli illness brought significant, long-lasting medical issues. Along with seizures, she had diabetes, hypertension, lifelong brain damage, and left half of her body paralysis. Her life has been profoundly changed by these disorders. Once a shining student, Aspen now suffers academically and emotionally, therefore impacting her and her family’s quality of life.
The Legal Battle
The case aims at damages of $20 million. Thomas Worsfold, Aspen’s attorney, contends that Wendy’s disregard of food safety standards directly resulted in Aspen’s extreme medical problems. Meritage Hospitality Group insists they follow correct food safety standards and deny any misconduct. Still, the discovered health infractions during inspections point differently. Aspen’s family is asking for justice and responsibility, thus the lawsuit is still in progress. All in all, the court hearings are still being conducted regarding this case, but let’s see what unfolds for Aspen and her family and what the consequences turn out to be for Meritage Hospitality Group and Wendy’s. Worry not though, we’ll keep you posted regarding all this.
Food Safety in the Spotlight
This lawsuit emphasizes the great necessity of rigorous food safety rules and fast-food business responsibility. It shows how seriously food safety breaches may affect you. This Wendy’s Lawsuit Michigan case really was an eye-opener for everyone. To stop such things from happening further in the future, it is also super important that health and safety inspections are done really often and if neglect is found on the other end, they must be fined or punished with a temporary closure.
