HOUSTON – Barely a week after The Food and Drug Administration announced that romaine lettuce is unsafe for human consumption, a Brazos County man filed what is likely the first Texas lawsuit focusing on the purportedly tainted vegetable.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas records show that Joe Stratta initiated litigation against Beef O’Brady’s, Inc. and FSC Franchise Co., LLC on Nov. 26.
The 12-page original petition asserts that Stratta earlier this month ate a Caesar salad which included romaine lettuce at a Beef O’Brady’s eatery in Crestview, Fla. According to court documents, “the romaine lettuce products, manufactured and sold by both defendants, were contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.”
Stratta allegedly “developed watery diarrhea and severe abdominal pain” four days after eating the salad.
“His illness became worse, and he began to also have cardiac and kidney issues, the suit says. “Joe was ultimately diagnosed with an E. coli O157:H7 infection, cardiac issues, and acute kidney failure.”
The plaintiff was confined in a local hospital for five days before returning to Texas.
Stratta says that he “continues to recover and faces uncertain future medical complications.”
Consequently, the plaintiff seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
John D. Lange of The Lange Law Firm PLLC in Houston is representing the complainant.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas Case No. 4:18-CV-4457