A local attorney has filed the first lawsuit in Western Pennsylvania over the Cyclospora outbreak.
He tells Channel 11 the goal of the lawsuit is accountability in food safety.
“This is not a regular ‘I just don’t feel well after eating fast food.’ It is a violent outbreak,” Rob Peirce said.
That outbreak has sickened thousands of people, including a Mercer County woman who was hospitalized.
“She had severe diarrhea, severe dehydration and was hospitalized for two days,” Peirce said.
Now, she’s the first in Southwestern Pennsylvania to sue Taco Bell and Taylor Farms. Heather Kebert claims Taco Bell’s Avocado Ranch Chicken Stacker made her violently ill.
“Ms. Kebert ate at a Taco Bell in the Meadville area on July 7. A few days later, she felt ill and got dramatically worse,” he said.
Peirce is representing Kebert. He says the shredded lettuce at that Taco Bell was traced back to Taylor Farms in Mexico.
“What’s important is, if we are getting agricultural and other products from outside of the United States, then those products are examined and tested to make sure that they are safe for all of us to eat, and unfortunately, it looks like that did not occur here,” he said.
According to the CDC, there have been nearly 14,000 lab-confirmed cases of Cyclosporiasis since the start of May. Taylor Farms recalled its lettuce on July 10.
Peirce and Kebert hope the lawsuit will bring about change.
“She really wants to do what she can to make sure no one else gets sick like she did in the future,” Peirce said.
Channel 11 reached out to Taco Bell and Taylor Farms for comment, but has not yet gotten a response.
At least 14 federal lawsuits have been filed in connection to the outbreak.
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