FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Minneapolis (Business Wire) July 2, 2008 – Pritzker | Olsen, P.A., a national food safety law firm, filed a lawsuit today on behalf of 20-year-old Zachary Everhart, who became ill with an E. coli O157:H7 infection after eating Kroger ground beef.  The lawsuit was filed in Ohio state court.   The defendants in this case are Kroger Co. and Nebraska Beef, Ltd. 

Everhart’s illness was confirmed by genetic testing. The strain of E. coli O157:H7 found in his stool sample matched the outbreak strain found in stool samples from other victims in Ohio and Michigan, in samples of Kroger brand ground beef purchased at Kroger stores in Ohio and Michigan, in samples of Kroger brand ground beef found in patients’ residences and in two federally-inspected meat plants, according to the CDC and a June 30, 2008 release notice from the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service.

In response to this outbreak, Kroger Co. recalled an “undetermined amount” of ground beef products and Nebraska Beef, Ltd. recalled approximately 531,707 pounds of ground beef components. [Note: The Nebraska Beef recall has been expanded to include over 5 million pounds of ground beef components.]

According to the most recent information from the CDC, health officials have confirmed 40 E. coli O157:H7 cases connected to this outbreak. [Note: Since this press release was issued, there have been 3 additional confirmed cases.]

Everhart is represented by the national food safety law firm of Pritzker | Olsen, P.A.located in Minneapolis, MN. The firm has been involved in most of the major foodborne illness outbreaks involving E. coli O157:H7and other dangerous pathogens and has collected millions on behalf of foodborne illness survivors and the families of people killed by foodborne illness.

“Both of the implicated companies, Kroger and Nebraska Beef, owe it to their customers and the public in general to do several things,” commented lead attorney Fred Pritzker. “First, they should immediately agree to pay for the medical bills and wage loss for all the confirmed outbreak survivors. Second, they should explain how this recalled product became contaminated. Third, they need to explain how they intend to remedy this situation and make sure it never happens again. Finally, they should take responsibility and apologize for the harm they caused.”

For additional information, please contact Senior Partner, Fred Pritzker toll-free at 1-888-377-8900, via email at fhp@pritzkerlaw.com  or on the web at www.pritzkerlaw.com.

For more information, please see the following excerpts from the complaint (the document filed with the court that sets out the reasons for the lawsuit) filed by Pritzker | Olsen, P.A. in the case of Zachary D. Everhart v. Kroger Co. and Nebraska Beef:

• Ohio laws under which Mr. Zachary is asking for compensation
• Compensation for Mr. Zachary due to injuries caused by Kroger Co. and Nebraska Beef, Ltd.