What We Do
Foodborne Illness
- Food Poisoning Lawyer
- Food Recalls
- Food Poisoning Outbreaks
- Food Safety
- Botulism
- Campylobacter
- E.Coli
- Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
- Hepatitis-A
- Listeria
- Norovirus
- Salmonella
- Shigella
- Food Safety Law Blog
- Food Poisoning Law Blog
- E. coli Lawyer Blog
Welcome to Pritzker | Ruohonen
PulseNet
PulseNet has revolutionized foodborne outbreak investigations, making it possible to quickly identify a multi-state outbreak. It is a network of local health departments, state health departments and federal agencies (CDC, USDA-FSIS, FDA) that maintains a database of the DNA fingerprints (PFGE patterns) of bacterial foodborne pathogens, including Escherichia coli O157:H7, Campylobacter, Listeria, Salmonella and Shigella that have sickened people throughout the country.
The PulseNet computer database of PFGE patterns is housed at CDC. PulseNet participants can submit PFGE patterns of pathogens that have made people sick to the database over the Internet. The PulseNet computer then automatically scans previously submitted patterns searching for matches, i.e., indistinguishable PFGE patterns of pathogens that have made other people sick around the country. If a match is found, a signal is given to the submitter that duplicate patterns are present and where they came from, so that an investigation can begin to look for a common source.
PulseNet is an invaluable resource that identifies multi-state outbreaks that would have most likely gone unnoticed. In the 2006 E. coli outbreak linked to bagged, fresh spinach, state epidemiologists uncovered the outbreak using PulseNet technology and quickly alerted the CDC. Within a short period of time, the FDA issued a warning regarding fresh, bagged spinach that may have prevented many more illnesses and deaths.
Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) is a methodology that digests bacterial DNA into fragments which can be run on gels, which produces unique patterns. Like human fingerprints, each bacteria and its offspring have a unique PFGE pattern. If two bacteria are found with an indistinguishable pattern, it is likely that they have a common source and may be part of an outbreak. Read more about PFGE.
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Firm News
Fred Pritzker Listed in The Best Lawyers in America
Fred Pritzker has been notified that he will again be listed in The Best Lawyers in America.
Pain and Suffering
Attorney Rich Ruohonen recently chaired a legal seminar on obtaining compensation for pain and suffering.
E. coli Wrongful Death Settlement
We have recently settled a number of E. coli cases involving victims of various E. coli outbreaks, including a wrongful death claim.
Attorney Rich Ruohonen Has Article Published
Rich Ruohonen's recently published article addresses effective cross examination of the defence neuropsychologist.
Foodborne Outbreaks
- Nebraska E. coli Outbreak Associated with Roast Beef
- Hepatitis A - La Mesa California Chipotle - Lawyer and Lawsuit: San Diego County hepatitis A outbreak
- Salmonella - Puffed Rice Recall and Puffed Wheat Recall: Malt-O-Meal cereal recall.
- Minnesota Salmonella - Milford Valley Farms Lawsuit: Frozen chicken product.
- Salmonella - Agropecuaria Montelibano Cantaloupe Recall: Cantaloupe from Honduras.
- Salmonella Litchfield Cantaloupe Lawsuit: Recall of Dole, Chiquita and other brands.
- Honolulu E. coli - Sekiya's Lawsuit and Lawyer: E. coli associated with Hawaii restaurant.
- Alabama E. coli - Church Supper: Outbreak associated with Eastern Shore Baptis Church.
- E. coli - Rochester Meat Company Recall and Lawsuit: Ground beef recall.
- E. coli - Jeno's and Totino's Pizza Recall and Lawsuit: Pepperoni on pizza.
- E. coli - Topps Recall and Lawsuit: Hamburger patty recall.
- E. coli - Cargill/Sam's Club Recall and Lawsuit: Ground beef patty recall.
- Listeria - Whittier Farms Recall and Lawsuit: Miscarriage and death linked to milk.
- Hawaii Salmonella - Tuna Recall and Lawsuit
- Salmonella - Safeway Ground Beef Recall and Lawsuit