Peppas E. coli Lawsuit

Below is information on a past E. coli outbreak linked to Peppa’s.

Using epidemiological evidence, the Hawaii Department of Health associated an E. coli outbreak with Peppa’s II Korean BBQ in Honolulu in March of 2010.  At least 7 people were sickened.  Four of the 7 were hospitalized and one is still in serious condition. According to the health department, the Honolulu-area victims were diagnosed from March 2 – 23.

Our law firm represents HUS and TTP victims and their families.  We have recovered millions from restaurants who served contaminated food. With epidemiological and microbiological evidence, restaurants can be held accountable for both illnesses of people who ate at the restaurant and others who were sickened by the outbreak-strain of E. coli O157:H7 but did not eat at the restaurant.

E coli Bacteria
E. coli bacteria at a magnification of 44, 818X

Some of the serious complications of HUS include the following:

  • Kidney failure (renal failure), which poisons the body with toxins that would have been excreted in urine (uremia)
  • Pancreatitis
  • Seizures
  • Coma
  • Stroke
  • Encephalopathy
  • Heart attack and heart failure
  • Death.

Liability and Compensation

Restaurant E. coli outbreaks can be caused by food that was contaminated before it got to the restaurant, food contaminated at the restaurant, or a contaminated water or a sick food handler who does not wash his or her hands adequately.  In each of these cases, the restaurant can be held liable for all damages to the E. coli O157:H7 victims.  Because the Hawaii Health Department is still investigating this outbreak, it is not clear who all of the defendants would be if you want to sue the restaurant for E. coli O157.

Compensation generally includes amounts for the following:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost income
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Disability
  • Loss of quality of life
  • Other damages.