Norman woman sues Taco Bell after getting salmonella | News

NORMAN, Okla. -- More than a dozen Oklahomans are sickened in a salmonella outbreak linked to fast food restaurant Taco Bell. The first lawsuit has now been filed here at home by a woman who got sick late last year.

In all, 68 people over 10 states fell ill during this outbreak.

The civil suit specifically names two Taco Bell restaurants in Norman for serving contaminated food.

According to court records, the victim in one case had severe abdominal cramps, coupled with bloody diarrhea, before ultimately testing positive for salmonella.

"Our client fell sick for multiple weeks. She had significant problems and had to go to the doctor to get treatment for her illness," attorney Drew Falkenstein said.

Following a CDC investigation on the salmonella outbreak, the health organization claimed the contamination likely occurred before the food arrived at the individual restaurants. 

Drew agrees.

"I mean this wasn't something that Taco Bells in Cleveland County caused," Falkenstein said.

Still Drew says that doesn't let the local Taco Bell's off the hook.

As the civil suit reads, "The defendant owed a duty to all persons who consumed its products to manufacture and sell food that was safe to eat."

"I look at these outbreaks and this one is no exception as an opportunity for these companies to learn. This is not Taco Bell's first go round with salmonella or e coli outbreaks," Falkenstein said.

The lawsuit is seeking more than $75,000 in damages.

The victim is said to be doing OK but her attorney says she's not willing to talk publicly about the issue.