Michigan Family Sues Wendy's for $20 Million After 11-Year-Old Girl Suffered Deadly E.Coli Infection

By Madz Dizon

Apr 19, 2024 05:20 AM EDT

Michigan Family Sues Wendy's for $20 Million After 11-Year-Old Girl Suffered Deadly E.Coli Infection
A general view of a Wendy's restaurant on September 15, 2022 in Farmingdale, New York, United States. Many families along with businesses are suffering the effects of inflation as the economy is dictating a change in spending habits.
(Photo : Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

A $20 million lawsuit claims that a Michigan girl has suffered lasting brain damage as a result of a Wendy's dinner.

Aspen Lamfers was 11 years old when she contracted an E. coli infection that resulted in diabetes, partial paralysis, and cognitive loss.

Wendy's Sued for $20 Million Over 'Dirty Meal' That Caused Brain, Kidney Damage to Michigan Girl

In the lawsuit filed on April 4, Aspen's family claimed the she was served an infected meal at a "dirty" Wendy's in Jenison, Michigan, a census-designated place outside of Grand Rapids.

The girl went to the store on August 1, 2022, the same month the fast-food company was tied to a massive E. coli outbreak that resulted in over 100 infections nationwide.

According to Fox News, Aspen received a "Biggie Bag," which included a burger, fries, and chicken nuggets, from the establishment following softball practice.

Her lunch lacked romaine lettuce, which was later discovered to be contaminated with bacteria, but the lawsuit claims other health code breaches occurred at the restaurant, potentially leading to infection.

On August 4, three days after her lunch, Aspen began to feel sick and informed her mother that she had stomach discomfort, fever, nausea, and diarrhea.

According to the lawsuit, her condition had deteriorated to the point where she discovered blood in her stool on August 6. Her mother took her to the hospital, where she was treated overnight before being sent home.

However, she continued to experience significant digestive troubles and claimed intense stomach pain in the days after the consultation.

When Aspen's kidneys failed on August 11, she was admitted to a children's hospital's intensive care unit and started on dialysis.

She had hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially fatal condition that can induce kidney or liver failure. According to the lawsuit, three days later she began to have terrible headaches, weakness on her left side, and face drooping.

Neurological tests revealed that she had a lack of activity in her right hemisphere at the time, and an enlarged brain due to the illness, as per Daily Mail.

She suffered for weeks in the hospital and experienced two big seizures on August 20. It wasn't until September 9 that she was allowed to return home with orders to continue physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

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Aspen Lanfers Still Suffers

In the case, Aspen's family says her severe health concern was caused by a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infection.

Years later, they allege Aspen is still experiencing physical and emotional issues, with no clear resolution in sight. Attorney Tom Worsfold, who represents the family, stated, "This is something she'll have to deal with for the rest of her life."

Worsfold characterized Aspen as a typical child who excelled in school and enjoyed athletics in her younger years.

Now, he claims she struggles to get through the day due to extreme weakness and impaired memory.

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