Wedding Trip Story Highlights Overlooked Considerations in a Foodborne Illness Case

 Posted on April 12, 2022 in Food poisoning claim

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 50 million Americans suffer from some type of foodborne illness or food poisoning in an average year. Of course, foodborne illnesses are also a problem throughout the rest of the world as well.

Consider the example of a British couple who planned to celebrate their wedding and enjoy a honeymoon trip to the United States—complete with a Hawaiian cruise, a visit to Disneyland, and a few days in sunny Los Angeles. Everything was coming together nicely for the bride and groom until she—along with more than two dozen wedding guests—fell ill following the reception at a well-known wedding venue in London.

The Background

The couple got married in March 2018 after more than two years of planning and finding the right venue. They selected a particular venue based on recommendations and favorable reviews. However, following the reception, the bride plus a staggering 28 of the 180 guests reported suffering from food poisoning. A report by Public Health England would eventually determine that a campylobacter outbreak occurred that day, most likely caused by contaminated chicken liver pâté that the guests were served.

Unfortunately for the bride, she did not develop symptoms until she was already on board her honeymoon flight to Los Angeles. Her upset stomach eventually turned into diarrhea and fever. As the honeymoon continued, her symptoms got worse. She reportedly experienced headaches, sleep disturbances, dehydration, stomach cramps, and weight loss. Things were so bad, according to the woman, that she could not enjoy the trip that they had been planning for so long. She was going to the bathroom about once every 20 minutes and was not able to use public transportation.

When the couple returned home, they enlisted the help of a lawyer who assisted them in securing a settlement for themselves and their guests. However, the story does not end there.

Mental Health Considerations

Following the incident, the bride says her life has not been the same. She now battles chronic anxiety and depression related to her terrible experience, and the memories of her wedding have been tainted. “I cannot even look back on my wedding day with fond memories,” she told Newsweek. “They have all been overshadowed by the harrowing ordeal caused by the food poisoning.” She also added that it was “unbearable” for her to learn that her family and friends were suffering from food poisoning also—the “realization that this is how people would remember our special day.”

Long-term mental health concerns can be part of a compensation package in legal actions related to foodborne illnesses. If the victim has suffered psychologically as a result of food poisoning linked to negligence, treatment costs can be recovered. A qualified food poisoning attorney can also help calculate a fair amount of compensation for pain and suffering.

Contact an Illinois Food Poisoning Lawyer

If you or a loved one falls victim to food poisoning at a marriage celebration during the fast-approaching “wedding season,” the team at Newland & Newland LLP is here to help you seek justice. Call our Chicago foodborne illness attorneys at 312-981-0409 to discuss your case in a free consultation today. We will do everything we can to ensure that your best interests are fully protected.

Source:

https://www.newsweek.com/bride-28-guests-food-poisoning-wedding-ruined-disney-honeymoon-1696003