A Wendy's franchise in Michigan is facing a $20 million lawsuit filed by a family whose 11-year-old daughter fell critically ill after consuming food from the restaurant.
The incident raised concerns about the raises concerns about Wendy's food handling and hygiene practices.
Aspen Lamfers, the young girl, allegedly suffered permanent brain damage after she ate food from a Wendy's franchise.
According to the lawsuit, Aspen arrived at the Wendy's in Jenison in August 2022, following her softball practice.
At the restaurant, Aspen ordered a 'Biggie Bag' meal, which included a hamburger, chicken nuggets, and french fries.
However, three days after consuming the meal, Aspen began experiencing symptoms such as nausea, stomach pain, fever, and diarrhea.
Aspen's health worsened in the days that followed, causing her mom to immediately rush her to the hospital when discovered blood in her stool,
Despite receiving initial care and being discharged, her condition continued to decline, resulting in her being readmitted to the hospital on August 7.
She was later transferred to a different hospital, where she underwent dialysis and was placed in the pediatric intensive care unit.
The lawsuit claims that Aspen was diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a severe complication resulting from an infection caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).
Additionally, the little girl was also found to have stage three kidney failure, further adding to her already critical condition.
Tragically, the lawsuit also stated that Aspen experienced facial drooping, weakness on the left side of her body, numbness, and paralysis.
Tom Worsfold, the family's lawyer, expressed their strong anger.
He emphasized that Aspen's life had been permanently impacted due to the apparent neglect of public health and safety by Wendy's.
Aspen had to undergo extensive medical treatments, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, nursing care, and counseling.
Furthermore, the lawsuit highlights the huge impact on Aspen's academic performance, indicating a significant decline in her educational progress.
According to the family of Aspen, before the incident, she scored well above average in reading and math.
However, after her infection, her reading level dropped to that of a fourth-grader, and her math skills fell to the ninth percentile.
In July 2022, violations were detected, including moldy strawberries, spoiled tomatoes, and improperly stored chili.
Another inspection revealed additional breaches of health codes, including inadequate hand-washing practices and unsafe storage of raw beef.
Following the incident, the Wendy's franchise changed management and implemented better health and safety procedures.
The family is suing the Meritage Hospitality Group, the operator of the Michigan Wendy's franchise, seeking justice for Aspen's suffering.
