Foodpoisoningnews spoke to attorneys from the National E. coli Law firm of Ron Simon and one of San Diego’s preeminent law firms, Gomez Trial Attorneys. They worked together to successfully prosecute the claims of the young children who were impacted in the deadly E. coli outbreak linked to the San Diego County Fair Petting Zoo, and before that, for the Marine Corps Recruits also sickened in San Diego in 2019, have now launched an investigation into the E. coli outbreak linked to Miguel’s Cocina and have already been contacted by several diners affected.
Foodpoisoningnews spoke with attorneys from the National E. coli Law firm Ron Simon & Associates and one of San Diego’s preeminent law firms, Gomez Trial Attorneys. Together, they successfully prosecuted claims related to past E. coli outbreaks in San Diego, including those linked to the County Fair petting zoo and Marine Corps base. Now, they have launched an investigation into the recent E. coli outbreak at Miguel’s Cocina restaurant.
Outbreak Details
15 people have been sickened in this E. coli outbreak, with at least 7 hospitalized between October 13-19. The San Diego Health Department is still searching for the specific source of the Shiga-toxin producing E. coli bacteria, though further testing is underway. County health officer Dr. Wilma Wooten advised, “People who visited the restaurant and are feeling ill should see their doctor as soon as possible.”
Severe Cases
Among those hospitalized is a 14-year-old boy fighting for his life with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe complication that can lead to kidney failure. The boy’s mother said he complained of headaches and fever after eating carne asada at Miguel’s, before developing bloody diarrhea. By the weekend, his kidneys began failing, and he was placed on dialysis.
Restaurant Closure and Ownership
Miguel’s Cocina has temporarily closed for the duration of the investigation. The establishment is owned and operated by Brigantine Restaurants.
Legal Perspective
According to national E. coli lawyer Ron Simon, interviewed for his report, “many times a one-off restaurant fails to have the insurance coverage needed to cover medical bills and lost wages for the victims. In this case, we are confident that Brigantine Restaurants will step forward to cover these costs and the damages related to these foodborne E. coli illnesses. Brigantine Restaurants CEO said in a statement: “At this time, no link has been made to the other 20 facilities operated by the Brigantine restaurants around San Diego County.”
