A Michigan girl named Aspen Lamfers has allegedly suffered permanent brain damage and other medical injuries after eating a contaminated meal from a Wendy’s franchise in Jenison. Aspen’s mother, Joy Lamfers is suing Meritage Hospitality Group, the operator of the Wendy’s location, for failing to ensure proper food safety protocols were followed, resulting in an E. coli outbreak in July 2022 that affected Aspen’s health negatively. Aspen ordered a “Biggie Bag” meal from Wendy’s, which included a hamburger, chicken nuggets, and french fries. Days prior to Aspen’s meal, a shipment of romaine lettuce contaminated with E. coli had been delivered to various Wendy’s locations in the Midwest.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention traced 109 E. coli infections in six states back to the contaminated lettuce shipment, with 67 cases reported in Michigan. Health department officials visited the Jenison Wendy’s and found 17 health code violations, leading to a temporary closure for cleaning and addressing the violations. Despite not consuming the lettuce, Aspen fell ill with symptoms of nausea, abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea, and was diagnosed with a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infection days after eating at Wendy’s. The Meritage Hospitality Group denied any wrongdoing in their food safety practices, attributing Aspen’s illness to the outbreak.
It was later confirmed that the food Aspen consumed was tainted with E. coli due to unsanitary conditions and a disregard for safety practices at the Jenison Wendy’s location. Aspen experienced a range of health issues such as hypertension, diabetes, paralysis on her left side, seizures, and brain damage as a result of the infection. Health officials found numerous violations upon a second inspection of the restaurant, including outdated produce, dirty cooking tools, and an employee not following proper sanitation procedures. Aspen had to be transferred to DeVos Children’s Hospital, where she lost verbal abilities, became nonverbal, and suffered more severe symptoms of the infection.
Despite being on medication for hypertension and seizures and facing difficulties learning in school, Aspen’s family is seeking $20 million in damages for the impact of the E. coli infection on her life. The lawsuit states that Aspen will continue to face tremendous health complications in the future due to the lasting effects of the infection. Aspen’s attorney emphasized the loss of potential in her life due to the infection as a significant aspect of the damages being sought in the lawsuit, highlighting the devastating impact on Aspen’s health and quality of life. The family hopes to hold the operator of the Wendy’s location accountable for the negligence that led to Aspen’s suffering and seek justice for the lasting impacts on her health.
