A Michigan girl has allegedly suffered permanent brain damage and other medical injuries after eating a contaminated Wendy’s meal from a Jenison franchise location. Aspen Lamfers’ mother, Joy Lamfers, is suing the operator, Meritage Hospitality Group, for allegedly failing to ensure proper food safety protocols were practiced at the location, leading to an E. coli outbreak in July 2022 that caused her daughter’s health to deteriorate. Aspen went to Wendy’s for dinner on the evening of Aug. 1, 2022, after softball practice and ordered a meal that included a hamburger, chicken nuggets, and french fries. Days prior, contaminated romaine lettuce was shipped to various Wendy’s locations across the Midwest, including the one in Jenison, resulting in 109 E. coli infections in six states.
Ottawa County Health Department officials visited the Jenison Wendy’s and found 17 health code violations, prompting the restaurant to temporarily close for cleaning. Despite not eating any lettuce, Aspen fell ill on Aug. 4, 2022, with symptoms of nausea, abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea. She was diagnosed with a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infection at a hospital two days later. It was later determined that the food Aspen ate from the Jenison Wendy’s was contaminated with E. coli, leading to further health conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, paralysis, seizures, and brain damage. If safety protocols had been followed, Aspen may not have suffered the infection.
On Aug. 11, the same day Aspen was transferred to DeVos Children’s Hospital, the Jenison Wendy’s closed again for more health code violations, including moldy and spoiled food, dirty cooking tools, diluted sanitizer, and other unsanitary conditions. Officials noted multiple violations related to food safety throughout the facility. Aspen’s infection eventually became critical, leaving her nonverbal, paralyzed on one side of her body, and experiencing difficulties learning at school. Despite taking medication for her health conditions, including hypertension and seizures, Aspen faces ongoing health complications that have altered her life.
Aspen’s family is seeking $20 million in damages for the lasting impacts of the E. coli infection on her life. The attorney representing the Lamfers family emphasized the loss of potential and the significant non-economic damages caused by the infection. Aspen’s mother works in a hospital lab, and her father is an engineer. The lawsuit highlights the alleged negligence of the operator in ensuring food safety practices at the Jenison Wendy’s location. The attorney expressed the emotional toll on the family and the devastating impact on Aspen’s health and future prospects as a result of the E. coli infection.
