Wendy’s sued for alleged salmonella food poisoning

GRETNA – A Jefferson Parish woman is suing a fast food corporation for food poisoning she claims to have received at one of its local restaurants.

Suzanne Pursell, and husband Ricky, filed suit against Wendy’s International Inc. and the unknown manager of Wendy’s Restaurant No. 1585 in the 24th Judicial District Court on April 18.

Pursell claims that on May 8, 2012 she visited the Wendy’s located at 7009 Veterans Memorial Blvd. in Metairie where she ordered and ate a salad. The plaintiff alleges that she became violently ill after ingesting the salad and had extreme pain in her abdomen as well as diarrhea.

Pursell asserts that symptoms were so bad she went to the East Jefferson General Hospital emergency room five days after eating the salad. Pursell alleges that she was diagnosed with severe pancolitis, which is caused by salmonella food poisoning. The plaintiff believes she received the salmonella poisoning from tainted food sold to her by the defendant.

The defendant is accused of failing to properly preserve ingredients, allowing the meal to be served without following proper procedures to ensure it is not hazardous, failing to notify the public of risk of eating the salad in question, failing to take proper action to ensure the food served in the restaurant was not contaminated and failing to properly train and supervise employees to keep food safe.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for mental anguish, medical expenses, pain and suffering, wage loss, loss of enjoyment of life and permanent disability.

Pursell is represented by James S. Rees IV of the Metairie-based Charbonnet Law Firm LLC.

The case has been assigned to Division K Judge Ellen Shirer Kovach.

Case no. 726-155.