Federico's Mexican Food Sued Over "Bloody Diarrhea Outbreak"

Well, that didn't take long -- a lawsuit already has been filed against Federico's Mexican Food, which county health officials said was the source of a "bloody diarrhea outbreak" in the West Valley.According to the latest count from Maricopa County Public Health, 33 people were sickened and 15 of those...

By Matthew Hendley

August 6, 2013

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18478561",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "16759093",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759092",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759094",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        }
      ]

Well, that didn't take long -- a lawsuit already has been filed against Federico's Mexican Food, which county health officials said was the source of a "bloody diarrhea outbreak" in the West Valley.

According to the latest count from Maricopa County Public Health, 33 people were sickened and 15 of those people landed in a hospital.

See also:
-Maricopa County Officials Say There's a "Bloody Diarrhea Outbreak"

The outbreak only came from one Federico's location -- the one in Litchfield Park -- and health officials attribute it to a certain kind of E. coli bacteria.

One person, Bryan Clayton, ate at the location on July 27 and 29. He's the one suing.

Clayton had chicken on both occasions, first in tacos, then in a burrito, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit contends Clayton was hospitalized on August 1 with "grossly bloody bouts of diarrhea," and remained hospitalized as the lawsuit was filed on August 5.

Clayton's seeking damages to be determined at trial.

Check out the lawsuit below:

Federico's lawsuit

Send feedback and tips to the author.
Follow Matthew Hendley on Twitter at @MatthewHendley.

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.