Five More E. Coli Lawsuits Settled

Wed., May 27, 1998

From Staff

Five more lawsuits have been settled against Odwalla Inc. over an E. coli outbreak that was traced to unpasteurized apple juice.

The terms were not announced but were “very fair,” attorney William Marler, who represented children who were sickened and their families, said on Tuesday.

The deal, which needs a judge’s approval, brings the total number of settlements to 17 out of 20 lawsuits stemming from the outbreak, company spokesman Chris Gallagher said.

At least 66 people contracted E. coli bacterial infections linked to unpasteurized apple juice from Odwalla in the fall of 1996. A 16-month-old Colorado girl died.

Odwalla, the nation’s largest fresh juice producer, subsequently began pasteurizing apple juice at its processing plant in Dinuba, Calif.

The three remaining cases involve children affected by the bacterial outbreak.

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