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Lawsuit filed by E. coli victim

The News Tribune

Tacoma, Washington

August 22, 2008

A victim of a June E. coli outbreak in Thurston and Pierce counties has filed suit in King County Superior Court.

The suit filed Wednesday by Federal Way resident Heather Whybrew named Northwest Fruit and Produce Inc. and unidentified growers, shippers and suppliers.

Whybrew was a student at Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland when she was infected. Ten people were sickened in the outbreak, which was traced to bagged, commercial romaine lettuce, according to a statement from Whybrew’s attorneys.

“Leafy greens from California are the sleeping giant,” said William Marler, Whybrew’s attorney.

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