Families of people who got hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, have filed lawsuits. Each case followed a foodborne E. coli infection. The suits name restaurants, growers, and food companies. They point to kidney failure, dialysis, and other reported injuries.
The complaints allege strict liability, negligence, negligence per se, and breach of warranty. Plaintiffs seek damages. These cover medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Cases are filed one by one. Each ties to its own outbreak. The newest was amended June 12, 2026. It added three food-distribution defendants over the supply chain. No HUS multidistrict litigation has formed yet.
- Case or litigation name: Sabaite v. TKS Restaurants, LLC, et al. (the Kebab Shop case)
- Defendants: TKS Restaurants, LLC (The Kebab Shop) and Olympia Food Industries; US Foods and Dot Foods added June 12, 2026
- Court and docket number, when available: Los Angeles County Superior Court; docket number not published in the firm’s releases
- MDL number, judge, and case count, when an MDL exists: No MDL. The JPML’s pending list, read September 21, 2026, shows none; HUS claims proceed as individual suits
- Filing date: May 29, 2026; amended June 12, 2026
- Main allegations: Strict product liability, breach of implied warranty, negligence, and negligence per se over E. coli-contaminated beef kofta
- Products or people involved: Beef kofta from The Kebab Shop’s Los Feliz Boulevard, Los Angeles location (about April 1, 2026); a hospitalized minor child
Table Of Contents
Latest Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Lawsuit Updates
June 12, 2026: Marler Clark Adds Three Distributors as Defendants
On June 12, 2026, Marler Clark amended its lawsuit over the Kebab Shop E. coli outbreak. It added US Foods Holding Corp., US Foods, Inc., and Dot Foods, Inc. as defendants [1].
The firm said its investigation traced the beef through the food-distribution chain before it reached the restaurant. The amended complaint seeks damages for the child’s medical costs and future care.
May 29, 2026: Lawsuit Filed over Kebab Shop E. Coli Outbreak
On May 29, 2026, Marler Clark and Quirk Law Firm sued The Kebab Shop in Los Angeles court over contamination traced to its Los Feliz Boulevard location. The suit also named its supplier, Olympia Food Industries [2].
USDA FSIS had traced the outbreak to the restaurant’s beef kofta. The complaint says the child was hospitalized with HUS after eating the tainted kofta in April 2026.
April 17, 2025: Marler Clark Files Suits Against Taylor Farms
On April 17, 2025, Marler Clark filed three federal lawsuits against Taylor Farms. The plaintiffs were two children and one adult who developed HUS [3].
The suits followed a romaine lettuce outbreak that sickened 89 people across 15 states. It caused 36 hospitalizations, 7 HUS cases, and 1 death. The suits allege negligence in failing to prevent E. coli contamination.
May 1, 2024: Marler Clark Retained in Gibson Farms Walnuts Case
On May 1, 2024, Marler Clark, the food-safety law firm, was retained by a family. Their child developed HUS after eating Gibson Farms organic walnuts sold in bulk bins at natural food stores [4].
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the outbreak sickened 12 people in California and Washington. It hospitalized 7 and caused 2 HUS cases. Gibson Farms recalled the walnuts.
What Is Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome?
NIDDK is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. It describes HUS as a kidney condition [5]. Destroyed red blood cells block the kidneys’ filtering system.
NIDDK calls HUS the most common cause of acute kidney injury in children. It is most often triggered by an E. coli infection, usually the O157:H7 strain found in undercooked beef, raw milk, or tainted produce.
Who May Be Affected?
People who ate food or drank water tainted with E. coli are at risk of HUS. The risk is highest for children younger than five.
Bloody diarrhea often comes first. Reduced urination or tiredness can follow. Together they can signal the kidney problem has begun.
Every case above started with its own traceable outbreak. Tainted beef kofta, raw cheddar cheese, walnuts, and romaine lettuce were each looked into by health agencies before a lawsuit followed.
Someone who got HUS after E. coli exposure may have a case worth a personal legal review. The review looks at what was eaten, when symptoms began, and what a lab test showed.
Reported Injuries or Damages
The Kebab Shop complaint says the child had kidney failure and needed dialysis and blood transfusions. He also had seizures and decreased pancreatic function during his hospital stay. These are allegations. A court has not ruled on them yet.
CDC’s FoodNet HUS Surveillance Tool tracks HUS cases nationally [6]. HUS is most often triggered by a STEC infection, particularly the O157 strain. About 80% of affected children test positive for it.
HUS can cause lasting harm or death in severe cases, as the Taylor Farms romaine lettuce outbreak named above showed, with dozens hospitalized and one death among those who got sick.
Recall and Regulatory Background
RAW FARM, LLC voluntarily recalled its raw cheddar cheese products on April 2, 2026. The FDA and CDC had linked an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak to the cheese [7].
CDC declared the outbreak over on April 30, 2026. It had caused 9 illnesses across California, Florida, and Texas, including 3 hospitalizations and 1 case of HUS. No deaths were reported.
The RAW FARM recall does not by itself show RAW FARM is liable for a specific HUS illness. It does show FDA and CDC found a safety problem worth public notice.
Evidence to Preserve
These records can strengthen a HUS claim if preserved early, before receipts and packaging are thrown away:
- Medical records that show the E. coli infection, the HUS diagnosis, and hospital care
- Lab results that show Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in a stool or blood test
- Receipts or records showing the food eaten, the brand, and where it was bought
- Photographs of any remaining food product, its packaging, or the store where it was bought
- Communications with the restaurant, retailer, or manufacturer about the illness or the product
- Records of missed work, medical bills, or other expenses related to the illness
- Names and contact information for anyone else who ate the same food and became sick
Filing Deadlines
Every state sets its own deadline for filing a HUS claim, and that deadline depends on where the person lives. The clock can start at the E. coli exposure date or the HUS diagnosis date.
Missing that window can end a claim no matter how strong the evidence is. Contacting a lawyer soon after a diagnosis protects the option to file.
Potential Compensation
A court or insurer may find a defendant at fault for a HUS illness only after the plaintiff proves that fault. Damages may follow.
These can include hospital and dialysis costs, missed income, and suffering. A wrongful-death claim may seek damages for the family.
Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. A lawyer can explain how potential compensation might apply to a specific claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Investigated the Kebab Shop E. Coli Outbreak?
The Kebab Shop E. coli outbreak was investigated by the California Department of Public Health, local health departments, and federal meat inspectors. The investigation traced the E. coli O157 illnesses to beef kofta sold by The Kebab Shop.
How Is Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Treated?
Hemolytic uremic syndrome is treated by managing symptoms and complications. Doctors use antibiotics only if another infection is present elsewhere in the body. Severe kidney injury may need dialysis until the kidneys recover.
Do Most Children Recover from Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome?
Yes, most children who get hemolytic uremic syndrome and its complications recover without lasting harm to their health. Severity and recovery time still vary from case to case. No lawsuit outcome named here confirms how any one child’s illness will resolve.
What Does the Research Say About HUS and E. Coli?
Research on HUS and E. coli shows a clear link. CDC data show about 80% of children who get HUS have a STEC infection. The same data show about 20% of pediatric HUS patients also get a blood test, often when a stool sample misses the bacteria.
Can Adults Develop HUS?
Yes, adults can get HUS. NIDDK data show it is far more common in children younger than five after an E. coli O157:H7 infection. The Taylor Farms suit named above, for example, included an adult among its plaintiffs.
Can I File a Claim If My Illness Wasn’t Part of a Named Outbreak?
Yes, an illness that was never part of a named, public outbreak can still support a claim. Each case named above began as one family’s claim before health agencies traced it to a wider source.
References
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/marler-clark-expands-lawsuit-on-behalf-of-child-who-suffered-kidney-failure-following-kabob-shop-e-coli-outbreak-302798655.html
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lawsuit-filed-on-behalf-of-child-hospitalized-with-hemolytic-uremic-syndrome-in-the-kebab-shop-e-coli-outbreak-302786177.html
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/marler-clark-files-multiple-e-coli-lawsuits-against-taylor-farms-302431016.html
- https://www.marlerblog.com/case-news/marler-clark-retained-by-family-of-child-with-hus-linked-to-e-coli-tainted-walnuts/
- https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/children/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome
- https://www.cdc.gov/foodnet/data/hus-surveillance.html
- https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-o157h7-raw-cheddar-cheese-march-2026