Corona del Mar woman sues True Food Kitchen over intestinal infection
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An 18-year-old Corona del Mar woman who says she had to be hospitalized after eating at True Food Kitchen in Newport Beach has sued, alleging the restaurant and its parent company made her and more than a half-dozen other diners sick.
In a lawsuit filed Jan. 4 in Orange County Superior Court, lawyers for Lauren Castleton say she had lunch with her father at True Food at Fashion Island on Aug. 24, 2014. The next day, Castleton was vomiting, dehydrated and suffering from diarrhea, according to the lawsuit.
During the next two months, Castleton had to be hospitalized three times with similar symptoms, the suit claims.
Tests showed Castleton was suffering from shigella — an intestinal infection that often triggers bloody diarrhea — and its after-effects, according to her lawyers.
“This has been a horrible experience for this young woman,” said Bill Marler, a nationally known food-safety lawyer who is one of Castleton’s attorneys.
Castleton’s medical bills topped $80,000, and the infection could have lifelong effects, according to Marler, who also is representing plaintiffs suing Chipotle Mexican Grill over recent E. coli outbreaks.
Castleton, Marler said, has developed irritable bowel syndrome and has to be constantly concerned about what she eats and where the nearest bathroom is.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
A representative of True Food’s parent company, Fox Restaurant Concepts, said in a statement that the lawsuit stems from one incident that occurred more than a year ago.
“We immediately took action, which included an investigation to determine a source, discarding all inventory, and extensive staff retraining on our high operational standards,” said Anita Walker, the company’s vice president of marketing. “This lawsuit is a surprise to our organization, given the time that has passed. We are fanatical about every guest experience and will work to win this guest back.”
Castleton’s lawsuit cites an investigation by the Orange County Health Care Agency that found that seven patrons and one employee became infected with shigella after eating at True Food between Aug. 21 and Aug. 25, 2014.
“True Food has a history of poor food safety practices,” the lawsuit states. It cites an inspection in June 2014 that showed signs of “vermin activity” and a December 2014 incident in which an inspector told employees to throw out vegetables that weren’t stored at the correct temperature.
True Food has more than a dozen locations across the country and bills itself as a restaurant that fuses popular food trends with healthy living.
The Fashion Island location opened in 2010.
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